William Stiteler never set out to become a music sensation. The man behind the viral AI-generated track ‘First Time in San Juan’ insists he’s not a musician, just a guy with a camera and a knack for blending travel content with quirky AI-generated melodies. What started as a joke to spice up his travel videos has exploded into a cultural phenomenon, reaching the iTunes Top 10 and amassing over 1.6 million streams on Spotify. But how did a self-proclaimed ‘slob’ accidentally create a hit that celebrities like Luke Combs and boy band O-Town couldn’t resist covering?
The Accidental Viral Hit: A Travel Blogger’s AI Experiment
Stiteler, who runs the Saxboy Billy TikTok account, began using AI music platform Suno nearly two years ago to create campy, catchy songs that accompanied his travel footage. He describes his style as a mix of cheesy 1980s sitcom themes and yacht rock, never imagining they’d resonate beyond his small online following. ‘I’m not a musician, baby. I’m a slob. I don’t claim this to be music,’ he told TMZ. Originally, the songs were just for laughs, designed to add humor to his travel vlogs. But when ‘First Time in San Juan’ started gaining traction, Stiteler realized the potential and shifted his strategy.
From Comedy to Charts: The Shift to Music Industry Interest
Once the song went viral, Stiteler caught the attention of British music distributors who predicted the AI music wave was inevitable. ‘Mate, you knew it was coming,’ they reportedly told him. This encouragement led him to take his AI creations more seriously, uploading them to Spotify and exploring monetization opportunities. The song’s success didn’t go unnoticed by celebrities. Luke Combs’ rendition of the track became a standout moment, while O-Town’s lip-sync video further cemented its status as a social media anthem. Despite the buzz, Stiteler notes that only one industry figure reached out—and that person allegedly tried to steal his AI prompt.
The AI Tool Behind the Success: Suno and Creative Process
Stiteler’s workflow involves writing lyrics himself and leveraging Suno to generate the musical backdrop. He emphasizes that the platform allows him to experiment with styles without traditional musical training. ‘I’m not limited by my lack of skills,’ he
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