Empire of the Sun singer Luke Steele has shared his thoughts on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in music, stating that he uses it as “just another tool” for musicians. In a recent interview with iHeartRadio Canada, Steele admitted that “of course” he uses AI, and his subsequent remarks indicate that he is embracing what he thinks is inevitable. Steele compared AI-assisted studio tools to using “a really smart guitar pedal,” finding the concept “quite exciting” and referring to it as “humans versus AI.”
When pressed on his response to artists who are against using AI, Steele said it was “so powerful” and will “empower artists that know how to use it, and they’re going to become unstoppable.” He added, “The artists that are against it have got to be careful, because it’s going to come and swallow you like a boogie monster at night.” Steele’s approach to AI is more measured than Boy George, who has wholly embraced using ChatGPT to write multiple albums.
Artistic Views on AI
Last week, Boy George released a controversial pro-Israel “reggae” song, which he admitted to making with AI. The fallout from the track, which was more about its support of Israel and less about AI, led to George’s now-former manager pulling him from a role in a London production of Jesus Christ Superstar. On the other hand, there’s Jack Antonoff, who recently wrote that creating music is a “holy process” and decried songwriters trying to “optimize” it with AI as “godless whores.”
Empire of the Sun are currently on their “Ask That God: Afterlife” North American tour through October. Steele’s comments on AI have sparked a debate about the use of technology in music, with some artists embracing it and others rejecting it. As the music industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Empire of the Sun and other artists choose to utilize AI in their creative processes.
In conclusion, Luke Steele’s thoughts on AI reflect a growing trend in the music industry, where artists are increasingly using technology to enhance their work. While some artists, like Boy George, are fully embracing AI, others, like Jack Antonoff, are more skeptical. As the debate continues, Empire of the Sun will likely remain at the forefront of the conversation, using AI to push the boundaries of their music and creativity.
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