OI Music/HI Music: Music created by Organic-Human Intelligence; The Antithesis of AI Music. A Definition by Buck Curran

OI Music and it's subdivision HI Music is music created by Organic-Animal Intelligence (OI) and/or Human Intelligence (HI). The terms were specifically created to describe and refer to music produced by animals: humans, birds, whales, insects, etc. OI and HI Music includes all musical sounds generated by humans (live or recorded) using handmade or factory made instruments: guitars, banjos, violins, flutes, trumpets, saxaphone, bones, sticks, drums, etc; or musical sound generated by body parts: singing, hand clapping, foot stomping, etc - including musical sounds generated by the body parts of animals (mammals and insects): monkeys, birds, whales, dolphins, elephants, crickets, cicadas, bees, etc. The terms OI Music and HI Music were coined by American musician, artist, writer Buck Curran on 3 December 2025 at 07:57 to differentiate between music made by Human Intelligence or Animal Intelligence and music generated by Artifical Intelligence (AI) or humans using AI to make music. OI and HI Music is the antithesis of AI Music and distinguishs all music produced, composed/written, performed, transcribed, and recorded by Human or Animal Intelligence (Organic Intelligence) from music generated by Articifical Intelligence (AI). Suno is a leading example of a private company using their online platform (Suno.com) to create tools for consumers and artists enabling the proliferation of Generative AI Music. Suno has been accused of stealing recordings and copyrighted music to train their AI model and was taken to court by Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group in June 2024 over copyright infringement. Other prominent AI companies include OpenAI and Udio. In 2025 the German rights organisation GEMA won a Legal case against OpenAI, which was found guilty of unlawful use of copyright-protected lyrics. A regional court in Munich, Germany found that the US tech firm had illegally reproduced protected lyrics from German songwriters without license or payment. The ruling confirms that OpenAI used GEMA’s repertoire without permission. Profound Examples of OI or HI Music include: J.S. Bach, Amadeus Mozart, Beethoven, Claude Debussy, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Blind Willie Johnson (the 1927 recording of his song 'Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground' was included on the Golden Record (a collection of music, songs, and images meant to show the diversity of Life on Earth) and placed aboard the NASA probes Voyager 1 and 2 and sent into space into 1977), Elizabeth Cotten, Hank Williams, Fred Cockerham, Camarón de la Isla, Paco Delucia, Django Reinhardt, Ali Farka Touré, Toumani Diabaté, Yma Sumac, Mercedes Sosa, Munir Bashir, Selda Bağcan, Jimi Hendrix, Robbie Basho, John Fahey, etc. Contemporary examples of AI Music include The Velvet Sundown, Breaking Rust, Axania Monet. Youtuber and musical expert Rick Beato has produced many videos related to analyzing and criticizing AI Music. The primary purpose of this article with titles and definition of OI and HI Music is to celebrate and defend human artistry (composers and musicians) and to combat (criticize and hold accountable) AI Tech Companies and the proliferation of AI Music which compromises and endangers the livelihoods of performing and recording artists, musicians, composers, sound engineers, mixing and mastering engineers, music promoters and managers, instrument manufacturers, etc. - Buck Curran, 3 December 2025

Buck Curran 'Far Driven Sun' (Obsolete Recordings, Echodelick Records, and ESP-Disk') New album for 2025

My new album 'Far Driven Sun' (my 9th Solo Album) is out now on all streaming platforms and CD available in the US through ESP-Disk' and Obslete Recordings Bandcamp in Europe. The Vinyl edition will be available in October through Echodelick Records. Album Overview: Far Driven Sun, Buck Curran's 9th solo album finds an elemental, full form return to his musical roots; a deep love for the ambient and resonant nature of the acoustic steel-string guitar in alternate tunings. In company and reunited (after an 18 year separation) with a rare 'Butterfly' Model 1 acoustic guitar made by Stefan Sobell in Northumberland, England in 1990 (previously used to record the first two albums made by his duo Arborea), Curran creates idiosyncratic and ethereal soundscapes through the use of its sonorous fundamental voice, incredible sustain, shimmering overtones and harmonics...and the additional use of a brass slide and EBow. The compositions and improvisations that are presented in this album are intricate and subtly powerful throughout...yet plaintive and mystical sounding. The notes contained within Far Driven Sun are further defined with plentiful space and tonal colours. And there is the addition of harmonic flowing bass lines on ‘Unicorn Song’ (a track that was named by Buck’s daughter Lucia) and 'ILiad (Slight Return)’ by Nataly Kozlova and the dynamic drumming of Francesco Di Lenge on ‘ILiad (Slight Return)’. Deserto Parallax is a fine example of Buck using the acoustic guitar to create psychedelic landscapes and ethereal atmospheres.

'Deep in the Lovin' Arms of My Babe' - New Video by Buck Curran

New video for Buck Curran's 'Deep in the Lovin' Arms of My Babe' from his latest solo album 'One Evening and Other Folk Songs'

KLOF Magazine 'Best Albums of 2024'

Deep Thanks to KLOF Magazine (Folk Radio UK) for including Buck Curran's new album 'One Evening and Other Folk Songs' in their list of 'Best Albums of 2024'

Aquarium Drunkard 'Year in Review 2024'

Thanks so much to Aquarium Drunkard for including Buck Curran's new album 'One Evening and Other Folk Songs' (ESP-Disk'/Obsolete Recordings) in their 'Year in Review'for 2024.

