For five singles released over 2023 and 2024, I used Midjourney to generate cover art. At the time, I viewed generative AI as an intriguing new artistic tool, and even thought I was being particularly ethical by paying for a subscription. I suppose I was aware of the concept of “training data”, but I didn’t really think through the ethical implications, and I certainly didn’t imagine the technology rapidly becoming ubiquitous to the point of becoming a threat not just to individual artists, but to entire creative fields. 

 

I believe the fundamental role of art is to express our humanity, and through that expression, connect to each other. AI can create a frighteningly convincing facsimile of art, but it possesses no intent. There can be no connection because there’s nothing there to connect to. Given that, I see the current tidal wave of AI-generated content as nothing short of dystopian. 

 

I regret using AI-generated art in connection with my music in the past. I won’t go as far as to categorically condemn artists who use AI tools as part of their process, for just as I was initially blind to generative AI’s perils, I may now be blind to some potential ethical use. But, for my own sake, I will not be using generative AI in any form in relation to Longing for Orpheus or any other artistic endeavours with which I’m involved.

 

I haven’t decided what to do with the existing singles that have AI-generated art. I don’t know what the right thing to do is. Should I pull the current versions from distribution and re-release them with non-AI art (there was no AI involved in the creation of the songs themselves, so I certainly don’t want to just purge them from existence)? Or would that be dishonest, like an attempt to deny that I’d made mistakes? I don’t know yet. 

What I do know is what I’m doing for new music. I’m working on a concept album/EP to release later this year, for which I’ve commissioned original art from a phenomenal local (to me) artist, Samuel Perin. The sketches he’s shown me so far look fantastic. I feel very good about supporting and collaborating with a real, human artist, and I can’t wait to show you the results.

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-Derek Smootz (Feb. 20, 2026)