Human Stories, Machine Melodies: A Journey into AI-Composed Music
It has been exactly two months since July 24th, when I began composing music using the SUNO app.
As I look back on the journey — selecting my poems, transforming them into lyrics and melodies, searching for new inspiration, and more recently composing music for the poems of others — I realize it has been an extraordinary learning experience.
Here are some key takeaways:
I have learned to embrace humility. I do not claim to be a traditional music composer, because much of the composition is generated by AI. Yet, my contribution in this dialogue with AI is significant enough for me to say that the music is made with me, not without me.
I have developed a deeper respect for music culture. Real-world musicians must put in immense work — experimenting with lyrics, building teams, performing live, improvising, and above all learning from audience reactions. Music created through AI lacks this organic ecology of effort, where livelihoods depend on it.
People are often surprised when I tell them that the voice they heard — and either liked or disliked — was not human, but a machine-generated voice. In live music traditions, the identity of a singer deeply shapes audience perception.
Unlike many musicians, I do not sing the music I compose. The communal, visceral experience of a live concert in a crowded, sweaty venue still defines how songs become beloved by the masses.
The identity, personality, and brand of a singer or band are inseparable from their music. Audiences want to feel the lived stories behind each song. Without a human singer at the center, there is no biography to unfold, no authentic narrative to connect with.
At the same time, AI music brings new positive possibilities. In the era of the internet and social media, making and sharing music can itself be a meaningful form of dialogue. Just like an Instagram post has its place in social interaction, AI-generated music can open up new kinds of rituals and communication — even if they feel less personal or grounded.
Above all, AI music allows those without formal training to surface emotions, longings, and even traumas through the act of creation. In this way, it can become a deeply therapeutic exercise — a space for healing, for caring, and for truly listening to one another. I invite you to visit my playlist on YouTube, and after you’ve had a chance to listen, share your reactions so we can begin a conversation around whatever thoughts or feelings arise.
This two-month journey has shown me that AI music is neither a replacement for human artistry nor a trivial experiment, but rather a new medium of expression. It offers a bridge between technology and creativity, giving voice to those who may never have entered the world of music otherwise. While it lacks the raw authenticity and ecology of live traditions, it opens new channels for storytelling, dialogue, and emotional release. For me, this dialogue with AI is not just about producing songs, but about exploring what it means to be human in a world where machines can now hum, sing, and echo our innermost feelings.
Below is a link to my YouTube playlist, “Generative Groove Collection,” which currently features 110 compositions.