Petal Motel 'Best Albums of 2023': Adele H 'Impermanence'

Petal Motel lists Adele H 'Impermanence' among their best albums of 2023.

Solstice: A Tribute to Steffen Basho-Junghans (Various Artists)

Sadly our dear friend, guitarist Steffen Basho-Junghans passed away in December of 2022. With the help of an amazing lineup of guitarists from the US, UK and Europe, Buck has lovingly produced a Tribute to honour Steffen Basho. Among the 23 tracks include artists such as Henry Kaiser, Joseph Allred, Liam Grant, Kendraplex, Isasa, Paul Perrim, Blake Hornsby, and Jesse Sheppard (Elkhorn). The album is available now at Obsolete Recordings Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music

For Adele (Official Video) - Buck Curran

The Official Video for my guitar instrumental 'For Adele' from my new album 'No Love Is Sorrow'. The video was made on location in Bergamo, Italy by myself and Adele Pappalardo.

Uncut Magazine reviews 'No Love Is Sorrow' - Buck Curran

'No Love Is Sorrow' reviewed in the July 2020 issue of Uncut Magazine.

Dancing in the Dark (Springsteen Cover) by Buck Curran

 My arrangement of Bruce Springsteen 'Dancing in the Dark' is now available via, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes, etc.

Townes Van Zandt Festival

Happy to announce I will be performing at the International Townes Van Zandt Festival in Italy on June 2nd.

Buck Curran: 'Song for Liam' Feature Article and Lesson - Acoustic Guitar Magazine

'Song for Liam' Video and Lesson Feature article is now available at Acoustic Guitar Magazine
http://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-buck-currans-song-for-liam/
This article by Adam Perlmutter will also be featured in the March/April issue of the Magazine.
Huge Thanks to Beatrice Sancinelli and Alberto Dall'Ara for making the video possible.

Buck Curran - 'Song for Liam' and 'Seven Gardens To Your Shore' (Filmed by Jesse Sheppard)

I'm happy to share two new videos made by Jesse Sheppard (Elkhorn) at his home in Chadds Ford, PA, while I was on tour in America in September 2018.

Aquarium Drunkard Reviews 'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas'

Jason P. Woodbury reviews 'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas' for Aquarium Drunkard

Buck Curran 'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas' on Soundcloud

Select recordings from Buck Curran's new album 'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas' now on Soundcloud.

'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas' by Buck Curran on Spotify

'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas' (ESP-Disk/Obsolete Recordings) the new album by Buck Curran is now available on Spotify

Guitar Gorgeous Edition: Ezra Feinberg, Buck Curran, Gyan Riley @ JamBase

'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas' included in this 'Gorgeous Guitars' edition at JamBase along with albums by Ezra Feinberg and Gyan Riley.

"The new record of solo guitar music from Buck Curran is called Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas and no words I could write could improve on such a poetic description of such poetic acoustic music. This is daytime guitar for early risers and daydreamers and those who just need a pause. Seventeen tracks of pure guitar music, some short improvisations interspersed with Curran’s compositions, lovingly crafted and beautifully delivered, the album is a single meditation. I think you’ll dig it". - Aaron Stein/JamBase

'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas' @ Raven Sings The Blues

'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas': The new album by Buck Curran reviewed at Raven Sings The Blues

"Guitarist Buck Curran, has woven his way deep into the folk and psych-folk worlds over the past decade. He’s best known for his work with Arborea, but just as instrumental is his organizing of the compilation Leaves of Life which included Devendra Banhart, Marissa Nadler and Alela Diane, and two Robbie Basho tributes that have helped to shed light on the vital artist in the past few years. He’s also given new life to live Basho recordings via his imprint Obsolete Recordings this year. In 2016 he broke out from Arborea to play solo works, though they leaned harder on the psych than the folk element. On his second solo outing he fully embraces his acoustic persona, drawing from a well of Takoma ‘60s and ‘70s inspirations, especially on the first side that plays out the full extent of the Afternoon Ragas referenced in the album’s title.

He blends the wandering psych troubadour influences and mournful guitar divinations with some electric rumble as the record ekes into the second side, and though Curran still pulls stark sadness from the strings he marries his fingerpicked heartache to a spectral blues form on “Taurus.” The clouds part on the wistful “Dirt Floor,” in no small part due to the lilting vocals from Adele Papparlardo. She injects bit of sun to the album’s largely overcast emotions, though it’s easy to see how someone invested in Basho’s legacy would run a thread of somber sincerity through their own works. A lovely collection for those interested in the aforementioned Takoma period or latter-day pickers like Chasney, Bishop or Rose. Curran’s crafted a record that easily slots itself on the shelf next to any of those three". Andy French/RSTB

'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas' Pre-Order on iTunes

My forthcoming album 'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas' is now available for Pre-order via iTunes Releases April 5th via Obsolete Recordings/ESP-Disk', distributed by Forced Exposure. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/morning-haikus-afternoon-ragas/1302361271
and at Bandcamp

Tablature for Acoustic Version of 'Sea of Polaris'

Full Score for the Acoustic Version of 'Sea of Polaris' from my forthcoming album 'Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas' out via ESP-Disk'/Obsolete Recordings 23 March 2018, Thanks so much to Adam Perlmutter for helping realize this tablature.