Hi there!
I hope that your are well and that your summer was as good as mine!🌼
If you only care about the latest music and book news, scroll down. I've included a live Youtube worship session with six original songs for you to enjoy! So let's get going!👍😃👍
How I got interested in using AI apps for making music
When all my adult kids were here in September, celebrating my birthday, we had some fun making music using AI. My daughter used an app called SUNO to make a song about my birthday and the mug that she had painted for me as a present. I was amazed at the result and, after everyone had gone home again, I started testing if I could use AI to make new music, too!
Now I'd heard a lot about the negative aspects of AI and was cautious about it at first, but I found that the new AI tools like SUNO have been helpful in making my life as a musician, songwriter and graphic designer much easier. Here's how I played around with the free version of SUNO anbd you can too!
An inspirational tool
Suno AI is a great inspirational tool for songwriters on all levels. I asked SUNO AI to create a song about Jesus stilling the storm off the shore of Galilee and make it a reggae song, too. This is what it spat out within seconds:
Then I asked it to change the genre and update the lyrics - I corrected all that I thought was a bit generic, unbiblical or simply not my style. Within seconds, it created a song (mp3) a song graphic, and a mp4 (video with the text rolling by like a lyrics video). See this here:
That was not bad at all. And it created an mp4 (movie) with text automatically, too.
A few things stood out and I changed them in the next round also changing the genre to worship:
I liked this one too and my husband and I listened to both and discussed them.
What this taught me was I could use an idea in one genre, spit out a sketch and then adjust the lyrics and even change the genre to test different ideas before committing to a song using AI.
Testing different song ideas
In the past, I've been too quick to settle for the structure, bpm and sound of a song. Playing around with AI has given me a quick way of testing different ideas before committing to the arrangement and lyrics of a new song.
Unfortunately, the free version of Suno only allows you to do 4 times two songs per month, that is, 4 song ideas where it spits out two versions of each prompted song. Needless to say, I used up these free trials very quickly. Another thing is that I can't download wavs, i.e. full versions of the songs, (what is require to deliver a song to music platforms like Spotify), unless I pay for the pro version which costs $30/year. Something to think about.
There exists the possibility that we will be seeing a lot of AI created music being uploaded that is substandard, and already is. I won't be doing that. It is just one tool of many in my big old toolbox.
Stem splitting
While I was looking into AI I found that I could use other AI apps to split the songs I made in SUNO - dividing each track into "stems". (Simply: to slice up the audio in different ways, separating the various elements.) This is useful when you want to make a backtrack. A backtrack is simply the track minus the vocals that you can play in the background when you sing live performances. This is helpful when I have concerts online, for example at Red's Room Entertainment.
Another use of stems is when I want to copy the song idea into a new project - I can drag the stems into my computer and use these sketches as a guide or as samples in my project! This is awesome!
In conclusion, I have come to embrace using AI apps as inspirational tools and time savers, but using them with caution.
The Bible tells us that it is important, to test everything as it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Test all things; hold fast what is good
That☝️ is the power verse of the month, and that is what I think of using AI to make music.
Also if you want peace of mind....test all things and hold fast what is good!😃
Music News
Will I release some kind of version of the AI inspired songs Calm My Sea or You Calm My Sea? Perhaps. But I have a lot of things that need to be released first.
Part of that to do list is copywriting my older songs that I've released but not secured and creating new chord sheets for all my songs so others can play them in churches all around the world. This week, I uploaded the lyrics and chord sheet for the song Let Me Hold Your Hand to CCLI/Song Select. I released it on YouTube seven years ago (!) as a part of a longer worship set but thought maybe you who are worship leaders might like to have it there for your churches. Here is the video.
The Abide album
I finally booked a meeting with the pianist (a very busy and talented brother in Christ) )in late October so we can go through the idea of the Abide album, chord sheets and arrangements. I'll be getting these ready the next coming weeks.
Book news
The Change my Mind Book
I'm on chapter five (Now That I Have You), of the first draft. My husband is reading through all the previous chapters and discussing as we go. It is great to have his support!
Life
I have a very sick father in law dying of cancer and a daughter who is going to have a baby this fall, so progress on the book and any music making have to be done when I have time after family matters....
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Prayer Request:
I would especially appreciate your prayers at this time for all of these things:
My sickly father in law
My daughter and her baby due November 3rd
the continuing work on the Change My Mind Book
the development of Abide album
I really appreciate your support! Thank You!
I pray that the lord watches over you and keeps you encouraged, safe and blessed!
Until next time!....
Liz
And yes, remembering you, your father in law, daughter and your forthcoming grandchild 💚
Fantastic read Liz. Yes, AI is a brilliant tool and clever entity without doubt. This is a truly beautiful song that it's created with your lyrics! Wow!
Quite impressive! Congratulations on learning and using new technology for the glory of God :) We will be praying for your FIL and daughter as you anticipate another grandchild :) And, for the Change My Mind book and Abide album. You are busy doing what God is calling you to do - praise God!