I Used Suno AI to Make a Song — And It Blew My Mind

This post isn’t just about music. It’s about how AI tools unlock creativity, and what that teaches us about great product design.

Wait, isn't this a product newsletter?

Yes—and this post is about product. Just not in the way you might expect.

As product leaders, we're responsible for understanding not just what our users need today, but what new capabilities the future might unlock for them—and for us. That means staying sharp on emerging tools, experimenting at the edge, and exploring new mediums for creativity and expression. Especially when the lines between creator, user, and product are getting blurrier by the day.

Which brings me to a weekend experiment that completely rewired my creative brain: using AI to produce a full, original, Latin pop song—no instruments, no DAW, and no formal music training required.

Follow this link if you want to listen to my song before diving into the full article.

🎵 What is Suno?

Suno is an AI music creation platform that allows you to generate entirely original songs from scratch—melody, vocals, instrumentation, everything. It uses large language models to help you compose music the same way you'd write a prompt. Think Midjourney or ChatGPT, but for tracks you can actually sing to.

You don't need any experience in music theory or production. It's creativity-on-demand—and shockingly good at it.

⚙️ How the Creation Flow Works

Once inside the app, you hit "Create" and choose between two paths: Simple or Custom. I went with Custom—because, of course, I wanted more control and to push the boundaries of what this tool could do.

That decision paid off. But it also made one thing clear: the UX still has a lot of room to grow.

💡 The Key Insight: Combine Tools for Better Results

Suno alone is powerful. But pairing it with ChatGPT turned it into a much more flexible and controllable creative tool.

Here's how I layered them:

Step 1: Lyrics via ChatGPT

While Suno has a built-in "Generate Lyrics" button, I found it too limiting. The UX doesn't allow easy refinement once you hit "generate," which led to a few frustrating resets. Instead, I used GPT-4 to co-write the lyrics iteratively—more creative freedom, and much better output.

For my project, I asked ChatGPT to create lyrics about "Los Diaz," a loving Puerto Rican family who jokingly call themselves "La Familia Addams," in a style blending salsa and pop similar to hits like "Despacito" and "Mi Gente."

Step 2: Style Instructions via ChatGPT

Suno lets you define your song's "style," but again, it's a black box. You input a phrase, and the model tries its best. I wanted more control—so I asked GPT to generate a detailed production prompt, which I then pasted into Suno's instruction box.

The prompt included specific instrumentation (congas, timbales, bongos), rhythm patterns (syncopated salsa over modern pop beats), and vocal delivery characteristics to create an authentic Latin fusion track.

This combination unlocked exactly what I wanted: a vibrant salsa-pop anthem inspired by my Puerto Rican family roots.

🛠️ Where Suno's Product Falls Short

Suno is magical when it works—but a few product limitations stood out:

"Reuse Style" is misleading – You can reuse style settings, but not generate new lyrics, which breaks the creative flow. I expected it to function more like a template.

Cold start problem in Custom flow – Especially in the "style" section. There's not enough guidance or inspiration for how to get started or refine your output.

Limited iteration mechanics – Once you generate, you're kind of stuck. There's no lightweight editing or tuning layer (energy, tempo, instrumentation).

Lack of collaborative prompting – What makes ChatGPT so powerful is its ability to coach you. Suno could benefit from suggesting improvements like: "Want this to sound more like Luis Fonsi?" or "Add horns to make it feel more tropical?"

These aren't just nitpicks—they're opportunities for product expansion and differentiation. The future of AI tools will be less about automation and more about collaboration.

🔮 Compelling Use Cases

AI music creation isn't just a gimmick. It's a platform shift with applications across multiple domains:

Consumer Applications:

• Personalized celebrations: Create custom anthems for birthdays, proposals, weddings

• Social content: Musical memes or playful roasts for friends

• Creative expression: Let anyone be a songwriter, regardless of musical training

Professional Applications:

• Creative prototyping: As a music producer, Suno helps break creative blocks and explore new genres

• Marketing assets: Quick-turn audio for ads and social media when budgets are tight

• Media production: Cost-effective music for lower-budget media projects like indie games or podcasts

• Entertainment IP: Generate lore-based music or fan engagement content for shows or games

🧠 Product Management Insights

What struck me most about using Suno wasn't just that it made music. It's that it showed the potential to teach users how to make better music.

That's the hallmark of a truly great AI product. It doesn't just execute—it coaches, guides, and amplifies your creative thinking. It shortens the distance between imagination and execution. ChatGPT does this masterfully by offering relevant follow-ups. Suno is just starting to scratch the surface.

As product leaders, we should be building tools that don't just answer requests—but elevate the user's ambition. Tools that make users feel like they're growing, not just producing.

The best AI products aren't just tools; they're teachers and collaborators that help us understand what's possible and suggest logical next steps. They expand our creative capabilities rather than simply automating them.

What AI tools should I experiment with next?

I'm curious which AI tools you'd like me to explore in future newsletters. Drop your suggestions in the comments—I'm making this a regular series!

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As a product leader, what emerging technologies are you experimenting with to stay ahead of the curve? Have you tried AI music creation tools like Suno? Share your experiences below!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely my own and do not reflect the views of any current or former employer.