Music is often considered the universal language of the world, as it is something that can bring people together no matter what language they speak or what their background is. Music is more than just sound but a tool that plays an important role in events such as holidays, weddings, concerts, and protests. It helps bring people together for a multitude of reasons. Along with national anthems and sports team chants, music creates a sense of identity. Music can typically fade into the background of everyday life, but it is something that has deep roots in humanity, more than people realize.
Music is not only valuable for how it connects people, but also for the personal connection it can have on the individual level as well. There is a wide variety of genres and preferences when it comes to people’s tastes in music, and this is because music is subjective. It is not just what sounds good that draws people to certain music, but also how a song relates to them, what emotion a song can evoke, the elements of the song itself, and even personal experiences of the artist as well. Music is also deeply personal for individuals who create it. People create music from the soul in an attempt to express emotion, narrative, belief, and identity. For example, Elliott Smith is an indie/folk singer-songwriter known for his melancholic and raw music that describes his personal struggles through his lyrics. He used his music as an outlet for his battle with depression, addiction, heartbreak, and his other life experiences. Elliott Smith’s music appeals to millions of people through his relatable themes and lyrics, his vocals, and his instrumentation.
Music is not simple to make. It requires a lot of technical skills, instrumentation, vocals, creativity, production skills, and then the process of getting that music out to the public. It can take months to years to take an idea and be able to translate that into actual music. It is difficult to produce an idea that the artist has in mind. But then trying to communicate that idea in a way that listeners can understand and enjoy as well in another added layer of difficulty. Although making music takes effort, the process and struggle are what often make the music one of a kind and incredible.
In fact, one of Lake Highland’s talented teachers who is a musician, Mr. Michael Levin, is in multiple bands and has been making music for decades. He recently completed his Turtleneck Sessions, a four-song EP on 10” vinyl. He personally struggles with, “The fear of being derivative, unoriginal, boring…” when he is making music, but inevitably believes that, “Trials and errors are essential” and, “Mistakes create bridges into something new, something more personal.”
Similar to everything else in the world, the music industry is beginning to see the effects of what A.I. and music together can bring. The Guardian reported on how three songs, with two by A.I. artist Breaking Rust, that were generated by A.I., had topped music charts back in November of 2025, where it reached some of the highest spots on Spotify and Billboard charts. As A.I. begins to take top places on charts, It is important to remember that A.I. music and man-made music will never be the same. One of the reasons that music is an art is that it takes human emotion, experience, grief, and love, creating songs that have meaning. A.I. will never be able to experience those things, which takes the meaning out of the song. As Mr. Levin stated, “Mistakes create bridges into something new, something more personal,” which A.I. will never be able to create something unique, because it can only make things perfect. It can replicate the structure of songs, but it cannot replicate the hours of work, the process, the dozens of copies that were drafts, the talent, and the actual sweat and tears that are put into man-made music. One of the most beautiful parts of making music is the creation. Mr. Levin personally enjoys, “Bringing something new into the world that is the child of my heart and mind, with the hope that others may feel a connection.” A.I. never has any of this in mind and focuses on efficiency over expression. One of the reasons people find a connection with an artist is because of who they are, but with this type of music, there is no connection to form, taking out the impact of music created with A.I.
As A.I. advances and has begun to take the spotlight from actual music artists, music with real purpose behind it could be at stake. On social media, artists who have been in the industry for years have been vocal about their anger towards A.I. that is reaching number one without the immense effort they have put in. It is important to remember that music has always been so impactful because of the people behind it, and that it will never be able to compete with music made from the soul.
