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Jason “Deep Dive” Lord • • About the Author
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Deep Dive AI Workflow: Crafting Chicago Blues with ChatGPT – Deep Dive AI

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Deep Dive AI Workflow: Crafting Chicago Blues with ChatGPT – Deep Dive AI

Deep Dive AI Workflow: Crafting Chicago Blues with ChatGPT

Over the past week, our team embarked on a detailed workflow to create Ghosts at the Crossroads. This post breaks down each stage—from historical research to AI-driven lyric writing to audio arrangement and artwork creation—revealing how human insight and ChatGPT teamed up to resurrect the spirit of Chicago blues. Plus, check out the gear we used (affiliate links included) to bring these tracks to life.

1. Historical Deep Dive

We started by asking ChatGPT for comprehensive research on the origins of Chicago blues, tracing the Great Migration, Maxwell Street buskers, Chess Records sessions, and the rise of electric guitar pioneers like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. Simultaneously, we fed the model SRT transcripts and PDFs to capture firsthand oral histories and studio anecdotes. This dual approach ensured both breadth and depth in our narrative foundation.

2. Cross-Referencing & Narrative Arc

Next, we cross-referenced AI findings with key source materials—academic papers, historical interviews, and liner notes—to verify dates, names, and stories. From this synthesis, ChatGPT helped outline a four-part storyline:

  1. Crossroads Bargain: Delta origins and legendary deals.
  2. Urban Migration: Journey north to Chicago’s Maxwell Street.
  3. Club Showdowns: Live duels in South Side venues.
  4. Spectral Farewell: Reflection on the blues’ enduring legacy.

3. Lyric Extraction & Sunos Prompts

For each narrative segment, we crafted Sunos prompts with specific parameters—tempo, key, mood, style influence, and ‘weirdness’ settings—to guide AI-generated arrangements. Simultaneously, ChatGPT wrote full lyrics in classic blues form:

  • “Devil at the Crossroads”: Slow 12/8, Open G slide, haunting verses about midnight bargains.
  • “Northbound Blues”: 80 BPM country shuffle, lyrics about Illinois Central dreams.
  • “Under the El”: 90 BPM urban shuffle, imagery of train rumble and street corner buskers.
  • …and more across nine tracks, each with its unique pacing and storyline.

4. Audio Assembly & Mixing

We downloaded the Sunos generated tracks, then used a little bit of additional cap cut editing, and then laid the tracks together.

We downloaded the Sunos generated tracks, then used a little bit of additional cap cut editing, and then laid the tracks together.

5. Cover Art Collaboration

I sketched initial layouts inspired by each song’s lyrics—misty crossroads, neon alleyways, and dueling guitars—and then used ChatGPT to refine composition notes. The final digital illustration blends my hand-painted textures with AI-generated ghostly overlays of blues legends against a stylized Chicago skyline.

Gear & Affiliate Picks

  • Hohner Marine Band 1896 Harmonica – Key of C: Warm, authentic tone. Purchase on Amazon
  • Jim Dunlop 215 Heavy/Medium Glass Slide: Smooth bottleneck phrasing. Purchase on Amazon
  • Shure SM57 Pro XLR Dynamic Microphone: Captures gritty amps and vocals. Purchase on Amazon
  • Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen: Crystal-clear preamps for home recording. Purchase on Amazon
  • Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano Reverb Pedal: Lush, atmospheric depth. Purchase on Amazon

Join the Conversation

Curious about combining AI and music history? Leave a comment, share your own blues discoveries, or tag us with #DeepDiveWorkflow. Subscribe for more AI-powered creative breakdowns!

© 2025 Deep Dive AI. All rights reserved.

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