Artificial Inspiration: Will AI Shape or Shake the Songwriting Process?
As songwriters, we know the magic that happens when we sit down at a piano, strum a guitar, or scribble out lyrics in the middle of the night. Songwriting is not just an industry - it’s an art form, a way to process emotions and work through the complexities of life. But now, as AI makes bigger waves in the music industry, we're left wondering: will AI help us capture that magic, or will it somehow change the way we create?
In this month’s Session Notes blog, Project 7 Songwriting Retreats Creative Director Lisa Fitz discusses the big, scary, hairy AI mammoth in the songwriting rooms around the world.
In just a few years we’ve leapt from listening to CDs on our stereo’s to being able to access any song in the world, on numerous devises. And while we’re adjusting to this immediacy of music… BAM! AI lands, taking over every aspect of our lives like a digital epidemic. Whether it’s planning your workflow, composing music, designing graphics, managing your socials or even figuring out how to write a better song... AI, it seems, can help.
Like me, are you worried that you’ll be left behind if you don’t use AI? It’s the same fear we all had when Amazon became too convenient to ignore, despite its soul-crushing grip on our high streets and our obsession with over-consumption. But now, AI is here, and it’s making its presence known in the music industry, my question is: is it already too late for us real songwriters to keep up? Here’s my take (spoiler: it’s optimistic).
AI in the Music Industry: A Brief Look
AI is already embedded in the music industry. Spotify uses it to build your personalised playlists based on your listening habits, and their new AI DJ even adds a voiceover, turning your favourite songs into a personal radio station. But let’s focus on the big, hairy mammoth in the writing-rooms around the world: generative AI. It’s new, it’s hyped, and it seems the most threatening to our creative process.
Generative AI can spit out content like text, images, and music within seconds. Imagine a million Elvis impersonators, but without the sideburns or obsession with fried peanut butter sandwiches. That’s where AI-generated music is right now. Take AIsis, the AI counterpart to Oasis, which just released its first album. Or Ghostwriter, the pseudonymous producer using AI to release tracks 'featuring' Rihanna and Drake. This AI-generated content had millions of views and streams before they were removed. But, the curiosity and novelty around this tech are growing fast.
“This event will inspire me and boost my creativity in ways I cannot articulate or foresee! It’s a game-changer!”
– Paul Mallory P724 Artist
AI: The New Drug?
The problem is, AI is like any addictive substance - the highs are thrilling, but eventually, they stop feeling as intense. The harder you push it, the quicker you’ll burn out. It’s easy to get lost in the promise of faster fame or automated success, but trust me, it’s a short-term buzz. You’ll end up in a creative ditch somewhere, wondering how you got there.
So, how can you survive as an artist in a world that seems to be bursting at the seams with artificial intelligence? Where escape feels impossible? Well, it’s easier than you think.
You’re Still Playing a Human Game
Here’s the thing: you’re not competing against AI. You’re still competing against humans. Listeners. Fans. The people who connect with you because of your story. AI can generate a song in minutes, but it can't capture the unique energy, passion, or personal experiences that go into creating meaningful art.
Take Prince as an example. If you fed AI his first album For You, it wouldn’t have come up with Darling Nikki, that’s for sure. That’s the beauty of human creativity—it evolves unpredictably. AI, on the other hand, can only regurgitate data it's been fed. It can create something similar, but it can’t grow, feel, or push boundaries in the way we can.
★★★★★ “…one week here is worth more than a year at music tech Uni.”
- YOUTH Pro7ect Headline Producer (The Orb, The Verve, Paul McCartney)
The Magic of Authentic Songwriting
Songwriting is about more than hitting the right notes or finding a catchy hook. It’s about expressing something real - your heartbreak, your joy, your struggles. AI doesn’t have those emotions. It’s never fallen in love, been betrayed, stayed up all night with friends at Glastonbury Festival, or written songs to process grief.
AI-generated music lacks that depth. Sure, it might sound good for a while, but it will never sustain a fanbase the way a truly human song can. It’s like cover bands or impersonators - they can spend years perfecting their craft, but without the life experience of the original artist, they’ll always be living in the shadows. AI is like a super-talented impersonator. Your essence, however, cannot be copied.
Collaboration: The Heartbeat of Songwriting
Authentic songwriting isn't just about solitary moments of inspiration—it’s about collaboration. Look at the Pro7ect Songwriting retreats at Rockfield Studios, for instance. For the past decade, they’ve been a beacon of creativity, bringing together songwriters, musicians, producers, and artists from around the world. At these retreats, collaboration is key. Over 140 songs have been written and recorded from scratch by more than 200 artists during these intense, residential hothouse events. The success of many tracks that have found their way into the world speaks to the power of real human collaboration.
At Pro7ect, songwriters work in small teams, bouncing off each other’s energy and ideas. It’s a creative cauldron where everyone adds their unique spark. AI can’t replicate that kind of dynamic. It can spit out melodies and lyrics based on data, but it lacks the spontaneity, humour, and camaraderie that happens in a room full of musicians. It’s the unexpected conversations, the shared life experiences, and those magic moments that fuel truly original songs.
“The retreat was a great experience in terms of all my expectations. I couldn’t recommend the P7 retreat more highly for those
from a solo writer / self-producer background.”
- Mark Jones P724 artist
How to Thrive in the AI Era
So, what’s the answer? As artists, the key is to focus on self-progression and collaboration. The more AI homogenises the music landscape, the more important it will be to stand out through personal growth and authenticity. While AI might create songs that sound similar to your favourite band, it can’t capture the mood of the times, blend it with lived experiences, or process the moment to create something entirely new.
Take a step back and remember why you started your songwriting journey in the first place. If you feel overwhelmed by the rise of AI, just breathe. You’re not going to be left behind. It’s not a "do or die" situation, despite what some might have you believe. In fact, it’s the people chasing AI’s quick wins who will be struggling years from now, still chasing trends without anything to show for it.
The Real Challenge: Keep Making Magic
AI might be the shiny new thing, but the essence of songwriting - the real magic - comes from human experiences. Those moments when you sit down with a guitar or at the piano, working through emotions, creating something that can move people. AI can be an accompaniment, a tool you choose to use when it helps you, but it will never replace that spark of originality that comes from you.
In the end, people will always crave stories. They’ll always want to connect with art that feels personal, real, and full of emotion. So, while AI might generate songs, you can generate something far more valuable: a meaningful connection with your audience.
Stay true to that, and you’ll thrive in any era—even the AI one.
Pro7ect 2025 dates will be announced in the Autumn 2024.
About Pro7ect:
Pro7ect is a global network of musical professionals that facilitate creative opportunities for songwriters, producers, and musicians to collaborate at residential writing retreats.
Pro7ect A-list producers include Youth (Sir Paul McCartney/The Verve/Echo & The Bunnymen/The Orb), Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Mel C), Roni Size (Reprazent, Method Man, Zac de la Rocha), Mercury Music Prize winner Tavin Singh OBE, John Fortis (Razorlight, Ellie Goulding, Yellowdays), Andrew Levy (Brand New Heavies), Iain Archer (Snow Patrol, James Bay, Jake Bugg) and Matty Benbrook (Paulo Nutini, LENA, Rebecca Ferguson, Beverely Knight), Stew Jackson (Massive Attack) and Gethin Pearson (Badly Drawn Boy, Charlie XCX).
