Music Tech

Artists Tap Into 'Human Stems' to Create Fresh AI Music That Doesn't Sound Like a Bot

Credit: Outlever

Key Points

  • In a music industry divided over AI, one artist argues that human transparency was the key to connecting with fans.
  • Jim Richardson, AI Cloud King at Finchloom and creator of the AI music project tripperjones.ai, finds embracing his identity to be more effective than hiding behind a brand mascot.
  • He overcomes "AI prejudice" by being open about his process, using "human stems" from his own past recordings to craft new songs.
  • Richardson contrasts his method with "AI slop," arguing that the difference between craft and low-effort content comes down to artistry and the source material.
Jim Richardson - Musician and Producer | tripperjones.ai
For years in music, we've altered sounds with tech, whether it's the synthesizer, the electric guitar pedal, or a digital audio workstation. These were all technology advances that helped artists create better. AI is another tool to help us create.Jim Richardson - Musician and Producer | tripperjones.ai

By some, AI use in music is seen as a soulless replacement for human creativity. But others argue AI is a tool like any other, and the key is to ground it in human stems: authentic source material performed by musicians that keep the foundation unmistakably alive.

We spoke with Jim Richardson, a musician and producer, running his own hobby record company, tripperjones.ai, to release AI-assisted music. At his day job, Richardson is AI Cloud King at Finchloom, guiding organizations like Dole Food Company through major technological transformations.

For him, the backlash against AI in music stemmed from a fundamental misunderstanding of its role in the creative process. He argued that AI is not an enemy to art, but simply the next evolution in a long line of technological aids. "For years in music, we've altered sounds with tech, whether it's the synthesizer, the electric guitar pedal, or a digital audio workstation. These were all technology advances that helped artists create better," Richardson explained. "AI is another tool to help us create."

  • Humanity at the core: Richardson’s process is deeply personal, using AI to resurrect his own musical past. "I have 50 hours of recorded analog music from the mid-90s that I can take clips from and turn that into something new," he explained. "Taking what I call a 'human stem' as the grounding data, it creates new music that sounds like something we would have made and has the feeling of the way we played."
  • AI-assisted art vs. slop: Richardson drew a hard line between his method and the low-effort content proliferating online. He separated his work from what the industry has disparagingly termed "AI slop," emphasizing that the difference comes down to craft and the source material. "Some people type a prompt, hit go, and publish whatever is generated. I'm not a fan of it," he stated. "Where I think I'm different is that I take real music and craft it."

AI can split songs into stems, but Richardson said the differentiator comes from where those stems begin. By grounding his work in recordings pulled from his own history—riffs, rhythms, and textures with human fingerprints—he preserves a level of authenticity and feeling that machine-made stems alone can’t capture.

  • Overcoming AI prejudice: There's a tendency for listeners to judge a song differently when they hear it was created with AI. Richardson's solution is radical transparency. "AI-generated music carries a negative connotation right now," he said. "I get past that by being open and honest. I'm using my own material, overdubbing audio and other instruments on top of it, and doing all my own editing, mastering, and mixing. So AI is really just one small part of the process."

    Jim Richardson - Musician and Producer | tripperjones.ai
    Taking what I call a 'human stem' as the grounding data, it creates new music that sounds like something we would have made and has the feeling of the way we played.Jim Richardson - Musician and Producer | tripperjones.ai

    He pointed to the cautionary tale of The Velvet Sundown, where the lack of a human face behind the band created suspicion and mistrust, instead of fandom. "Initially, I used a robot mascot as the face of my brand, too. That didn't resonate," he said. "Your audience needs a person to relate to. I'm showing them AI is really just a paintbrush that has magical qualities, and I'm the one wielding that paintbrush."

  • AI as a lab: For other artists cautiously dipping their toes into AI, Richardson recommends using it as a creative playground to experiment and find a sound that works. "Build a framework of a song, build a melody," he said. "AI can be your lab, where you work in the studio, so to speak. And once you have that creation, then you can record it analog if you want."

  • AI for accessibility: Before AI, there were physical barriers to entry into the music industry. You had to learn how to play an instrument or use analog equipment. For someone with dexterity issues or other physical limitations, that meant they were excluded from making music. "AI makes music available to more people," Richardson said. "That's a good thing. Music shouldn't be a secret club where only certain people get in. I believe music is universal, and it's a gift that humans have made."

For him, this is the ultimate potential of AI. Transcending limitations to create. Looking forward, Richardson said he even envisions a potential future where an artist’s essence can be captured and live on indefinitely, collaborating on new works long after their physical career ends. "Imagine a Tom Cruise movie every year for the next 50 years, and he never ages," he said. "I like that we can keep our legacy alive through AI."