A mysterious new rock band exploded on Spotify, racking up over a million followers in weeks. Now, the creators admit: it’s not human after all—but a bold artistic experiment blending AI and music.
The Velvet Sundown, a fast-rising rock band that gained over 1.1 million followers on Spotify in just a few weeks, has admitted it was generated using artificial intelligence. The revelation confirms growing suspicions surrounding the band’s meteoric rise and retro aesthetic.
In an updated bio on Spotify viewed by AFP, the group confesses to being “a synthetic music project guided by human artistic direction, composed (...) and visually supported with the help of artificial intelligence.”
“This isn’t a prank—it’s a mirror,” the bio continues. “An artistic provocation meant to question the boundaries of creativity, identity, and the future of music itself in the age of AI.”
A Viral Sensation Fueled by Mystery
Despite existing for only a short time, the band—with its unmistakable 1970s visuals—became a viral sensation on Spotify. It released two full albums in 2025 alone and captured the attention of fans and critics alike.
But as the hype grew, so did skepticism. Internet sleuths and music lovers speculated that the project might not be entirely human-made. The rumors were confirmed when rival streaming platform Deezer added a disclaimer to the band’s albums, warning listeners: “AI-generated content. Some tracks on this album may have been created using artificial intelligence.”
Conflicting Signals on Social Media
On X (formerly Twitter), an affiliated account added to the confusion—posting both AI-generated visuals and messages firmly denying the use of AI, including one that read, “We officially confirm we are not an AI.”
Spotify, Deezer Respond
Spotify declined to comment specifically on The Velvet Sundown but emphasized that it does not endorse or profit from AI-generated music at the expense of human artists. A spokesperson said in an email to AFP: “We do not prioritize or benefit financially from music created by AI tools. All tracks are uploaded by authorized third parties who own the rights.”
Meanwhile, the rise of AI in music continues to raise alarms among industry professionals. Artists and labels fear being drowned out by a growing wave of synthetic content. In April, Deezer revealed that over 20,000 fully AI-generated tracks are uploaded to its platform daily—amounting to more than 18% of all new content.
With AFP
Comments