Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske recently shared his perspective on the growing use of artificial intelligence in music creation. During an appearance on the “And Now The Band” podcast, the frontman debated the value of AI generators that rely on algorithms and machine learning to construct melodies, harmonies, and lyrics.
According to Michael Kiske, music generated by machines fundamentally lacks emotional depth.
”[A.I.-created music] will never be original, because it only uses the material that is there and generates something out of it. It’s probably gonna become very perfect, but it’s never gonna have the spirit. And I think that’s the big test we’re going through — the big divine test. Do you want fake perfection or human originality that has spirit and soul? And you know when you talk to people on what side they’re on. Some people are just completely ignorant; they don’t give a f**k, as long as it is easy to get a song. Even if they like the song and you tell them the band doesn’t exist, it doesn’t bother them, and others just don’t wanna have anything to do with it.”
He expanded on the importance of human emotion in art, contrasting it with the limitations of computer-generated output.
“To me, music in general, or art in general, is a human expression. You express something that matters to you emotionally, and that gives the spirit, and the computer doesn’t have that. It can just fake it — it can suck it in and fake it…”
He continued: “We have the bands that we like, especially when you come from rock music or whatever, you know the bands that you like and you know that they’re real and they do their stuff. And I think this attitude towards music is never gonna go away for a specific type of person.”
The singer then compared the current wave of AI tools to the highly commercialized pop music industry of the 1980s, noting that technology is best used for entirely fictional visual mediums.
“To me, A.I. music is a bit like the artificial pop productions of the ’80s, where it was never about an idea or expressing something through a song; it was just trying to design a hit single to make cash. So, to me, that’s the same kind of thing, just [with] more perfection, and you will have the same sort of separation in people. I mean, A.I. is useful for some things. A.I. is great when you make science-fiction movies, for instance, where you fake a world anyway… But everywhere where A.I. replaces your creativity, that’s where it’s the devil. And think about it: it has an effect,” Kiske added.
Michael also warned about the psychological consequences of relying on technology to perform creative tasks.
“I know how exciting technology is. I’m excited about technology. When I had my first A.I. app, for about, like, three weeks, I was fooling around with it and it was fun. And then I completely lost interest. And then I never looked at it anymore,” he explained. “I understand it, but if people, in general, anyone giving up on being productive and creative, the more you pass that over to machines and computer, you’re gonna lose it. You will degenerate, mentally and in your soul. Because when we are productive, that means unleashing energy… It’s addictive. It’s very tempting. Technology is exciting, but you gotta be in control. It’s important that you don’t let it control you and your life. It’s not easy for many to notice that.”
He concluded by reflecting on his own upbringing prior to the internet age, admitting his vulnerability to digital addiction.
“I’m so glad that I grew up in times where there was no Internet, there was no mobile phones. Because I know I would’ve been sucked in. It’s the same with computer games. When I was young, we had these very early Atari games. It was very simple. They were already addictive, but nothing compared to what it is now. So I don’t envy [the kids today], because it needs so much control and will strength to not get sucked into it and actually get damaged by it.”
