Musics Not Fun
There’s been some buzz online about comments made by Mikey Shulman, the CEO of Suno, about why many people don’t enjoy the act of creating music. It sparked some heated reactions, but it also got me thinking: why do I use Suno to create music instead of dedicating the time and effort to learn how to make music myself? And, more importantly, do I even find the process of making music enjoyable?
Let’s start with this: making music isn’t as universally joyful as people might think. Sure, anyone can make music, but creating music that others genuinely enjoy? That takes a huge amount of time, practice, and talent. For me, music doesn’t come naturally. I’ve tried—trust me. I picked up the guitar once and spent countless hours practicing, only to hit a wall where I just couldn’t improve. No matter how much effort I put in, I wasn’t getting better, and that lack of progress turned what was supposed to be fun into a frustrating grind. Eventually, I gave up. It wasn’t worth the massive time investment for something I didn’t find rewarding.
On the flip side, there’s writing lyrics. That comes much more naturally to me. I enjoy it, and I’ve never felt the same kind of struggle with it as I did with instruments. But lyrics alone aren’t music; they’re just words waiting to be brought to life. That’s where Suno steps in.
Suno gives me a way to express myself musically without having to deal with the parts I find tedious or anxiety-inducing. Performance, for instance, has always been a nightmare for me. Some people get a rush from playing on stage or sharing their work online, but for me, it’s a stressful experience. I feel like I’m being judged, like I’m exposing a part of myself that’s open to criticism. AI removes that pressure. If someone doesn’t like a song I create, I can tell myself, “Well, I’m not the one singing it; the machine is.” It gives me a layer of emotional distance that lets me focus on what I actually enjoy—writing personal, honest lyrics—and removes the unpleasant fear of failure.
The way I see it life is like allocating skill points in a game, you can excel at a few things or be average at many. AIs like Suno let you experience mastery in skills you might never have had the time or resources to pursue. Thats why I like to use it.
Here’s a song I wrote recently expressing these feelings of frustration about choice paralysis and what talents we invest our time in.
That’s not to say it’s perfect. There’s a catch-22 to using AI in music. On one hand, I can’t take full credit if a song is a hit because the computer did most of the work. On the other hand, that’s part of what makes it so appealing. The stakes are low, and that freedom lets me explore more vulnerable, personal themes. I don’t have to worry about whether my voice sounds right or if the chords are perfect. Suno handles the technical side while I focus on the emotional side.
It’s also incredibly fast. With Suno, I can type in lyrics, click a button, and get a song in seconds. That instant gratification is amazing—but it does come with a tiny voice in the back of my mind wondering if it’s too easy. Shortcuts like this can sometimes lead to a lack of fulfillment in the long run. I worry that someday I might look back and feel like I cheated myself out of learning a skill or experiencing the journey of creating music the traditional way. But for now, the simplicity is what makes it work for me. I don’t need a bunch of knobs to tweak or endless options to fine-tune the output. I just want to express myself and move on.
At its core, I think this all comes down to what different people enjoy. Some thrive on the technical mastery of instruments or the adrenaline of performing in front of an audience. That’s great for them, but it’s not me. I love writing lyrics and exploring ideas through sound, but I don’t enjoy the performative or technical aspects of music. Suno gives me the tools to create without getting bogged down in the parts I don’t find fun.
So, is using AI to create music fun? Absolutely. For me, it’s the kind of fun that aligns with my strengths and interests, letting me bypass the frustrating obstacles that used to hold me back. It lets me create music in a way that feels honest and personal, even if I can’t take full credit for the end result. And honestly, that’s enough for me.
