This song was created as a protest against what I believe is a crazy plan to build a huge waste incinerator on the coast of Portland, Dorset, by Powerfuel Portland.
The proposal is controversial for many reasons. Dorset Council itself has said there is already more than enough waste-treatment capacity available, raising a very obvious question: if we don’t need the additional capacity, why build another incinerator? To me, this is fundamentally about profit rather than people or the environment. Portland deserves better, and this development should not go ahead.
I also want to be completely honest about how this song was created.
I wrote the lyrics myself — no AI. I also wrote and played the chord progressions and sampled my own voice. The chord progression was originally written for a song called Obi the Ferry Man, which features in my latest musical book, Moonfleet: Crimson Tide. That project was created with a real local artist, real local musicians, real singers and a real author — me! And yes, that’s why there are still the occasional mistypes in the book!
For this production, however, I used AI tools to record and create the final arrangement, instruments and mastering. I also used AI to create the artwork. It isn’t an exact representation of Portland, but it’s close enough for the purposes of this video.
As a composer, songwriter and musician, I have to admit that I found the experience both fascinating and slightly saddening. AI has come an incredibly long way.
The reality is that I simply couldn’t afford to create this production organically with a full complement of musicians and studio time. Using AI allowed me to produce it for just a few pounds.
I’d genuinely welcome your feedback.
Band Graffiti
