Joe Sicko Jr., creator behind Sing Me Smart, is a recreational poker player and creative explorer, harnessing AI to share what is most important to him and sparks his artistic work.
On January 10, 2026, I came across a Twitter/X post from Alex Fitzgerald sharing an AI-produced song by an artist going by the name “Joe Sicko Jr.”, in which Alex said:
Man, I love what AI can do. This poker song goes hard. “Where have all the degens gone?”
Curious, I clicked the song’s link and was hooked immediately.
As someone who desperately wished I could sing but lacked the talent by a mile, I’ve instead collaborated with gifted artists to bring music into my work, including original pieces for a Sara O’Connor Fine Art exhibit. Hearing what Joe had created using AI tools sparked an idea.
What if we could make a banger that spoke directly to fairness, poker, and the urgent need to fix the newly enacted 90% gambling loss deduction rule through a law like the FAIR Bet Act?
I reached out to Joe to find out.
What followed was Railbird Creations’ first-ever song collaboration, which was made possible by the internet, modern creative tools, and a shared belief that people don’t have to stay quiet when the rules stop making sense.
The Music Man: Introducing Joe Sicko Jr.
Joe Sicko Jr. is a poker player, clever thinker, and creative builder who combines competition, community, and innovation in his pursuits. Although he seems to be at the beginning of his creative journey, his thirst for excellence and willingness to experiment and network make him perfectly positioned to tell human stories in a new way.
Joe started playing low-stakes rummy as a kid with his grandmother and brother. After a booked win, they’d go to the candy store as a family with their winnings to enjoy sweet treats. Then the Moneymaker boom hit, which resulted in Joe’s brother getting into poker with friends and sharing it with Joe, causing him to get instantly hooked.
“I fell in love with poker because it’s one of the purest blends of skill, psychology, and patience,” Joe explains. “It’s not just gambling, it’s decision-making under pressure, and I’m addicted to the challenge of getting better.”
For Joe, poker is about results and growth.
“The grind humbles you. It tests you. It forces you to level up mentally,” he says. “And just as important as the game itself is the community: the characters, the stories, the moments where a single hand changes everything.”
That combination of perseverance and creativity has defined his journey. In 2017, Joe earned a contest seat into the $5,000 PartyPoker Millions at Playground Poker Club, turning it into a deep run and a $32,000 cash, which is still his biggest score to date. He treated the contest like a full marketing campaign:
“I’ll never forget entering that contest. I was at a low point, still struggling with the loss of my father, who had passed away that previous December after a year-long battle with cancer. A good friend noticed the darkness I was in and, wanting to lift my spirits, told me about a poker contest. The entry was simple and asked: “What would you do if you won the $1,000,000 first-place prize?” You could enter daily, and each entry increased your odds. Most people used the generic entry form, but I wanted to stand out. I downloaded Inkscape and began learning the graphic design program from scratch. Every morning and night, I created new, original posts illustrating what I would do if I won. Over time, I posted 45 unique entries on X and Instagram. With each one, my creativity and vision grew.
Toward the end of the contest, someone commented, “You know this is random, right?”
I replied, “I do. But if I’m going to try, I’m going to give it all I’ve got.”
That’s something my father instilled in me. Looking back, maybe it was also my need for a creative outlet, a beautiful distraction from grief. A way to dream when reality hurt so deeply.”
The winning post? It was picture of Joe as Rocky delivering a knockout punch to Drago, captioned: “Spending my million fighting for what I want.”
“That run proved to me that creativity, belief, and persistence can open doors that logic says shouldn’t be able to be opened,” he reflects. “It’s why fairness matters so much. Poker players aren’t asking for special tax treatment; we’re asking for rules that reflect reality.”
Poker, Joe says, taught him more than card strategy.
“It taught me how to handle pressure, stay disciplined, and keep believing even when the odds don’t look good.”
He’s hosted home and work leagues and played in local leagues, circuit events, and a few WSOP events. Joe’s even driven out of state in order to play online tournaments. Nothing stops him from doing what he loves.
Building the Song: Tools, Process, and Creative Intent
Joe used a program called Suno to generate the music and vocals of “Fair is Fair (We’re Showing Up)” (now available on Spotify), while writing the lyrics himself. He also used ChatGPT as a collaborative tool to refine structure, flow, and phrasing of the lyrics.
“I wanted it to hit like an anthem,” Joe says. “The message had to be clear, repeatable, and emotional.”
Suno, he explains, allows creators to generate full songs (including vocals and instrumentation) from text prompts and creative direction, making it possible to iterate quickly until the sound matches the message.
“The speed matters,” he notes. “Suno lets you experiment without losing momentum.”
AI as Amplifier, Not Author – Creativity in the Age of New Tools
Joe is clear about how he views AI’s role.
“For me, AI is a creative amplifier,” he says. “I bring the mission, the emotion, and the intent. The tools help shape it into something people can feel and share. The human intent is always the driver.”
