Kenyan gospel duo Wapendwa Muziki have sparked debate after revealing that they use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop song demos.
The husband-and-wife team, Meshack “Mesh” Mpendwa and Ninah Mpendwa, discussed their production process during an interview on Oga Obinna TV.
Their revelation has raised questions about the role of technology in gospel music. However, the couple insists that AI supports their creative process rather than replacing their songwriting.
Wapendwa Muziki Use Suno AI for Music Demos
During the interview, Mesh revealed that the duo uses Suno AI, a text-to-music generation platform. He also disclosed that they spend approximately KSh 40,000 annually on premium subscriptions.
The investment allows them to explore musical ideas and develop rough audio concepts. Nevertheless, the couple says they do not rely on AI to write their lyrics.
Instead, Mesh and Ninah compose their songs themselves. They draw inspiration from their faith, personal experiences and spiritual messages.
Human Producers Develop the Final Songs
The couple explained that AI mainly helps them turn their musical ideas into audio demonstrations. These demos give human producers a reference when developing the final recordings. Consequently, the technology helps communicate the sound and direction the duo wants.
Their explanation addresses concerns that AI might be replacing human creativity in gospel music. Wapendwa Muziki maintain that songwriting remains their responsibility. They use the software as a production aid rather than handing over their entire creative process.
Mesh Demonstrates AI Music Creation on Oga Obinna TV
Mesh also demonstrated the technology during the interview. He created a short AI-assisted song about Obinna TV Studios, showing how quickly the platform can transform an idea into audio.
The demonstration attracted attention online and added to discussions about AI’s growing influence on music production.
Some listeners may view the technology as a practical tool for independent musicians. It can help artists experiment with arrangements before committing resources to studio production.
However, others have questioned whether AI-generated demos fit the expectations of gospel music. Their concerns centre on originality, artistic involvement and the spiritual authenticity associated with worship songs.
The debate highlights a wider question facing musicians: how can artists embrace emerging technology while preserving their creative identity?
For Wapendwa Muziki, their position is clear. They write their own lyrics and use AI to develop musical concepts before working with human producers.
