November 2022 marks quite a significant development in our modern tech history. ChatGPT was released to the public then.

Since that time last year, everyone’s been going crazy about it, praising its “ability” to create nearly human-level content in a matter of seconds.

So, I finally decided to challenge the bot to create an article about a fairly recent release by one of my fave Aussie bands. And you should definitely see what it came up with.

PART 163 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE

• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Threads
• Spotify
• X
• LinkedIn
• TikTok

Every time I tell someone I’m a music blogger these days, they ask me: “Are you not afraid your gig will become obsolete one day?”

Honestly? I don’t. Unlike some professional peers, I strongly believe AI (Artificial Intelligence) will never become sentient. And feelings are that one major characteristic that differentiates us from many other species.

It’s true (music) journalism should be objective, though. So, the lack of emotions in the album reviews generated by AI should speak in its favour. But music, like all other art forms, is meant to evoke feelings. Hence, there’s always a degree of subjectiveness in any article or review produced by a human critic. And that’s what makes it unique and worth readers’ while. You can bounce your ideas off other music fans.

It’s also great that we have different opinions. It’s the sole reason so many different music genres exist these days. If your fave band never happened and the only acceptable and reputable music style was country (with all due respect to that genre), the world would be a rather mundane place.

Interestingly, though, the first time I asked ChatGPT to generate a review of SAFIA’s new album, it returned the following message:

But I know things are very dynamic on that front. So, I went back to the platform about a week later. That second time, the bot churned out what seemed like full-on praise. And before giving you my take on this AI-generated content, here it is in its original form.

A Sonic Journey: SAFIA’s New Album Review

SAFIA, the Australian electronic-indie trio, has returned to the music scene with their highly-anticipated new album, and it’s nothing short of a sonic masterpiece. Released in the midst of a world clamouring for innovative sounds and meaningful lyrics, this album arrives as a breath of fresh air, showcasing the band’s evolution and prowess in crafting captivating electronic music.

From the opening notes of the album’s first track, it’s evident that SAFIA is ready to take listeners on a profound journey through soundscapes that are both ethereal and deeply emotive. “A Sonic Journey” is an apt description for this album, as it explores a wide range of moods and atmospheres, all while maintaining a consistent thread of authenticity that is emblematic of SAFIA’s unique style.

One of the standout tracks on the album is “Transcendence,” a mesmerizing blend of haunting vocals, intricate percussion, and lush synths. The song’s introspective lyrics delve into themes of self-discovery and personal growth, making it a poignant addition to the album. It’s a track that feels tailor-made for those moments when you need to escape into your thoughts and feelings.

SAFIA’s ability to seamlessly fuse electronic elements with organic instrumentation shines throughout the album. Tracks like “Euphoria” and “Catalyst” showcase their production finesse, with intricate layers of sound that invite the listener to lose themselves in the music. The use of vocal harmonies and carefully crafted melodies adds depth and dimension to each song, creating an immersive listening experience.

The album isn’t afraid to explore a variety of sonic palettes. “Sirens” takes a darker turn with its brooding basslines and eerie synths, creating a sense of unease that is strangely alluring. Conversely, “Radiate” brings a burst of brightness with its upbeat tempo and catchy hooks, making it an infectious tune bound to get listeners moving.

Lyrically, SAFIA delves into themes of self-reflection, love, and the complexities of human emotions. Their storytelling is both relatable and thought-provoking, adding an extra layer of depth to an already rich musical experience.

One of the album’s strongest assets is its cohesiveness. Each track flows seamlessly into the next, creating a sense of continuity that allows the listener to fully immerse themselves in the album’s world. It’s clear that SAFIA has crafted this album with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that every element contributes to the overall narrative.

In a time when music often feels disposable and formulaic, SAFIA’s new album is a refreshing reminder of the power of creativity and artistic expression. “A Sonic Journey” is an invitation to explore the depths of human emotion through a diverse range of sounds and experiences. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to SAFIA’s music, this album is sure to leave a lasting impression and solidify their place in the electronic-indie music landscape.

In conclusion, SAFIA’s new album is a mesmerizing, introspective, and immersive sonic journey that showcases the band’s growth and maturity as musicians. With its lush production, meaningful lyrics, and a diverse range of musical styles, it’s an album that deserves a place in your music collection. SAFIA has once again proven their ability to create music that transcends boundaries and connects on a deeply emotional level. “A Sonic Journey” is a triumph and a testament to the enduring power of artistic innovation in the world of music.

Not bad for an AI tool, right? It’s coherent. It follows a review structure. And it covers all the bases: the lyrics, the sonic level and some info about the band’s accomplishments and history.

Sadly, this review has nothing to do with what I was after.

Because SAFIA’s new album is called A Lover’s Guide to a Lucid Dream. It was released on September 22, 2023. There are 14 tracks on it. And none of them are called “Euphoria”, “Transcendence” or “Radiate”. To my knowledge, there are no such songs in the band’s entire catalogue. Unless there’s a Parallel Universe that I’m not privy to.

