Steven: Hello Philip, thank you so much for joining us today. It’s a real pleasure to have the opportunity to speak with you and gain some insights into your experiences and thoughts on the evolving role of AI in music production. Welcome! Let’s dive right in with our first important question: How do you perceive the role of AI in the music industry today?
Philip: The music industry is being turned on its head right now. A few years ago, all we had were AI tools that were subpar options for mastering, the very last step in the production process. Now, AI helps you compose, produce, mix, master, write lyrics, and even promote the music. It’s influencing the industry from all angles.
Steven: That sounds revolutionary. Is there a downside?
Philip: The tricky part is when the human is completely removed from the process and only serves as the prompt engineer. The AI spits out something that sounds like music but feels pointless to me. It only serves the interests of people who need content but not art.
Steven: What do you think are the most significant changes AI has brought to music production so far?
Philip: To me, the most significant change is that hard skills and knowledge in fields like music theory or audio engineering are becoming less relevant, while softer skills like developing great taste and trusting in your creative decisions are becoming more critical than ever.
Steven: So, it’s changing the skill set needed for music production?
Philip: Exactly. What I love about this is that it facilitates DIY musicianship, removes gatekeepers, and opens up new ways of creativity. On the other hand, it becomes too easy to come up with something decent-sounding because you got lucky with the AI tools you were using.
Steven: How do you foresee AI impacting the music industry in the next 5-10 years?
Philip: On one hand, low-effort music for stock libraries and background playlists will be entirely made by AI, simply because it makes more sense economically. We’ll also see music that is uber-optimized to serve specific listener avatars. I can already see how the big labels will build up certain artists as a perfect fit for a certain market niche. This will be a hand-in-hand operation of market research, music production, and marketing, all integrated with cutting-edge AI tools.
Steven: That sounds quite strategic. What about creativity?
Philip: We’ll see exciting new genres and artists popping up that were unthinkable before, thanks to the interaction of daring human music producers and their interaction with AI tools. I really look forward to that; we haven’t seen a huge musical revolution since the early days of Kraftwerk.
Steven: In what ways do you think AI will influence the creative process of music production in the future?
Philip: In a best-case scenario, it will help us materialize a creative vision faster than ever before. In a worst-case scenario, it will take out all of the joy and simply spit out something we can use. But that feels too much like a content factory to be considered art, in my opinion.
Steven: How do you feel about collaborating with AI in your music production process?
Philip: I think it can lead to interesting results if you use it with purpose, like a sparring partner that challenges your perspective and opens you up to new possibilities. As long as you still dare to do the opposite of what the AI suggests from time to time.
Steven: So, maintaining a balance is key?
Philip: Yes, in the end, nothing can replace your unique taste, but you have to be confident enough to execute on it, no matter what the AI “thinks” of it.
Steven: Can you describe a project where AI significantly enhanced your creative output?
Philip: I wouldn’t say it enhanced it; it’s more like it’s speeding up the process and is integrated into it on more and more levels. I would love to actually do a truly artistic project that explores new territory with AI like Holly Herndon does.
Steven: Do you think AI will ever be able to fully replicate human creativity in music production?
Philip: It already replicates the output, but that’s not replicating human creativity. The creative act is driven by human emotions, and while AI can create a convincing-sounding result, I don’t believe that it resonates on a deep level.
Steven: So, authenticity might be a concern?
Philip: Yes, the issue is that if an artist pretends to have written a piece, crafts a compelling backstory, and sees success in the market, we might not find out that this piece was created by AI (or influenced in large parts by it).
Steven: What opportunities do you see for emerging artists and producers with the advent of AI tools?
Philip: The bar for entry is significantly lower now, and that’s a great thing. On the other hand, you can go way deeper if you want to, and this is where the real opportunities will emerge. I think the biggest opportunity lies in AI opening up our minds to new ways of connecting genres and synthesizing something new out of it.
Steven: And what about the challenges?
Philip: The biggest challenge will be adapting copyright globally to fit in that new context. It feels like it hasn’t even caught up with the last 20-30 years of music production, so I really don’t see this adapting to AI anywhere soon.
