Slash Music had the chance to sit down with Drew Spence, known as producer Dynamics Plus. The creative force behind The Dynamic Universe, a multimedia project blending graphic comics, digital art, and music, he’s also the mind behind the DynamicaMusic YouTube channel, home to the full collection of music videos for AI-powered singer and personality Lauryn Grace, as well as the new fantasy web series “Age of Forgotten Heroes.” We discussed his creative approach, his relationship with artificial intelligence, and the debates it sparks within the art community.
We noticed that for the Lauryn Grace album “The Color of Emotion,” all the music videos are connected into one narrative. Where did that idea come from?
Storytelling has always been an interest. From the comics, web series like “Mark of the Griffin,” to the rap albums of Dynamics Plus, I’ve always enjoyed sharing adventures.
You were actively creating stories and lore before AI. What is different now that you’ve incorporated AI?
Not much really. It’s a very similar workflow to how I made my CGI Comics. Daz Studio is my primary creative environment. I create characters, build sets, direct the scenes, and then use advanced editing to put it all together. I do the same thing with AI, but instead of rendered images, it’s music videos and short films.
And what has the reception been like?
Oh, very similar. We, as artists, process everything through a creative filter. How you make something is as important as what you make. It’s like being a chef and asking how your food tastes and the person refuses to answer until they know where every ingredient came from, how you baked it, and what seasonings you used. If they approve of your recipe, they will say it tastes good. If they think you are breaking their baking rules, they will say it tastes horrible. And they will do this before they even take a bite.
And you experienced this with your comics?
Yes. Traditional artists, with no experience in the CGI workflow, were suddenly all experts and knew everything there was to know about how 3D comics were made. In parallel, people who do not use AI tools think everything is created by just typing out some prompts. I did a course for Digital Art Live and the Daz Studio store where I combined AI tools with CGI, all without giving up your artistry, for the ease and speed of artificial intelligence.
You can check out Drew Spence’s full range of comics on Amazon.
How do you feel about the term “AI Slop”?
The phrase is overused and thrown around too easily, but it’s a real thing. Someone who is not a writer or author is using AI to release a flood of crappy books. Someone who is not a musician or producer is releasing a flood of terrible and generic music. In all these cases, the goal is to use quantity over quality, as a strategy, which destroys the lane for the real creatives. I think it’s time we stop blaming AI and realize there are actual people working hard to ruin the authentic experience.
What are the downsides of using AI?
You lose the journey and don’t become the thing AI does for you. Prompting an illustration doesn’t make you an artist. Generating songs doesn’t make you a musician or producer. I was cooking way before CGI or AI arrived. The term “AI Artist” is reserved for those using skill and imagination, with the aid of AI tools, to create art. We have a lot of people running around calling themselves AI Artists when they are actually just AI users.
Also, once you say you use AI, most assume the worst. No one was there with you while you created. How does anyone know where the AI stops and you begin? Whenever I see a generated piece, I don’t know how to properly evaluate it because I don’t know what the person did and what the app did. I took a bite and I liked the taste, but I don’t know if you’re really a chef or a person that warms things up.
How do you deal with that?
I hope the rules of art still apply. I don’t make art for other artists. I only want respect from my peers, not support or praise, and certainly not sales. My peers are the people using Daz Studio to create graphic novels, comics, and art. They evaluate, from experience, because they know the assets and understand the process. They can form informed opinions on the human aspects of my work. Many aspects of Lauryn Grace are AI, but you can listen to the songs and watch the videos and see where the lines are expertly blurred. I dare anyone to taste it and be honest.
Is there anything else we need to know?
I think, if you support The Dynamic Universe, you should follow my DynamicaMusic YouTube channel. That’s where everything is going first and there will be stuff that only exists in video format. So yeah, please subscribe and stay up to date with what we’re doing. Thank you, Slash Music.
From storytelling rooted in comics and graphic novels to a candid take on what AI can and can’t replace, Drew Spence offers a clear-eyed look at where artistry stands in the age of artificial intelligence. With The Dynamic Universe and Lauryn Grace, he continues to push the boundaries between technology and authentic creation.
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