Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones hits out at use of AI in songwriting

Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones has criticised the use of artificial intelligence in songwriting.

• READ MORE: Five things we learned from our In Conversation video chat with Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones

As more artists are speaking out about the increased prevalence of AI in the music industry, the singer said that art is about “a real person’s expression”.

Jones was speaking to Times Radio at Latitude Festival on Sunday (July 23), after he’d performed with his new band Far From Saints when he shared his doubts about AI.

The musician said it wasn’t until he attended the Ivor Novello Awards in May this year that he released AI technology was being used more to “finish off people’s songwriting” (via BBC).

“I’m not against forward-thinking technology and how things are progressing, but I think art should come from people, I mean the basics of it anyway,” he said.

“I think art has always been somebody’s expression, a real person’s expression from a heart, from a head.”

He added: “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.”

The singer also said he’s “not really into 10 songwriters on a song”, adding: “It’s like if you’re making a painting, you’ve got 10 painters chucking paint on a canvas. I mean, whose painting is it anymore?”

Jones is not the first artist to cast doubt over emerging AI technology in the music industry. Earlier this year, Nick Cave called ChatGPT and AI songwriting “a grotesque mockery of what it is to be human”.

Recently, Sting said AI “doesn’t impress” him and that songwriters will have to defend “our human capital against AI”. Smashing Pumpkins‘ Billy Corgan, however,  said “AI will change music forever” since others can “game the system” and “not going to spend 10,000 hours in a basement.”

In the film industry, meanwhile, James Cameron said he warned the world of AI’s rise in 1984. Christopher Nolan also shared his thoughts on the AI boom sweeping Hollywood right now, describing it as “terrifying”.

Back in June, Far From Saints – Jones’ newly formed band alongside Patty Lynn and Dwight Baker – released their debut self-titled album. Their first single, ‘Let’s Turn This Back Around’, came out in January.

“It’s an album and it’s meant to be listened to from start to finish,” said Lynn. “That’s what I’d like for people to do. Listen to the whole thing and see it as a complete work on its own.”

The band will be going on tour in the UK this November and December, starting at the Town Hall in Birmingham on November 15 and finishing up at Islington Assembly Hall in London on December 6. You can purchase tickets here.

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