That distinction, between authorship and assistance, is central to the project.
Why This Fight Matters – The 90% Gambling Loss Deduction, Explained
The recently enacted 90% gambling loss deduction rule that went into effect on January 1, 2026, struck Joe as fundamentally misaligned with reality.
“It pushes taxation further away from real net outcomes,” he explains. “It creates situations where people can be taxed in ways that don’t reflect what they actually won or lost. That’s exactly what this song is pushing back against.”
For Joe, the issue is personal, practical, and shared by millions of players rather than abstract. And he’s not willing to stand aside in silence when he knows his voice matters and can make a difference.
Collaboration and Community – Working with Railbird Creations
When asked about the collaboration process, Joe doesn’t hesitate:
“Working with Railbird Creations—and with you (Sara O’Connor) directly—has been awesome,” he says. “The entire process was supportive, mission-driven, and professional. I’d absolutely do it again.”
The project also connects to something larger Joe is building, something lovingly called “Sing Me Smart.”
Sing Me Smart – Music as a Learning Tool
Joe is currently developing Sing Me Smart, a project that uses music and AI to help people learn and remember ideas. This project not only educates and motivates, it also hits real world topics.
“At its core, Sing Me Smart is built on a simple belief: People aren’t behind. Rather, the learning system they were placed into as students just didn’t meet them where they learn best. Many people can benefit and absorb songs far better than lectures,” he explains. “That’s the core insight.”
What began as a joke song idea has evolved into something more serious. By turning ideas and life skills into music, Joe is exploring a different way to help adults learn, remember, and grow.”
“It honestly feels bigger than me,” Joe says. “Like I’m just the vessel. I feel called to build it.”
More Than a Poker Song – A Grassroots Anthem
Joe is adamant that this track concerning the new tax deduction law isn’t niche.
“This isn’t just a poker song,” he says. “It’s a grassroots anthem for all gamblers about fairness and how policy affects real people. The FAIR Bet Act matters because it’s about the tax code reflecting real net outcomes as opposed to punishing people through technicalities.”
And on AI skepticism?
“AI didn’t write my mission,” Joe says plainly. “It amplified it. This song is about fairness—and we’re done staying quiet.”
Fair Is Fair (We’re Showing Up) – The Lyrics
We did the math, we played it straight
Kept every record, every date
Late nights, bright lights, screens glow read
Paid our dues like they said
Told us “that’s just how it goes”
Smile, shrug, and take the blow
But something’s off, and we all know
Fair don’t mean losing control
Put it on paper, black and white
Let the rules finally fit real life
If the numbers lie, we say it loud
Change don’t come till you show up now
(Woah-oh-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh-oh)
Fair is fair — can you hear us now?
We’re standing up, we’re showing out
Hands in the air, feet on the ground
This is our moment, this is our sound
Fair is fair — we’re not backing down
One voice turns to a million loud
We didn’t come this far to disappear
Fair is fair — and we’re here
(Woah-oh-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh-oh)
(Woah-oh-oh-oh, woah-oh-oh-oh)
This ain’t about chasing highs
It’s about truth, it’s about lines
Losses count, or justice breaks
That’s the heart of the FAIR Bet Act
Same game, same risk, same deal
Let the tax code match what’s real
When the rules ignore the pain
That ain’t policy — that’s a stain
They say change moves slow by design
But pressure bends the arc of time
If they won’t listen, we get louder
This is the spark, this is the powder
This is the spark, this is the powder
Fair is fair — can you hear us now?
We’re standing up, we’re showing out
Hands in the air, feet on the ground
This is our moment, this is our sound
Fair is fair — we’re not backing down
One voice turns to a million loud
We didn’t come this far to disappear
Fair is fair — and we’re here
They say someday, no tax at all
That’d be a win for one and all
If that’s the future, let’s get there right
But fairness comes before the fight
From the tables to the halls
This is a fair bet — answer the call
Show up
Stand up
Fair tax
Fair play, fair play
Show up
Stand up
Fair tax
Fair play, fair play
Fair is fair — can you hear us now?
From kitchen tables to Capitol ground
This ain’t a moment, it’s a movement here
FAIR Bet Act — loud and clear
Fair is fair — say it again
Write it bold, let it sink in
We didn’t come this far to disappear
Fair is fair — and we’re here
(Woah-oh, woah-oh — Fair is fair!)
(Woah-oh, woah-oh — Fair is fair!)
Conclusion
“Fair Is Fair (We’re Showing Up)” represents something new and powerful for the broader gaming community.
It’s proof that advocacy doesn’t have to live solely in white papers or hearings. It can live in culture. In music. In something people hum, share, and remember.
This collaboration brought together a shared belief: that fairness should be legible, policy should reflect reality, and ordinary people are not only allowed but encouraged to speak up when it doesn’t.
Sometimes change starts with impassioned people and a song.
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