LIE TO ME single cover art by Storm9000
Storm9000 is a mysterious producer/mix engineer based in Columbus, OH. We love his sound, mellow and smooth, retro and modern all at once, and we find his humble attitude refreshing. He focuses on the music, he finds other artists to collaborate with, and he maintains his artistic integrity. His recent excursion into releasing an album with AI as a collaborative partner is a lesson in open-mindedness and the constant evolution a true artist goes through as part of their journey through an ever-changing world.
I started out experimenting with sound on the family piano. I took basic piano lessons and performed at the local piano recital. During this time, I remember hearing about an IBM 7094 (1961) computer singing the song “Daisy Bell” using computer speech synthesis, which always intrigued me.
My first experience with “machine-made” sound was on equipment like the Roland S10 and Akai MPC series. Eventually, I was gifted a copy of Acid Pro for my desktop computer; it was a revolutionary loop-based music sequencer that allowed users to drag and drop audio loops that automatically adjusted to the tempo and key of the song. I preferred the software creation process over using hardware. So when I heard AI becoming accessible in creative applications, I was excited — “Finally.”
I mainly use AI to sing over my productions and demo song ideas. It’s always good to hear some kind of vocal on a track, especially when the production is geared toward artists or when you’re in the business of selling productions. I used to take acapellas from 12-inch vinyl and sync them manually with my beats just to get an idea of how someone would sound over the music. AI does that faster and sometimes surpasses what I could achieve with an inexperienced artist.
I often find that, on the music creation side, the audio quality isn’t quite there yet. AI-generated files tend to stick out against sounds created from analog or synth instruments. The quality will only improve over time.
I would say the initial reaction to anything new depends on the level of understanding that the disgruntled person has of the thing they think they don’t like. That’s just part of the creative process.
Overall, the reception of my album Storm9000 and The Robot has been great. Some people prefer to stream it; others have purchased it on vinyl. I also held a sold-out workshop showing how the record was made, along with instruction on how creatives of all walks can use AI to augment their talent, or choose to leave it alone.
Creatively, AI is simply another tool, a different color to draw with. AI music generation and vocal synthesis, accompanied with the ability to break a finished song down into stems, further expand creative choices. New tools are always a good thing, but ultimately it’s up to each individual creator to maximize those tools to the best of their abilities and beliefs.
I’m primarily a producer and mix engineer who occasionally releases singles, EPs, and albums, not a songwriter. There are many guides on prompting AI to write online. When I need lyrics, I draft them and let AI double check my grammar, punctuation, and spelling to speed up the project.
Most creatives rely on a basic workflow that makes the creation process smoother. For me, AI is the ideal tool for training and experimentation because it’s so readily accessible. I can “rehearse” with AI before collaborating with a human, ensuring I’m equipped with abundant ideas and examples that accelerate the creative process. Preparation is crucial today, especially since many creatives operate without limitless budgets or unlimited time in our hyper-competitive world.
The world is changing; finding where you fit as an artist, musician, businessperson, or technologist is the key. Know your boundaries, know where you end and the tech begins, and keep your focus on your muse.