Fontaines D.C. unaware AI used in ‘Marianne’ video Grian Chatten reacts
The Algorithm and the Soul: Fontaines D.C. React to AI in Their Art
In the world of rock and controversy, the latest headlines from Dublin’s Fontaines D.C. are less about the music and more about the tools used to create it. Frontman Grian Chatten has opened up about a recent revelation concerning the music video for their track Marianne, a situation that has sparked a wider debate about artificial intelligence in creative fields.
Chatten admitted that the band and their management were completely unaware that artificial intelligence had been utilized in the production of the video. When the information surfaced, his reaction was immediate and incredulous. “What the fuck, is this true?”, he asked when he contacted management, emphasizing the shock that the use of AI was entirely hidden from the team.
While the production process involved over 100 creative individuals, the secret of the AI’s involvement was kept entirely under wraps. This lack of transparency, Chatten noted, felt particularly galling given the band’s exploration of dark themes in their recent work, particularly the album Dopamine Chamber, which NME praised as a “dark but exhilarating reflection of end times.”
The irony of the situation, Chatten remarked, was palpable. He described the use of AI to craft the visuals as “fucking ironic,” “contradictory,” and simply “fucking sucks,” especially when juxtaposed against the core themes of isolation and societal collapse that define their sound.
For Chatten, the conversation about AI in art quickly turned philosophical. He posited a stark view on the future, suggesting that AI is essentially rendering human souls obsolete. “I think that is true death,” he shared, grappling with the existential implications of delegating creative expression to machines.
He expressed a deep skepticism about the technological trend, concluding that the discourse surrounding AI in creative circles just ends grimly. Chatten suggested a desperate plea for humanity to step back: “mankind should just shut it off” out of fear about what this technology threatens to rob from the human race.
Despite the controversy surrounding the visuals, the band remains focused on their craft and their future trajectory. Fontaines D.C. have recently celebrated a career high by collaborating with Rosalía on their record, Where Is Gone?, and they shared an intimate performance at London’s Roundhouse, raising money for the mental health charity CALM.
With the momentum continuing, the band is gearing up for an expansive upcoming tour across the UK and Ireland, including major stops at Slane Castle and Manchester’s Heaton Park, supported by artists like Little Simz and Viagra Boys. Furthermore, they are set to headline Primavera Sound in Barcelona next June and embark on a massive international trek through Italy, Germany, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
As they look toward the next phase of their career, Chatten hinted that after these monumental performances, the band might take a needed pause. He suggested that once they have achieved these goals, “the best place [they] can go from here is away for a while,” hinting at plans for a new solo album, Break Go Away For A While.
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