AI STATEMENT

Jon and I have been musical partners for many years, sometimes together, sometimes off doing our own thing. After decades apart we are back at it working on revised versions of early compositions and creating new material. This time we’re adding a new element to our music: we’re using AI to enhance and assist in the creation of new sounds and jamming with robots.

We understand that some people, both in and out of the industry, are concerned about the use of AI in entertainment. We want to share our thoughts on the topic.

If you have watched a movie in the last decade, you’ve already enjoyed AI in art. In music artists and studios are already using AI in mastering. Some artists have embraced AI-generated tracks—like when Randy Travis’s voice was recreated with technology.

Jon and I have spent decades writing, recording and performing original music and we have copyrights (and the stories) to go along with that work. If anyone prefers a purely human approach, feel free to book us some studio time or send a check- we’ll get a bunch of really talented humans to help us lay down these new tracks old school style.

For those who worry that AI is the death of human creation, consider this: the first drum machines were made nearly 1300 years ago in the Middle East and the machine entertained royalty. The first fully programmed drum machine was released in 1972 and by the late 1980’s sampling and sequencing loops were common. Drum machines, synthesizers and sequencers, have influenced hip hop for decades without causing the end of heartfelt music. Musicians have been using computers for nearly 40 years, starting with tape loops and manipulating audio recordings. Still, the world keeps turning and new solo artists and bands keep writing and touring.

Just as it is unreasonable to reject sampling because it replaces humans by taking the sound created by other artists, it is unreasonable to think that AI doesn’t have a place in the music world. The Beatles just won the first Grammy ever presented for a song using AI when they released a song with two of our heroes, the deceased John Lennon and George Harrison.

What Jon and I won’t be doing is turning out “AI Slop”. Every song release is written, produced and mastered by us and our human partners. We will also be adding human vocals or instruments to some of our music. So, while we embrace the future, we will never just prompt AI to write a song and call it our own. We have no need to do so.

In closing here are some “I remember when” moments:

• I remember when people were against cars replacing horses and buggies.

• I remember when flying surpassed traveling by train

• I remember when computers shrank from the size of a building to the size of a phone.

• I remember when phones had a cord and COULD NOT BE CARRIED AROUND…OMG

AI is here and we’re excited to see where we can go together. We hope you’ll enjoy the ride and give us a listen…we think you’ll like it.

Robert L Hunt