AI and the Creative Process: A Personal Journey Through Music, Writing, and Technology

February 2025 – As artificial intelligence continues to make its way into creative industries, artists are finding new ways to integrate technology into their work while preserving the human touch. This week, my experience as a writer and musician reaffirmed my belief that AI can assist in the creative process but cannot replace artistic intent, emotion, and originality.

From finalising a trilogy of songs to wrapping up a long-running episodic series, I explored the dynamic role of AI in music production, visual design, and storytelling. However, the core of my work remained rooted in human intuition—an irreplaceable force that AI has yet to replicate.

The Role of AI in Songwriting and Music Production

One of my key projects this week was the completion of my Lake of Tears song trilogy, a deeply personal collection of tracks exploring resilience, emotional transformation, and self-discovery. AI played a role in structuring some early drafts, but I quickly realised that it could not fully capture the nuances of songwriting.

Take Rising from the Ashes – Part Two, a jazz-infused ballad that tells the story of emerging stronger after adversity. While AI-assisted tools like Suno provided initial structuring, the final lyrics, musical arrangement, and production were entirely shaped by my own artistic instincts.

🎶 Lyrics (excerpt) from Rising from the Ashes
🔥 Smoke and fire tried to take me, burned my skin, leaving scars so deep.
🔥 But in the embers, I found my freedom, in the wreckage, I learned who to lean on.
🔥 I'm rising from the ashes, the flames can’t hold me anymore.

Similarly, Breaking the Surface – Part Three, the trilogy’s conclusion, symbolises breaking free from past struggles and stepping into a new chapter. While AI contributed to audio refinement and album artwork generation, the song’s emotional core was shaped entirely by human experience.

This reinforced a vital lesson—AI can assist in refining technical aspects of music production, but genuine artistry requires a depth of feeling that no algorithm can replicate.

The Evolution of Storytelling: Concluding The Adventures of Millie and Sandra

Beyond music, this week also saw the unexpected completion of The Adventures of Millie and Sandra, an episodic series I have been writing for years. Writing without a predetermined outline, I hadn’t initially planned for this episode to be the final one, but as the narrative unfolded, it became clear that the story had reached its natural conclusion.

This is a reminder of something AI lacks—the instinct to recognise when a story has told itself. While AI can generate plots and character arcs, it doesn’t possess the ability to feel when a piece of work has reached its emotional or thematic endpoint.

Though Millie and Sandra’s main story has now ended, their world will continue in other forms, interweaving with my Josephine Marlin, Sin-Eater, and Thealtic Verse universes.

Launching From Then to Now: A Creative Retrospective

This week also marked the launch of From Then to Now, a 12-part series documenting my evolution as a writer and musician. The first episode, Who is Karen Eastland?, serves as an introduction to my creative journey, highlighting the ways in which AI has influenced but never dictated my artistic process.

📌 Watch the first episode on My Writerly Self.

In this project, I use AI-generated narration (via Notebook LM’s Larry and Louise) to present a retrospective on my career. While their voices provide structure and clarity, the content itself remains deeply personal and human-driven. AI, in this case, serves as a tool to enhance accessibility rather than a replacement for creativity.

AI in Visual Art: Enhancing, Not Replacing Human Creativity

Another area where AI played a role this week was in visual design. I used Ideogram to create artwork for From Then to Now and my latest music releases, experimenting with different styles to best capture the themes of each project.

This process underscored an important distinction: AI can generate visually appealing artwork, but it requires human guidance to align with artistic intent. The final images I selected were those that best reflected the mood and themes of my work—not simply the most aesthetically pleasing ones.

As I move forward, I plan to continue using AI for visual concepting but will always ensure that my final selections align with the story I want to tell.

The Copyright Debate: Who Owns AI-Generated Art?

As AI continues to integrate into creative industries, one pressing question remains: Who owns AI-generated content?

This was particularly relevant this week as I evaluated the licensing terms of different AI tools. While platforms like Suno offer advanced music production features, their copyright policies raised concerns. Under its free-tier terms, Suno retains ownership of AI-generated music, meaning artists cannot commercially distribute their work without upgrading to a paid plan.

For independent creators like me, this highlights a major issue—AI platforms should empower artists, not restrict them. After reviewing these policies, I decided to discontinue my Suno subscription and explore alternatives such as LoudMe AI, which offers more flexible ownership rights.

This experience reinforced my belief that while AI can be useful, creators must remain vigilant about retaining control over their own work. AI should never become a gatekeeper for artistic ownership.

Looking Ahead: The Future of AI and Creativity

Reflecting on this week, I am more certain than ever that AI can be a powerful tool for artists—but it is just that, a tool. It cannot replace the human intuition, emotional depth, and creative decision-making that define great storytelling and music.

Moving forward, I will continue to integrate AI where it enhances my process while ensuring that all final creative decisions remain my own. This means:
✅ Using AI to assist in brainstorming, structuring, and refining ideas.
✅ Maintaining full control over my artistic vision and execution.
✅ Advocating for fair copyright practices to protect independent creators.

With my latest projects completed, I now turn my focus toward refining Josephine Marlin, ensuring it aligns with my broader multiverse before its next release. As always, the journey continues, and I look forward to discovering where the next chapter leads.

Conclusion

AI has changed the landscape of creativity, offering tools that streamline production and enhance accessibility. However, the essence of art remains deeply human. The stories we tell, the songs we write, and the worlds we build are shaped by personal experience, emotion, and intent—qualities that no algorithm can replicate.

For artists, the challenge is not whether to use AI, but how to use it wisely. By embracing AI as an assistant rather than a creator, we can harness its benefits without compromising our artistic integrity.

This week has been a testament to that balance—a journey through music, storytelling, and AI experimentation, all driven by the passion that fuels my work.

As I move forward, I will continue to embrace innovation while protecting the heart of creativity. Because, at the end of the day, art is not just about the tools we use—it’s about the stories we choose to tell.