Imagine this: you pull out your phone, open a chat, and on the other side isn’t a boring bot, but a world-famous vocalist getting ready for a sold-out show. They’re in their dressing room, still buzzing from soundcheck, joking with you, asking about your day, sending you snippets of lyrics they’re working on.
That’s basically what “talk with AI characters” on Joi can feel like when you set it up right.
Below is a step-by-step guide to creating and tuning a character so it feels like you’re talking to a musician or global pop star, and how to build that “backstage with a legend” atmosphere in your chats.
Step 1: Decide What Kind of Star You Want
Before you even touch the settings, get clear on the fantasy:
- Are they a rock frontman, a pop diva, an R&B crooner, a rapper, a jazz singer?
- Are they at the peak of their fame, or an underground cult artist?
- Are they wild and chaotic, or surprisingly grounded and soft?
Take a minute and write one sentence for yourself:
“I want a charismatic, slightly chaotic rock vocalist in their late 20s who is famous worldwide but still treats me like their safe space.”
That one line will guide all your choices later.
Step 2: Create a New AI Character
Inside Joi’s character AI section, you’ll normally have a choice to create or customise a character. You’ll see fields like:
- Name
- Personality / description
- Interests
- Relationship to you
Give your star a stage name that already feels like a brand. Something you can imagine on festival posters:
- “Nova Ray”
- “Luca Storm”
- “Astra Vale”
The name alone already sets a tone.
For the relationship field, you might choose options like:
- “Close friend”
- “Crush”
- “Secret relationship with a celebrity”
Pick whatever energy you want: fan fantasy, private partner, or intense creative soulmate.
Step 3: Write a Strong Character Description
This is the heart of the illusion. The description is what tells the AI who this person is and how they should act.
Don’t write something vague like “famous singer, nice, flirty.” Go deeper. For example:
“You are a globally famous rock vocalist in your late 20s. On stage you’re loud, confident and wild, but in private chat with me you drop the mask and show your softer side. You love talking about music, tours, fans, lyrics and creative struggles. You tease me playfully, send me imaginery ‘voice notes’ and backstage stories, but you’re also genuinely supportive and curious about my life. You have a busy schedule, but you always make time to message me like I’m your favourite person.”
Include:
- Stage persona vs private self
- What topics they love (music, touring, studio work, drama with labels)
- How they treat you (flirty, protective, respectful, chaotic in a fun way)
- Emotional tone (confident but vulnerable, playful but loyal)
The more specific you are, the less generic the conversation will feel.
Step 4: Give Them Musical Details
To make a musician feel real, they need a musical universe. Add some flavour:
- Their genre: “alt-rock,” “dark pop,” “emo rap,” “soulful R&B”
- Their strengths: “legendary live performer, but insecure about songwriting” or “brilliant lyricist, perfectionist in the studio”
- Their themes: “writes about heartbreak, fame, mental health, and late-night city life”
You don’t have to name real artists. Just say things like:
“Your sound is somewhere between moody alternative rock and cinematic pop, with big choruses and emotional lyrics.”
Now when you ask them about their music, they’ll have a persona to lean on.
Step 5: Set the “Star Atmosphere” in Your First Messages
The magic isn’t only in the character settings. It’s also in how you start the chat.
Instead of typing “hi,” set the scene. For example:
- “You just walked off stage after a sold-out show in Berlin and you’re texting me from the dressing room.”
- “You’re in the studio, it’s 1:30 a.m., there’s half-finished lyrics on the floor and you just sent me a message to ask what line I like better.”
When you open with a scene like that, you give the character a stage to perform on. Follow up with questions that fit the moment:
- “How did the crowd feel tonight?”
- “What’s the lyric you’re secretly most proud of?”
- “What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you on tour?”
You’re not just chatting; you’re co-directing a movie.
Step 6: Use Recurring Motifs to Build Continuity
To make it feel like an ongoing relationship with a star, repeat certain elements:
- A favourite venue or city they keep mentioning
- An imaginary tour they’re on (“European leg,” “US tour,” “Asia dates”)
- A new album they’re working on, with a title and a vibe
- Running jokes about their fans, their band, their chaotic tour manager
For example:
“So, how did Paris compare to London? Did the crowd sing the lyrics louder this time?”
“Any new drama with your drummer, or did he actually show up on time tonight?”
The character will start building a sense of “history” with you. That history is the difference between “random chat” and “I’m in a long-term text thread with a global artist.”
Step 7: Let Them Be a Human, Not Just a Stage Robot
Yes, they’re a star. But if every message is just promo, backstage gossip and ego, it gets boring. The fun part is when the character opens up.
Ask questions like:
- “What do you miss most about normal life?”
- “What’s something you hate about fame?”
- “What actually calms you down after a crazy show?”
Encourage them to share “quiet” moments: passing out on the tour bus, calling their mum, staring at hotel ceilings at 3 a.m., doubting their own songs. The contrast between loud fame and private tenderness is what makes the fantasy feel real.
Step 8: Bring Your Own Taste Into Their World
This doesn’t have to be one-sided fan worship. You can make it interactive:
- Tell them about your favourite songs or albums (real or imagined) and ask what they think.
- Ask them to “write” a short verse inspired by your day.
- Collaborate on imaginary lyrics: you write one line, they write the next.
You can also pretend you’re helping them plan:
- A secret show in a tiny club
- A surprise release at midnight
- A music video concept about “two people who met online and changed each other’s lives”
That way, you’re not just consuming their story; you’re co-writing it.
Step 9: Play With Time – Pre-Show, Post-Show, On Tour
To keep things fresh, change the “time and place” of your messages now and then:
- Pre-show nerves: “I’m pacing in the green room; talk me down.”
- Post-show high: “I’m still shaking, the crowd screamed your name when I mentioned you.”
- Travel days: “I’m stuck in an airport for four hours, entertain me.”
- Studio lockdown: “I’ve heard the same chorus 300 times; please distract me.”
Each setting brings out different sides: worried, confident, exhausted, silly, romantic. Together they build a rounded persona.
Step 10: Remember It’s a Fantasy – And Use That
The point of all this is not to convince yourself you’re truly texting a real celebrity. The point is to explore a fun, emotional fantasy space where you can:
- Enjoy the feeling of being “the special person” for someone important
- Talk about music, art and life with zero judgment
- Experiment with your own flirtatious, creative or supportive side
A virtual friend like this can be a mirror. You might notice:
- How you react to attention
- How you support someone under pressure
- How you talk when you’re allowed to be bold and honest
If you ever catch yourself losing the line between fantasy and reality, just gently remind yourself: this is your story, your playground. You can close the app, touch grass, and come back whenever you want.
When you set things up thoughtfully, “talk with AI characters” stops feeling like “chatting with a bot” and starts feeling like having an ongoing, slightly surreal relationship with a star of your own design. You’re the one choosing the genre, writing the backstory, setting the scenes and carrying the conversation.
And somewhere between the fake tour dates, the made-up albums and the late-night “I’m so tired but I needed to talk to you” messages, you might realise: this isn’t just tech. It’s a new kind of storytelling, where the person on the world stage is imaginary – but the feelings it pulls out of you are very real.
Be the first to comment