Songs Across America is a values-driven music & travel project. I write the lyrics and creative direction for every track, and I use modern AI tools to produce vocals and instrumentation because I don't sing or play instruments. This page explains my approach and the guardrails I follow to keep the work ethical and original.

Bottom line

AI is my tool, not my substitute. The intent, authorship, and responsibility are mine.

• A production instrument: like a studio full of session players I can direct.
• An accessibility bridge: it lets a non-performing songwriter publish fully produced music.
• A creative amplifier: I iterate prompts, structure, tempo, mood, and arrangement to achieve a specific artistic goal.

• Not a copier: I do not reuse or sample protected music or lyrics without permission.
• Not a replacement for musicians: I respect and support traditional artists and live performance.
• Not automatic art: the songs are intentional works guided by my writing, editing, and direction.

1. Concept & research: place-based story, imagery, and themes (environment, history, people).
2. Lyrics & structure: verses, choruses, bridges, BPM targets, mood, and instrumentation notes.
3. AI-assisted production: I guide vocals/instruments (e.g., harmony counts, timbre, groove) and iterate.
4. Review & refinement: arrangement tweaks, seasonal/regional versions, mastering choices.
5. Publishing: page creation with album art, samples, streaming links, and state/park cross-links.

• No unauthorized sampling: protected works belong to their creators; permission is required.
• Original authorship: all lyrics and musical direction are mine; outputs are created for this project.
• Attribution & credit: when collaborators or licensed assets are used, I credit and comply with terms.

• Transparency: clearly stating when AI tools assist production.
• Respect: never imitating living artists' voices/styles in a way that misleads or exploits.
• Community: supporting musicians and inviting collaboration where it adds value.
• Stewardship: aligning with Optimistic Humanism — art that uplifts, connects, and protects.

It lets a non-performing songwriter publish fully produced music without compromising integrity or originality.

No. I don't copy or sample protected music/lyrics without permission.

Not at all. I support them and believe AI and traditional music can thrive together.

AI-enhanced music production is a creative process where human artists use artificial intelligence tools as instruments in their musical toolkit. In our case, we use Suno AI to generate vocals and musical arrangements based on carefully crafted prompts and creative direction from composer M. S. McKenzie. Think of it as a digital orchestra that responds to specific artistic guidance.

Absolutely. Every song begins with original lyrics, musical concepts, and creative direction from M. S. McKenzie. The AI tools we use don't copy existing songs — they help realize our unique vision, much like how a digital audio workstation helps traditional musicians produce their music. Each composition is crafted to tell specific stories about American locations, making them entirely original works.

Our project, Songs Across America, involves creating music for all 50 states and territories — an ambitious undertaking that requires consistent quality and flexibility. AI technology allows us to maintain this consistency while experimenting with different musical styles and voices. It's not about replacing traditional musicians; it's about exploring new possibilities in musical expression.

The creative heart of each song is entirely human. M. S. McKenzie researches locations, writes lyrics, develops musical concepts, and creates detailed prompts that guide the AI. The AI serves as a sophisticated instrument that helps realize this vision. The final productions are carefully curated and refined to ensure they match our artistic standards.

Modern AI music technology has evolved dramatically. Our productions achieve a natural, professional sound quality that serves our artistic goals. We embrace this technology's unique capabilities while ensuring each piece maintains emotional authenticity and musical integrity.

We select locations based on their historical significance, cultural impact, natural beauty, and unique stories. We also consider suggestions from our audience and look for places that offer diverse musical inspiration. Each location must have compelling elements that can be transformed into meaningful musical narratives.

Each song typically takes several days to complete, from initial research through final production. This includes time spent researching the location, writing lyrics, developing musical concepts, creating and refining AI prompts, developing graphics for each album cover, and post-production work to ensure the highest quality result.

While our current focus is on recording and producing these songs, we're exploring ways to bring this music to live audiences. This might include collaborations with local musicians, special event performances, or innovative hybrid performances that showcase both AI and human musicians. We would be very interested in any singers who wish to use our song lyrics to develop their own unique spin on the piece — with permission, of course.

Yes! We welcome suggestions from our audience. While we can't guarantee we'll write about every suggested location, we value input from people who know and love these places. Contact us through our website or social media channels with your suggestions.

Our focus on geographical and cultural storytelling sets us apart from your typical AI song. Instead of using AI to create generic or trivial music, we're using it to craft specific narratives about real places, communities, social issues, and real feelings. Each song is deeply researched and intentionally crafted to capture the essence of its location or theme by exploring the many styles available on the Suno platform as well as the location or theme of the song.

Yes, our music is available on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, YouTube Music, and more than 100 other platforms. You can find us by searching for "American Storyteller Music", "Lyrical Horizon/The Lyrical Horizon", "The Horizon Seekers", or "Loud Mouth Music".

Songs Across America emerged from project creator M. S. McKenzie's lifelong passion for exploration, natural landscapes, and geographical exploration, combined with his expertise in AI technology and creative storytelling. This innovative platform represents the seamless integration of these diverse interests, leveraging cutting-edge AI capabilities to craft musical narratives that celebrate America's rich tapestry of landscapes, history, and cultural heritage.

Through this unique synthesis of technology and artistry, we're creating an immersive musical journey that makes the stories of America's most compelling locations accessible and engaging for audiences everywhere. By harnessing the potential of AI technology, we're crafting musical narratives that bring America's landscapes, history, and cultural diversity to life. This approach transforms traditional storytelling into an immersive journey, making each location's unique character and heritage accessible through the universal language of music. The project stands as a testament to how modern technology can enhance our connection to place, history, and community.

Currently two record labels release and produce our music, Story Teller Books & Music and Loud Mouth Books & Music.

Want to license a track for video, podcast, or film? Media request or interview? Please reach out via the site's contact link or email listed in the footer with project details (use, platforms, dates).

Last updated: September 2025. I will revise this page as tools and norms evolve.