Och Aye, AI: Finn's way to use AI in creativity

I always write the songs. I set out the chords, the feel and the story I am trying to tell. Then, like any other instrument, I use AI to explore options such as arrangements to audition, textures to try, and rough stems to test an idea. After that I make the human choices that matter: theme, structure, performance and final take. AI explores; I compose.

Why I am comfortable saying this out loud

Used well, AI lowers barriers without lowering standards. It widens access, speeds up learning and lets me spend more time where the spark lives: melody, lyric, emotion and intent.

This is not new. Plenty of revered musicians did not read standard notation and still changed the world. B. B. King played by ear. Jimi Hendrix and Paul McCartney built era defining music without relying on formal notation. What counted was not paperwork; it was ears, taste and relentless craft.

In electronic music many influential creators were not known for traditional instrumental chops; they composed through samplers, drum machines and digital audio workstations. Different tools, same demands on judgement. Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, DJ Premier, J Dilla, Madlib, Liam Howlett of The Prodigy, Aphex Twin, Avicii, Calvin Harris and many others. They proved that programming, sampling and sound design can function as instruments when guided by vision and taste.

What “used well” means in my process

Intent comes first: the song dictates the tool, never the other way round.

Human authorship is clear: I originate the lyric and harmony, decide the arrangement, and make the final edits.

Transparency matters: if AI meaningfully helps, for example by cleaning a noisy demo or sketching a harmony, I will say so; I think it's important and it helps builds trust and helps others learn.

Data ethics guide my choices: I use tools and libraries that respect rights and licences.

Purpose outweighs novelty: I adopt technology because it helps tell the story better or reach more people, not because it is fashionable or a easy route.

Why this helps culture, not harms it

AI brings in voices that lacked time, tools or cash. It tightens feedback loops, so you can compare a lyric, try three keys for a vocal, and translate a verse to check meaning in a morning. Accessibility improves as well through captioning, speech to text and translation, so more people can make and enjoy music. The outcome is not fewer artists; it is more.

The craft still matters, perhaps more than ever

Tools do not level taste; they level access. The difference between average and excellent is still intent, authenticity, skill and hours in the chair. You can hear when technology is used to cut corners; you can also hear when it is used to refine an idea and go deeper.

A measured conclusion and an invitation

AI is a power tool in my studio, not a replacement for my voice. I write the songs. I set the chords. I make the calls. If technology helps me listen better, prototype faster and reach further, while staying honest about how it is used and who gets paid, then it is part of the craft. This is evolution, not erosion. The human spark stays at the centre.

I also collaborate across distance. I work with Mariano Beyoglonian, known as Nano Bayo, on mixing and mastering. Digital workflows brought two people who are roughly seven thousand miles apart into the same room in spirit. Mariano is a two time Latin Grammy winner, who got involved because he thought the songs were excellent and the journey was something he really wanted to be part of. More human creation with digital support.

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The original album AON is not the finish line; it is the platform. We will use it to launch a people’s version of AON, to find local 'Finnatic Singers' and to create a real chance for talented voices to join the journey. Smart tools will help us surface singers who might never otherwise be heard, match them to songs and keys, and capture performances that feel true to place.

For all involved at Finn Moray, that is special. That is creation. That is technology providing opportunity.

Finn Moray

To find out more about how you could become a 'Finnatic Singer' email finn@finnmoray.com