Catching Up With St. Vincent On Art, AI, And Her Evolving Sound

By Lara Kramer  •  11 Sep 2024 in Features

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In the grungey, kaleidoscopic world of St. Vincent, also known as Annie Clark, boundaries blur between genres, technology, and artistry.

JUICE recently had the chance to catch up with the innovative musician as she wrapped up her “All Born Screaming” tour across the U.S. and Canada.

What followed was a deep dive into her thoughts on artificial intelligence, streaming algorithms, and what fans can expect from her highly anticipated performance at Joyland:

Touring And Tinkering (St. Vincent’s Latest Ventures)

When asked about her recent endeavours, St. Vincent revealed she’s been experimenting with a unique blend of electronic dance music, created in the solitude of her studio.

However, her creative playground isn’t just about laying down beats – it’s also about exploring the potential of AI in music.

St. Vincent has experimented with AI, even using ChatGPT to generate song ideas. However, she remains cautious about its ability to produce compelling art independently. To her, AI can enhance creativity, but it cannot replace the unique vision and touch of the artist.

“I think AI can be really helpful to artists,” Clark mused. However, she emphasised that for AI to be truly artful, it needs to be harnessed by artists themselves.

According to Clark, AI on its own lacks the compelling human touch that defines true artistry. It’s only when an artist filters AI’s capabilities through their own lens that something truly interesting can emerge!

 

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Streaming Algorithms: A Barrier To Discovery?

St. Vincent is also critical of the role streaming algorithms play in music discovery. She mourns the loss of the tangible and serendipitous experience that record stores once provided.

“I’ve never had meaningful discovery of a new artist on a streaming platform,” she admitted, preferring to rely on recommendations from friends who share her eclectic taste in music.

Despite the vast array of options available on streaming platforms, St. Vincent finds them lacking in the depth and engagement necessary for true music discovery.

“To me, the experience of that is nothing particularly conducive to active listening or discovery of new art,” she said, expressing her concern about the disconnect between digital curation and the personal connection that comes from exploring music in a more organic way.

She also quipped, that for her, meaningful musical discoveries still happen through human connections, not digital playlists.

 

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Marketability Vs. Authenticity In Music

The guitar virtuoso also touched on the often conflicting worlds of marketability and artistic integrity. When asked how artists should balance these, she was candid: “Marketability and great art are not often bedfellows.”

She acknowledged that while certain works are engineered for virality, this doesn’t necessarily align with the essence of the music itself.

In an age where authenticity is currency, Clark reflected on the paradox of selling something inherently personal. “It’s fraught territory… because you are selling it, and it’s mediated through all kinds of screens and can be easily manipulated,” she explained.

The result is a “house of mirrors” where the lines between genuine expression and commercial appeal are increasingly blurred.

Dancing Into New Territories

Despite being known for her genre-defying sound, St. Vincent confessed that she’s recently found herself gravitating towards dance music – a genre she admits she knows little about.

“I love making dance music, but I don’t know anything about it per se,” she laughed, illustrating her current exploration as a musician first, rather than a listener.

A Glimpse Into Joyland

As anticipation builds for her upcoming performance at the Joyland festival in Jakarta, St. Vincent offered a tantalising preview of what fans can expect:

“In its soul, it’s a punk rock show,” she described, but quickly added that it will also have moments of delicacy, beauty, and a dark rave vibe.

“We sort of start in hell and end up in heaven,” she teased, leaving fans with much to look forward to.

For her Malaysian fans, many of whom will be seeing her live for the first time, Clark expressed heartfelt gratitude.

She acknowledged the significance of connecting with audiences across language barriers, noting, “It’s never lost on me when people are fans of my music, even when English isn’t their first language. I appreciate that so much.”

Chatting with St. Vincent feels like stepping into her world – full of sharp insights, unexpected twists, and a genuine love for pushing creative limits. Whether she’s musing on AI, the quirks of streaming, or her latest obsession with dance beats, her passion for staying true to her art is unmistakable.

It’s clear she’s not just making music; she’s crafting an experience.

Our take? Fans should buckle up for more surprises, deep connections, and plenty of sonic mischief as she continues to reinvent what it means to be an artist.