Styx’s Lawrence Gowan shared his opinions on musicians using A.I. in their work and explained why he felt there was something missing in an interview with Beyond the Vibe Podcast.
When asked about his thoughts on the use of AI in music, Styx’s Lawrence Gowan shared a nuanced perspective.
He admitted, “I don’t quite know yet what to think because we don’t know what it’s going to be.” Gowan referenced a 1990s interview with David Bowie, where Bowie predicted the internet’s transformative effects. Paraphrasing Bowie, Gowan noted that the internet was beyond what anyone could envision. He added that it brought both devastating effects and marvelous innovations, as is the case with any new human invention.
Gowan expressed skepticism about AI’s ability to entertain. He remarked, “So often so many AI things that I’ve seen fall very short of the entertaining factor.” He attributed this to the lack of a human guiding hand behind AI creations. According to Gowan, entertainment is something uniquely human, as it requires understanding what will resonate emotionally with another person.
He also reflected on the dynamic between humans and AI. Gowan said, “I’m not sure if the AI is manipulating us or we’re manipulating it.” He observed that when humans direct AI, the results can be entertaining. However, he found that purely AI-generated content often lacks emotional impact and feels dull. “It’s not giving me any kind of emotional response whatsoever,” he concluded.
Gowan is deeply involved in the band’s current creative surge, helping to shape and perform on their 18th studio album, Circling From Above, which was released on July 18, 2025, and features his vocals and songwriting alongside bandmates like Tommy Shaw and Will Evankovich.
Beyond his work with Styx, Gowan continues to maintain a presence as a solo artist, performing his own shows—especially in Canada—between Styx tour dates, and has discussed exploring additional solo material alongside his band commitments.