So, the tunes in the bot’s article are entirely made up. Surprisingly, though, ChatGPT has got some other things right.

SAFIA is an indie-electronic three-piece from Canberra. Its signature sound truly is “ethereal, emotive and atmospheric”. And the lyrics do explore “the themes of self-reflection, love, and the complexities of human emotions.” So well done on that front, AI.

I started following SAFIA thanks to their mates from the Aussie capital, Peking Duk. When I got to Oz and began exploring the local music scene, their collab, “Take Me Over”, was still frequently played on the radio.

I also had the trio’s debut album from 2016, Internal, on repeat for a long time. “Together, Locked Safely” is still one of my go-to SAFIA bangers.

During my time in Australia, I was fortunate to see the band live on a few occasions. And I even dug out some footage from those days.

After their debut album, before 2016 and 2019, the band took the “singles” approach to releasing music. Then, they dropped their sophomore body of work, Story’s Start or End, which contains another of my SAFIA faves, “Resolution”. They performed a beaut rendition of the track for triple j’s “Like A Version Sessions” in 2022.

Aside from that, however, not much was happening in the band’s camp during the pandemic. And that made me a little concerned. You see, I’m a huge fan of the underestimated Canberra scene. (Funnily, SAFIA thinks there is no such thing, which the band members recently revealed on Tim Blackwell’s “Introducing” podcast.)

Finally, in 2023, three new singles and the new album graced the fans’ ears. So yes, ChatGPT is right in saying this new record was “highly anticipated” (even though this expression is a journalistic cliché).

And I’d agree with some other statements from the bot’s article.

SAFIA definitely has the “prowess in crafting captivating electronic music”. The opening track on the new album, “A Lover’s Guide to a Lucid Dream”, is a testament to that. And they always take “listeners on a profound journey through soundscapes“. Here, “Float” is a good example. Personally, it’s also the element that draws me to their music so much.

You can’t disagree that songs on this album show the band’s “production finesse […] with its brooding basslines and eerie synths, creating a sense of unease that is strangely alluring. “Today” fits that definition perfectly. And if you consider a track like “Falling Down”, I couldn’t have put this part better myself: “The use of vocal harmonies and carefully crafted melodies adds depth and dimension to each song“. So again, not bad, ChatGPT.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by S A F I A (@safiamusic)

Amazingly, the bot and I also coincide on one more point. It was actually the first thing that came to my mind when I heard the new record.

It’s an exceptionally cohesive body of work.

Quoting ChatGPT again: “Each track flows seamlessly into the next, creating a sense of continuity that allows the listener to fully immerse themselves in the album’s world.” The “Lucid Dream” in question is only complete if you experience it in its entirety, i.e. from the beginning of the album till the end, in one go.

This is where the brilliance in the article ends, though.

Now, I get how AI and ML (Machine Learning) work. First, bots are provided with heaps of data. They process it, trying to generate new content. Often, the result is informative and reads pretty well. But it’s neither original nor ground-breaking. And it can be quite misleading, as this particular example clearly shows.

So, if you ask me again about ChatGPT being a threat to the future of my music blogging, I’m not worried about it. And if I can give you some advice based on the content generated by AI, it’s this: Don’t trust everything you find on the internet. Double-check it. Fact-check it. And definitely question the source.

Because one thing is for sure. You won’t see content entirely generated by ChatGPT on this blog anytime soon. 

And to be clear – I actually have nothing against AI as an additional tool enhancing creativity. But I trust more in my ability to write about music and generate content that resonates with readers. (Hopefully, so do you.)

It also turns out that on this new album SAFIA are asking a question that fits this AI dilemma. (Although the lyrics have little to do with the modern tech debate.) In the song closing the record, “Season Changing”, there is a recurring line, which nails my concerns: “Where do we go from here?”

That’s also why you should definitely give the band’s new album – the real one – a listen. I probably wouldn’t risk a statement that “it’s nothing short of a sonic masterpiece”, like ChatGPT did. But it’s still SAFIA. So it’s really, really good.

SAFIA, A Lover’s Guide to a Lucid Dream

Released: 22 September, 2023

14 tracks, 52 mins 39 secs

1. “A Lover’s Guide to a Lucid Dream” – 5:19
2. “Vertigo” – 4:04
3. “Falling Down” – 4:38
4. “Falling Down” (reprise) – 1:02
5. “Float” – 2:57
6. “The Now” – 4:20
7. “No Reason” – 3:57
8. “Today” – 3:35
9. “Interlude” – 0:33
10. “The Thing About Love” – 3:34
11. “Think About It” – 3:49
12. “Fall Right Back to You” – 4:06
13. “Maybe It’s Time” – 4:46
14. “Season Changing” – 5:52

---