Sean Christopher McGee

AI has officially entered the world of music creation, and it’s sparking a major debate. Many people have asked me where I stand on it, so I want to be entirely transparent about how I create.

Initially, I was completely opposed to the idea of people creating music strictly using AI. I felt it would strip away the raw, natural essence of human creativity—and honestly, I still feel that way. But do I use AI in my work? The answer is both yes and no.

As a composer, I started researching how this technology would impact our industry. While there are plenty of valid concerns, I realized that this evolution is here to stay. Instead of fighting it, I found a way to adapt to it responsibly. If AI isn't abused, it can be an incredibly powerful tool.

Here is exactly how I use it:

Album Artwork: My covers are partially AI-assisted. I build the initial concept and composition, and then use AI to enhance and polish the details exactly to my specifications. What used to take me weeks now takes a day or two.

Music Production: I use an AI music program, but under very strict boundaries. Every single track is fully composed by me. I've even taken piano pieces I wrote 35 years ago and brought them into the program. The AI does absolutely nothing until I give it precise, technical directions. For example, I might input a piano melody and instruct the program: "Keep this at 55 BPM in D Minor with a haunting atmosphere. Open with the acoustic piano from my file, slowly introduce a legato violin by bar 13, and blend in background pizzicato strings on the second beat." It requires a deep knowledge of music theory, bars, measures, and instrumentation to get the right result.

Vocals & Mixing: My physical studio looks a bit different these days. My keyboard is currently broken, and I don't have the thousands of dollars required for high-end instruments or a professional mixing engineer. This software allows me to compose without a keyboard and prevents the "tone deafness" that happens when you mix the same track for hours. Once the core audio is ready, I pull it into my DAW to lay down my vocals. Because my voice isn't what it used to be, I use AI to enhance it, correct frequencies, or even transform my vocals into a female choir.

There is a massive difference between asking an algorithm to "make me a rock song" and using technology to execute your own complex arrangements. I firmly believe we must keep the human factor in composing alive.

Using this workflow, I have fully arranged two upcoming albums—including tracks featuring lyrics I wrote myself (completely AI-free!). Writing lyrics has become a therapeutic, joyful process for me, and I can't wait to share what I've built with you all very soon.