Few topics in modern culture ignite as much debate as artificial intelligence, and now, even rock music is right at the center of it.
Alternative rockers Nothing More sparked conversation — and backlash — with the release of their new music video for "Existential Dread", a track from their latest album Carnal. The band's decision to lean heavily into AI imagery wasn't a quiet experiment. It was a statement, one meant to provoke thought about society's fixation on technology — while ironically fueling the very discourse it critiques.
Ahead of the official video premiere on August 18, 2025, the band released a short teaser clip. Its unmistakable AI-rendered aesthetic quickly drew fire online. Fans and critics alike voiced concerns: Was Nothing More outsourcing art to a machine? Did this undermine the human element central to music?
Instead of letting the backlash fester in silence, frontman Jonny Hawkins personally waded into the online storm. Responding directly to fans, he addressed questions ranging from artistic authenticity to the threat of job loss. The bad opinions are strong on this one.
When challenged about whether AI might endanger musicians in the same way it's impacting other industries, Hawkins (via captures from The PRP) didn't hold back: "AI isn't a danger to good artists, only shitty ones. Good artists know that tools evolve and they evolve with them … If AI can connect with people as authentically, write as good of songs with nuance, and perform them in a way that satisfies people in a way that a real human can, then it deserves to take my job. That's evolution."
Which frankly, is a fucking terrible opinion. That feels like the artistic equivalent of trickle down economics – just be good and you won't get rolled out! Yeah man, surely the grinding mechanisms of capitalism work that work.
One fan argued that AI fundamentally undermines art because art is supposed to be a human expression of humanity. Hawkins pushed back, pointing out that technology has long been part of the creative process.
"This logic is flawed. There is a huge difference between letting a machine create something and using a machine to create something. Nine Inch Nails is a perfect example of a prolific artist who used machines to sculpt their sound. It's all about how you use the tool that determines art, not which tools you are using."
To further dispel the notion that AI had replaced human creativity in the video, Hawkins clarified how the project came together. A director was very much part of the process, working closely with Hawkins to shape the concept, storyboard, and execution.
"I literally worked with the artist directly. Lmao. I had concepts that I shared with him and we bounced creative ideas back and forth on multiple calls. Then he story-boarded, generated and edited multiple versions together… like we do with almost every project we take on. … The vision dictates the medium and tools that we use."
Anyway, I'm gonna go AI-generate a Nothing More record and sell it. If Nothing More truly does rock, they'll beat me at my own game, because in Hawkins' own dumb words – "AI isn't a danger to good artists, only shitty ones."
