Introduction: The Soundtrack Within
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been chasing that sound, trying to pin it down, to shape it into something I could share. When AI tools began making waves in music creation, I saw a chance not just to produce songs, but to transmit something deeper—vibes, emotions, and stories—straight from imagination to ear. But this journey has been anything but automatic.
Working Up a Sound: The First Sparks
It usually starts with a flicker—an ambient texture, a chord progression, a rhythmic pulse. My process begins by “working up a sound.” That means sculpting layers, sketching atmospheres, and letting the tone set the direction. I might begin with a simple AI-generated motif, but the real work is in bending, stretching, and reshaping that output until it starts to resonate with the music in my mind.
Often, I’ll run a concept through an AI tool twenty, thirty, even fifty times. I reject most of what it gives me. Why? Because I’m not interested in sounding like AI. I want my tracks to feel organic—like they could have come from an analog studio or a moment of human inspiration, not a prompt. That means saying no to anything that feels too synthetic or generic.
Creating a Vibe: Where Emotion Meets Detail
Vibe is everything. It’s that intangible sense of place and emotion wrapped into sound. I spend a lot of time layering textures, tweaking filters, adjusting timing and tone—not to polish, but to humanize. I might add imperfections on purpose: tape hiss, lo-fi elements, or asymmetrical loops that feel more lived-in than programmed.
Even when working with AI, I aim for something that moves like real life does—unpredictable, raw, but coherent. I often think of it like creating a short film with sound: setting the scene, developing characters, and unfolding a subtle arc.
Telling a Story: From Mood to Meaning
Each piece I make is trying to say something. Not only in words, but in vibe and emotional shifts. I don’t usually start with a literal storyline—but as I build the track, the story emerges. Maybe it’s a feeling of longing, a moment of triumph, or a journey through something broken into something whole.
The AI helps with building blocks, sure—but the story comes from me. It comes from listening deeply to what’s inside and making sure the music reflects that. Sometimes that means simplifying, stripping away layers, or even throwing out a track entirely because it doesn’t feel right.
Looking for Quality: Music I Can Stand Behind
This part is personal. I don’t publish or share anything unless it hits a certain standard—unless it’s something I can genuinely stand behind. That’s why my process involves many, many false starts. I’m not chasing quantity, I’m chasing truth. The truth of how the sound aligns with what I hear in my head.
There’s a moment in the process—sometimes after hours or days of trying—when the track finally clicks. It feels alive. It matches the emotional tone I was aiming for, and I know it’s ready. That’s when I finally say yes.
Summary: Crafting with Heart in an Age of AI
Working with AI to create music isn’t about letting the machine take over. It’s about using it as a tool—one that can help me bridge the gap between what’s inside and what’s heard. But the heart of it? That comes from me.
I’m always working up a sound, creating a vibe, and telling a story—rejecting what doesn’t feel right and holding out for something I can stand behind. My goal is simple but not easy: to make music that resonates with the emotion and soul I carry inside, and to make it feel as organic as if it were played live in a dimly-lit room.
If you listen closely, I hope you hear not just AI, but me—in the mood, in the movement, in the music.
