Surprisingly, I actually like this song created with Suno.

I’m not ready to dismiss AI in music entirely (I’m a fan of Holly Herndon, after all), but I often find generative AI music to be painfully dull, especially when it comes to the works produced by Suno. So, it’s a bit surprising that I genuinely enjoy 1010Benja’s “Semiramis’ Dream.”

Benja has been open about incorporating generative AI in his latest EP, *Time Has Nothing To Do With What You Choose…* While the other three tracks don’t quite match the energy of 2024’s *Ten Total*, the opener “Semiramis’ Dream” is a standout. It bursts forth with a vibrant jungle beat and showcases Benja’s remarkable, unmistakably human vocals.

You might not immediately recognize that this track is a product of Suno, as it lacks many of the typical telltale signs. Even the most AI-like element—the choir of backup singers—blends seamlessly into the hyperpop-inspired rapid-fire edits. By embracing the artificiality that’s common in modern pop, Benja cleverly conceals the origins of these sounds.

But Benja isn’t trying to hide anything. In an interview, he explained his creative process:
> “My friend Patrick Holder did the beat. I recorded the vocals. Then we fed Suno the elements, settled on something, brought it out, edited it on Ableton, and then put it back into Suno. So when you look in Deezer, it marks the song as AI-generated. We’re not hiding it. We don’t feel any shame about it.”

This approach certainly distinguishes his work from the typical output associated with Suno. He wrote the lyrics, performed the vocals, and collaborated with others to create the music. After feeding that into Suno, he took the AI’s output, refined it in Ableton, added more layers, and repeated the process multiple times. Benja estimates he went through this cycle a few hundred times for “Semiramis’ Dream.”

While he claims to be indifferent about the tools he uses, he’s aware of the ethical implications surrounding generative AI. He recognizes its environmental impact but somewhat resignedly states that we can’t stop greedy corporations or reverse the rise of AI: “The good guy doesn’t win this one,” he remarks.

> “The only reason I’m using gen at all is because my visions are currently far beyond my means. People have been asking me, ‘Did you use gen AI for this EP?’ I’m like, [sarcastically] ‘No, I hired a professional children’s choir.’ What are we talking about? I haven’t paid rent last month, and I won’t pay rent this month. I don’t know where the fuck I’m gonna be.”

It’s hard not to feel for Benja. Despite being on the brink of a breakthrough and receiving accolades for *Ten Total*, he’s a struggling artist who has faced homelessness.

That said, it’s important to note that there’s little in “Semiramis’ Dream” that he couldn’t have achieved without AI. While he may not have been able to hire a children’s choir, the AI-generated choir in *Time Has Nothing To Do With What You Choose…* isn’t particularly convincing. A similar effect could be created with layered performances and clever vocal processing.

1010Benja hasn’t changed my skepticism about AI art, but he has shown that, when used thoughtfully, Suno can produce something worthwhile.