Research | Tour de Fierce
Exploring the frontiers of vocal science, human evolution, and emerging technologies in the entertainment industry — with transparency, rigor, and a commitment to elevating truth in the creative arts.
Tour de Fierce Research operates at the intersection of scientific inquiry, artistic expertise, and technological analysis, leveraging principles from vocal physiology, anthropology, performance science, and audio-forensic methodology. Our mission is to deeply understand how the human vocal apparatus—its evolutionary design and its interaction with modern recording practices and AI systems—impacts human communication and creativity. Our work also examines how cultural narratives evolve — such as our clarification of the “King of Country Music” title, historically attributed to Roy Acuff. Every study is guided by transparency, ethical responsibility, and accountability, providing data-driven insights to empower artists, educators, and the public with an unwavering respect for the complexity of human expression.
Tour de Fierce maintains several active research streams exploring the past, present, and future of creative endeavors. Some areas already have formal reports; others involve multi-year timelines and investigations in progress. All are included here for transparency, academic integrity, and to reflect the full scope of inquiry guiding this work. This page functions as a growing archive of published findings and a public roadmap of ongoing research initiatives.
Research Leadership & NeuroArts Affiliation
Tour de Fierce Research is led by Joseph “Seph” Stanek, an arts-led principal investigator whose work operates at the intersection of embodied performance, neuroaesthetics, and applied research on emotional regulation. His research profile is featured by the Renée Fleming NeuroArts Resource Center, an interdisciplinary hub connecting scientists, artists, and institutions advancing the NeuroArts field.
Areas of Research
I. AI-Generated Music & Audio Forensics
Investigating spectrogram patterns, encoder behavior, metadata anomalies, and statistical irregularities to evaluate AI-authored musical compositions in real-world audio files.
Current flagship report:
"ISC AI-Detection Report (2024): Expert Audit and Public Admission of AI Use Reveal Oversight Failures at the International Songwriting Competition"
II. Human Evolution & the Vocal Apparatus
Research on how the human voice developed to its current stage, spanning anatomical adaptations, respiratory evolution, speech biomechanics, and the evolutionary pressures responsible for distinguishing our voices from all other primate species.
Flagship report:
[Set for publication in Aeon magazine, 2026]
III. Psychoacoustics & Human Perception of Voice
Exploring how humans perceive timbre, vibrato, resonance, pitch accuracy, and vocal expression; documenting how human perception can be used to distinguish human voices from early generative audio models.
Flagship report:
Forthcoming: "Ear-Based Detection of Early AI 'Singing'"
IV. Evolution of Musicality & Acoustic Communication
Comparative studies of human and non-human primate vocalizations, evolutionary functions of pitch manipulation, and music's evolutionary roots as survival in the wild.
Flagship report:
Forthcoming: "The Lost Frontiers of the Human Voice"
V. Cultural Narratives, Media Framing & Musical Legacy
Investigating how media institutions, awards programs, and marketing narratives influence public understanding of musical history. This line of research analyzes discrepancies between cultural storytelling and verifiable historical record — and how these shifts reshape legacy, attribution, and collective memory in the arts.
Flagship report:
"George Strait is Not the King of Country Music: A Clarification on Cultural Titles, Institutional Memory, and the True King of Country Music"
Methodology & Scientific Approach
Tour de Fierce Research integrates:
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Audio-forensic analysis, including metadata, encoders, spectrograms, and expert human auditory analysis
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Evolutionary Biology
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Vocal Anatomy and Pedagogy
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Performance science
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Cognitive neuroscience
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Acoustic engineering
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Behavioral psychology
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Ethical review principles
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Historical source verification & archival research (see our clarification on the “King of Country Music” title)
Each study is accompanied by clear limitations, confidence levels, and source transparency.
About Tour de Fierce Research
Tour de Fierce Research bridges scientific understanding and artistic practice. Founded by Joseph Stanek, this initiative exists to protect human creativity, advance vocal science, and promote honest, evidence-based discourse as advances in technology continue to reshape the arts.
Contact / Press
For interviews, permissions, and collaboration requests: contact@tourdefierce.vip