Sunfellow Legacy (AI-Enhanced Music) & The Controversy Surrounding Using AI To Enhance Human Capabilities

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While there is an important and growing debate around using AI to enhance human capabilities, I didn’t expect to be a textbook example of the controversy. But here I am. I used Suno, a cutting-edge AI generating music platform, to create enhanced versions of songs I had written over the past 50 years. I was thrilled with the results. I fed my music and lyrics into Suno and then carefully choreographed each song using Suno’s tools to enhance and re-create versions of my original music that far exceeded my capabilities as a singer/songwriter.

My process was fairly straightforward. First I asked @GROK which music AI generating services were the best for my needs. GROK recommended Suno, Udio, TwoShot, and Mureka, declaring Suno received the “strongest overall recommendation for most users” so that’s what I ran with.

Then I asked GROK how to sell my music online independently of online music services like Spotify. GROK suggested Bandcamp, Gumroad, or posting my music on my own website. I decided to go with Bandcamp and within a day had an album, including lyrics, posted on Bandcamp’s musician-friendly website. Everything looked great, sounded good, and worked as advertised. It was also easy for those who were interested to listen to all the tracks on my album without having to buy anything. A perfect arrangement for me, for my listeners, and for Bandcamp who received a portion of the money generated by album and individual song purchases.

…………………

But the next morning, all traces of my new album were gone! Without warning, my account with Bandcamp had been deleted. Completely erased.

Equally concerning, the people who had purchased my album were left high and dry with no way to download the music they had paid for.

As someone who was censored, banned, and de-platformed during COVID for my anti-status-quo views, this was not a happy experience.

Why did I get banned? Turns out Bandcamp had instituted a new policy in January of this year:
Bandcamp AI Guidelines (Keeping Bandcamp Human)

“Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp.”

— Source

While I applaud Bandcamp for wanting to provide a place where traditional musicians can offer music that has not been “wholly or substantially” enhanced by AI, I think they are on shaky ground. I mean seriously, how much of today’s music IS NOT significantly enhanced by modern technology?

Modern musicians use computers for recording, editing, arranging, and mixing, microphones for vocals, headphones for tracking, editing, and detail work, MIDI controllers such as keyboard controllers, pad controllers, knobs, and faders for hands-on input, Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) like Logic Pro, Ableton Live, GarageBand, and similar programs for recording, editing, sequencing, and mixing, effect plugins for EQ, compression, reverb, delay, saturation, and other processing that improves clarity and impact, loop libraries and MIDI clip tools for building arrangements quickly, virtual instruments and sample libraries that let musicians trigger realistic or synthetic sounds from a keyboard or controller, synthesizers for creating new tones, pads, leads, and basses through analog or digital synthesis, drum machines for programmed beats and rhythmic patterns, sequencers for arranging notes, patterns, and hardware performance in time, hardware effects such as external compressors, reverbs, delays, and EQ units for tone shaping outside the computer. Etc.

So when we are talking about making purely human music, where do we draw the line? Should we only be allowed to create music with our voices? And perhaps an instrument or two? And maybe a computer and some simple software? And maybe a small sound library? Or, OK, all the technology I outlined above BUT DEFINITELY NOT AI?

This core controversy has repeated itself, continuously, throughout human history. Metal tools replaced stone tools. Printing presses replaced scribes. Light bulbs replaced oil lamps and candles. Automobiles replaced horses. Railroads replaced covered wagons. Movies with sound replaced silent films. Telephones and internet connections replaced hand-written letters. Digital cameras replaced of film cameras. New innovations are always met with resistance until the dominant culture is forced to change.

So what’s a human-friendly, music-loving, internet-based company to do? Where should they draw they line? I don’t know. Bandcamp is in a tough place. Musicians will likely be forced — financially and creatively — to incorporate AI into their work. The same goes for Bandcamp. As they (like the rest of us) struggle to keep up with the AI tsunami, I wish them well.

But speaking for myself as a singer/songwriter with mediocre musical abilities, limited resources, and an inclination to explore new frontiers, I’m delighted that AI has given me the ability to expand my capabilities. I’ll take my AI-enhanced music elsewhere.

So here it is. On my website.

And also on X and Suno.

…………………….

Sunfellow Legacy

This album consists of some of the best songs I have written in the past 50 years. All of them have been re-recorded using the musical magic of Suno. Album cover made with MidJourney.

1. His Love, Not His Miracles
2. In The Beginning
3. We Will Shine
4. Reachin Out
5. Open Up
6. Ten Thousand Angels
7. Living Water
8. Singing Our Song Together
9. Go Tell The Wind
10. Genesis