STEREOPHONICS frontman Kelly Jones has expressed his disapproval of the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in music creation, stating that “art should come from people.” The 49-year-old lead singer shared his thoughts during an interview with Times Radio at Latitude Festival after performing with his new band, Far From Saints, on Sunday.
Jones was surprised to learn about the growing prevalence of AI technology in the music industry, particularly in “finishing off people’s songwriting” as he attended the Ivor Novello Awards. While he acknowledged the advancements in technology and their potential benefits, he firmly believes that art should be rooted in human expression. He emphasized, “I think art has always been somebody’s expression, a real person’s expression from a heart, from a head. If you’re going to start an idea, then a computer finishes it, I mean, it’s OK, but it’s just about algorithms and things like that.”
Moreover, Kelly Jones questioned the trend of involving multiple songwriters in a single song, likening it to a chaotic scenario of “10 painters chucking paint on a canvas” and wondered whose work it would truly represent.
Far From Saints, the band that Jones formed with Patty Lynn of The Wind And The Wave, has been actively touring festivals following the release of their album, “Let’s Turn This Back Around,” earlier in the year. However, the lead singer pointed out that the combination of Brexit and the pandemic has made it increasingly challenging for musicians to earn a living through live performances. He expressed concern, saying, “It’s kind of a nightmare with… Brexit and all that sort of stuff. It’s not easy to make a living of it if you’re a brand new kid coming out onto the street, ‘just let’s get in a van and go make music’ – it’s kind of hard.”
The use of AI in the music business has garnered a mixed response from artists. While Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am has shown optimism about the potential of new music software, country star Dolly Parton has voiced her reservations. In a recent press event, Parton reflected on her impressive body of work and stated that she must carefully consider her involvement with high-tech music tools to ensure she doesn’t compromise the authenticity of her art, saying, “I don’t want to leave my soul here on this Earth.”
The ongoing debate surrounding AI’s role in music creation highlights the complex relationship between technology and human expression in the creative industry.
