The use of artificial intelligence in the music industry continues to spark debate. At the same time, A.I. tools are becoming increasingly common throughout the production process, from writing and editing to refining music. The question of where the line should be drawn between creative assistance and replacing human performances continues to divide opinions. Within the harder styles scene, that discussion is particularly prominent when it comes to vocals and artwork.
ALSO READ: DJ The Prophet misses more variety in today’s hardstyle
Following the Defqon.1 endshow, ‘Sacred Flame’ by Bass Modulators also became the subject of discussion. On social media, several listeners questioned whether the emotional vocal had been created using A.I. In the Hardstyle Gekkenhuis Podcast, Bass Modulators addressed the production process behind the vocal.
“Only the finishing touches were done with A.I.”
Producer Rick explains that the original vocal was recorded by his girlfriend, who previously also performed vocals on tracks such as ‘Monsoon’ and ‘Endless Blue’. During the writing process, however, he felt her voice wasn’t quite the right fit for the emotion he wanted to capture. “My girlfriend has quite a high voice, so I lowered the pitch of her vocal to give it more character and depth.”
Although Bass Modulators then spent nearly two months searching for other vocalists and listening to countless demos, the team ultimately kept returning to that very first recording. “We listened to so many demos, but in the end we all agreed that the first version was simply the best.”
According to Rick, the final vocal is still based on that original recording. He explains that A.I. was only used to refine the existing vocal rather than replace it. “You could say that only the finishing touches were done with A.I. The lyrics, melody and original vocal are all our own work.”
A look behind the scenes
Fans who want to learn more about the production process can already check out an earlier making-of by Bass Modulators. In the video, Rick explains how he created the distinctive ‘Dragon Lead’ from ‘Sacred Flame’, a sound many listeners described as resembling a crying dragon. He also revealed that he is working on a second making-of, which will take a deeper look at the production process behind the vocal.
Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken
The A.I. vocal debate
The discussion gained further attention when hard dance vocalist CODA shared her thoughts on the use of A.I. vocals on Instagram. Without specifically commenting on Bass Modulators’ production process, she used the conversation as an opportunity to make a broader appeal to producers.
According to CODA, listeners place great value on authentic human vocals, especially in emotional songs. “People don’t just notice it, they genuinely care.” She hopes producers will keep those reactions in mind when deciding whether or not to use A.I. for vocals.
‘Sacred Flame’ releases on July 17
Meanwhile, the official release of Sacred Flame is just around the corner. The track will be released on Friday, July 17, via Defqon.1 Records. According to Q-dance Music, the track became “one of the most striking moments of the Defqon.1 2026 Endshow.” It is now available to pre-save.
