🎙 AI For Songwriters: My Confession About Using ChatGPT For Lyrics (And Why I'm Not Afraid)

Hey Songwriters,

At the time of this writing it's 1AM, I'm still in the studio (send help), and I'm about to head to bed… But before I go, I wanted to get real with you about something I've been experimenting with: using AI in my songwriting.

Yeah, I said it.

The AI Songwriting Confession

Let's cut straight to it – I've been using various LLMs (ChatGPT, Deepseek, Claude, etc.) to help me with various "busy work" tasks but recently I tried it with song lyrics.

There, I said it out loud.

Before you close this email thinking I've joined the robot overlords, hear me out. I've been working on this one song for literally MONTHS (anyone else know that special torture?). I had a chorus I loved, but then changed a verse line which meant the chorus no longer worked, which meant... well, you know the spiral, the back and forth, talking myself out of it, etc. aaaand... AHHHH!!!

After weeks of staring at this ONE LINE that wouldn't come, I tried something: I fed ChatGPT my own custom lyric-writing system (I call it the Echo Chamber Songwriting Toolkit) and my existing lyrics, asking for help with just that one stubborn line.

Did it write the perfect line? Nope. But it gave me something interesting that I could shape into what I needed. And guess what? I FINALLY FINISHED THE FRICKIN' THING.

Why I'm Not Scared of AI (And Maybe You Shouldn't Be Either)

We've been hearing dystopian warnings about technology for over a century. Brave New World, 1984, Black Mirror... yet here we are, still human, still making art, still connecting.

Every songwriter I know has at least some anxiety about tools like Suno that generate entire songs. My unfiltered take? I flat don't care about Suno. It's impressive technically, sure, but also robotic. It's a tool for people who don't actually write songs.

I don't fear a world where AI writes music because I don't think that's what most people truly want. What we DO want are better tools to help us create more efficiently.

My Real-World AI Workflow (That's Actually Helping)

Here's how I'm actually using AI in my creative process:

• I write newsletters completely in my own voice and style

• Then I ask AI to help me organize it using proven frameworks (PASTOR, AIDA, etc.)

• I take what it gives me, keeping what works and changing what doesn't

• For lyrics, I feed it my own custom framework plus existing lyrics when I'm stuck

This isn't replacing my creativity – it's accelerating it. It's like having a really smart, tireless assistant who can help you try different approaches when you're banging your head against the wall.

The Independent Artist Reality Check

While we're worrying about AI, the real threats to indie musicians are right in front of us. Major labels have essentially colonized Spotify, pushing independents further into the margins.

The question isn't "will AI take our jobs?" but "how do we use every available tool to build our thousand true fans?" – because that community is what matters most.

My friend who owns one of the largest CD manufacturing companies in the world (Atomic Disc) told me just last week: "Every time we think CDs are dead, they just keep going. Artists still want physical copies, and true fans still want to own them."

My Challenge To You: Get In The Sandbox

Remember when you were a kid and saw a sandbox? You didn't overthink it – you just jumped in and started playing.

That's my challenge to you with AI: get in the sandbox. Don't worry about whether it'll replace you (it won't). Instead, figure out what it does well, where the holes are, and how you might use it as just another tool in your creative arsenal.

If you want to try Suno for melody ideas – go for it! If you want to use ChatGPT to help with a stubborn lyric – why not? The tools of our era are there to be used.

In the coming months (once I'm back in my studio) it's my intent to ramp up my video creation and put together video curriculum based on my Echo Chamber Songwriting system. I'm genuinely excited about creating resources that can help ANYONE make better music, faster.

What about you? Are you using AI for any part of your creative process? Are you curious but hesitant? Completely opposed? Hit reply and let me know – I read every response and I'm genuinely curious where you stand on all this. Check out my video on Youtube about it, here:

📺 Watch the video version of this story → Here (on Youtube)

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Watch the Video Now

Stay inspired everyone!
Josh Schroeder
Founder, Thousand Echoes

P.S. If you've read this far, you're definitely my people. Like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more unfiltered conversations about songwriting, creativity, and building a sustainable career as an independent artist. Can't wait to see you in the next video!