Steven: Do you have any ethical concerns regarding the use of AI in music production?
Philip: My biggest concern is that artists will simply pretend having created more by themselves than they actually have. That being said, we’ve already seen this with ghost producers even before AI, so the problem isn’t new. It’s just going to be much more widespread.
Steven: How do you think the use of AI might change the concept of authorship and originality in music?
Philip: This is a big concern, for sure. In the end, we’ll have to accept the fact that all artists can and will use AI heavily in their creations. Still, if they consistently put something out that expresses something meaningful, I think it is still “their” work of art, even if AI played a big role in the execution.
Steven: Which AI tools or technologies have you found most useful in your work so far?
Philip: I won’t name specific tools or companies since the field is changing so rapidly. All I’m going to say is this: AI tools that have helped me speed up my workflow, especially on the more technical side of things, are a blessing.
Steven: Any specific examples?
Philip: For example, tools that let you dive into the individual tracks of an already printed stereo master file are a blessing. Right now, I’m working on a remastering project for a well-known Psytrance artist. She only has the master files, no individual tracks. But I can still dive into them and change, for example, only the drums. This was unthinkable a few years ago.
Steven: Are there any specific AI advancements you are particularly excited about or looking forward to?
Philip: In regards to music production, vocal synthesis is getting amazingly good. In the next few years, we’ll have lots of AI singers available that sound very real, which is good news for everyone into music with vocals but can’t sing themselves.
Steven: And outside of music?
Philip: Apart from music, I’m pretty excited about deep-faking myself in the near future. Imagine a perfectly convincing video of me personally saying hello to a new client, all created with a simple prompt. Of course, this has to be disclaimed, but it still is a much more personal approach than a welcome email and costs significantly less time.
Steven: How do you think AI will change the dynamics of the music market, including distribution and consumption?
Philip: As I’ve said, more commercial music will be AI-first. Everything that’s a bit deeper and needs more curation will still involve a core human element in the process.
Steven: Do you think AI could level the playing field for independent artists, or will it benefit major labels more?
Philip: I think it’s going to amplify the tendencies we already see. The majors will do whatever they can to claim market share and use those tools to achieve perfect artist-audience fit. Independent artists will also be empowered by these tools because it becomes less and less important to get major label backing to see success.
Steven: What is your personal opinion on the balance between human input and AI in music production?
Philip: All I can say is that it never pays off to make lazy art. Use AI, but use it with purpose, explore the boundaries, push your own limits, and challenge your beliefs. But don’t fall into the trap of prompting your way to success. I think that’s a case of “play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
Steven: How do you stay updated with the latest AI advancements in music technology?
Philip: I get companies reaching out to me for collaborations or feedback on a weekly basis. Some tools are even in early alpha, so I think I have a good overview. That being said, I’m not interested in 99% of them because they just don’t add anything meaningful (yet) or the results are not convincing. But the 1% that make it past my BS-radar and catch my attention are truly revolutionary.
Steven: How open are you to integrating AI more deeply into your production process moving forward?
Philip: I believe that we have to adapt and find interesting ways to work with new technology. I can’t imagine a world in which AI has killed all human music, so I do whatever I can to be a part of this development and create a healthy future for artists. It’s going to be a wild ride though, and it’s possible that 99% of this interview will feel outdated next year. I’ve never felt this way before.
Steven: What advice would you give to aspiring producers regarding the use of AI in their work?
Philip: Use it as your creative sidekick to challenge the status quo. Try to come up with something that is better than humans or AI independently. It’s time for an explosion of new and exciting music that we haven’t heard of before. If you come at it from a creative angle and stop obsessing over things like “success,” you’re on the right track.
Steven: Thank you so much, Philip, for sharing your insights and experiences with us today. It’s been incredibly enlightening to hear your thoughts on the role of AI in the music industry and how it’s shaping the future of music production.
Philip: Thank you, Steven. It was a pleasure discussing these topics with you. I hope our conversation inspires and informs others navigating this exciting and ever-changing field.