A new digital music label has been launched from Lincoln, run by an artificial intelligence system that has been designed to resemble a canine. Introducing Spaniel’s Lugs, an innovative label introducing artificial pop stars and unconventional punk figures to the music scene. The twist is that none of these “artists” are real.
These artificial artists are a product of advanced AI technology provided by local tech firm, Imminently. Their in-house platform, named ADA, is capable of composing songs, creating artist backstories and producing hits at impressive speeds. Additionally, this same platform powers our very own Lincoln Post.
The label’s debut line-up includes a variety of eccentric and artificially created characters ranging from a guinea pig pole dancer to a teddy bear dictator, each with their own back story and unique musical style.
One of the early standouts is Phluffee, an artificially generated Europop group headed up by the enigmatic Alice Bear. Their debut track, ‘The Evil Genius’, includes an array of interesting lyrics featuring golden submarines and semi-transparent sharks.
Other ‘artists’ include Colin, a purple, crypto-trading monster who raps about his financial downfall in ‘Crypto Colin’, and Lindum, who contributes a mellower contrast with folk-pop music inspired by Lincoln. Her debut track, ‘Lincoln’s Heartbeat’, elegantly combines modern spoken word with acoustic authenticity.
Spaniel’s Lugs stand out as they assert that not a single lyric, riff or artist biography has been crafted by human ghostwriters or other music industry insiders. Instead, everything is generated entirely by AI. A spokesperson for the label stated that their aim is not to fabricate humans but rather to unleash AI on the industry with intriguingly unpredictable results.
While some may dismiss it as merely intriguing, Spaniel’s Lugs aims to be more than a mere novelty. The label envisions itself as a genuine independent label, with regular new releases, a growing catalogue, and a website full of streaming options, artist biographies, and artwork. Licensing is available for media interaction and collaboration.
The possibility of live performances is not altogether ruled out, though the ‘artists’ displaying a tendency to ‘refuse to leave the bin’ is something organisers admit may be problematic.
Is this the future of music? Or is this an unconventional but delightful import from Lincoln? Whichever it may be, the presence of Spaniel’s Lugs can certainly not be ignored. The label promises that it is here to make noise and capture attention in the music industry.
