People worry about LLMs (Large Language Models) “replacing everyone.” I’ve read countless think-pieces about how AI will destroy creativity, end jobs, and eat art for breakfast. Most of them miss a crucial point: not every project requires the next Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, or Ludwig van Beethoven.
Most of the time, we just need something special—something that fills a gap or scratches a creative itch without having to hire a rockstar (literally or figuratively). This is where LLMs quietly shine.
I’m Logical, Not Artistic
I’m off-the-charts logical and analytical. My world is numbers, systems, and data. I build AI solutions during the day. I saw lumber at night and on weekends. My hands go from keyboards to chainsaws in the same 24 hours.
But here’s the catch: I have zero artistic ability. Music? Graphics design? Creative writing? Forget it. If I tried to write a song, it would sound like an angry spreadsheet set to a drum machine.
AI as the “Good Enough” Artist
That’s why I believe LLMs will replace a lot of junior artists in the future—not because they’re better than Mozart or Van Gogh, but because they’re good enough for the “I just need something” jobs:
- The quick jingle for a marketing video.
- The blog illustration when you don’t want to pay a graphic designer $400.
- The heavy, post-grunge-inspired nu metal song about… chainsaws?
You don’t always need genius. Sometimes you just need something cool.
My Experiment: Nu Metal and AI
To test my theory, I asked my LLM a ridiculous question:
Can you make me a nu metal song about developing AI solutions during the day and sawing lumber at night?
I love post-grunge, alternative metal, and nu metal—bands like Tool, Deftones, Korn, Linkin Park, and Alice in Chains. So why not see if AI could hit that vibe?
The AI-Written Nu Metal Song
Here’s what my LLM came up with (I only gave it a rough idea and let it rip):
“Code and Sawdust”
(Nu Metal Anthem)
[Verse 1 – Whisper-to-growl delivery]
Click clack on the keyboard,
Brains burnin’ in machine code.
Nine-to-five, I’m a ghost in the wire,
Feeding the beast with electric fire.
Silicon thoughts, they never rest,
But I got sawdust bleeding from my chest.
When the sun goes down, I flip the switch,
AI dev turned lumber witch.
[Chorus – Roaring, melodic hook]
Code and sawdust, tearing through the grind,
Metal meets timber, splitting through my mind.
Daytime circuits, nighttime chains,
One life, two worlds, bleeding through the veins.
[Verse 2 – Limp Bizkit humor vibe]
Debugging code with a face full of dust,
AI’s jealous of my chainsaw trust.
Binary trees? I cut the real kind—
Big slabs of maple mess with my mind.
Office chair’s weak, but my back is mean,
From hauling oak like a sawmill machine.
Boss calls me “wizard,” clients say “sage,”
But I’m just a dude with sap on my rage.
Not bad, right? It’s not going to win a Grammy, but it sounds like a song. It’s catchy, it’s fun, and it fits the genre. And it’s special because it’s me.
What This Proves About AI Creativity
This experiment proves something important:
- AI doesn’t need to be brilliant to be useful.
- Sometimes you just need something that’s 80% there—something that fills a void and keeps momentum going.
- AI isn’t competing with Beethoven. It’s competing with the blank page.
Top 10 Nu Metal Tracks You Should Play While Reading This
If you want to set the mood for “Code and Sawdust,” here’s a Top 10 Nu Metal Playlist that perfectly matches the vibe:
- Korn – Freak on a Leash
- Linkin Park – One Step Closer
- Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove It)
- Slipknot – Duality
- System of a Down – Chop Suey!
- Staind – Mudshovel
- Papa Roach – Last Resort
- Limp Bizkit – Break Stuff
- Sevendust – Denial
- P.O.D. – Alive
Final Thought
I can’t afford millions of dollars to have a professional nu metal band craft a custom song for me—and I don’t need that level of artistry for this experiment. What I got from an LLM is maybe 50% of what the pros could do, but it’s still something unique and special.
Between the chasm of no creative output and million-dollar, expert-level creative output, LLMs fill the void with something “just good enough” but still custom-made and meaningful.
And let me be clear: AI isn’t here to replace artists like Maynard James Keenan or Chino Moreno. Those levels of artistry come from lived experience, emotion, and raw creativity—things AI can’t replicate. LLMs and AI tools are more like apprentices. They’re good at giving you a starting point, a rough sketch, or a catchy riff when you don’t need a masterpiece. That’s the real value.
AI as a Creative Amplifier for Musicians
I’m not saying AI will replace Tool or Deftones anytime soon. But honestly? I think LLMs are more than ready to replace me with a synthesizer and electric drums.
But imagine this:
What if professional musicians—true artists—started using LLMs as creative collaborators? Imagine brainstorming 10x the number of riffs, experimenting with hundreds of lyric variations, or blending unexpected genres in minutes. AI could help them explore ideas they might never have considered, serving as both a mirror and a multiplier for their creativity.
The result? Music could get better, not worse.
The bar for what counts as “good” music will rise. And as that standard increases, LLMs won’t replace professional musicians—they’ll push them to create music that’s deeper, bolder, and more innovative than ever.