#I understand with all the small artist that follow dunes this hit a nerve

[chemnections]

(09/26/23)

when you have been around for a long time you start to notice patterns in the greater world. in the art world there is a pattern of crisis’s of movements and methods that would “destroy or cheapen” art. in the punk/diy scene, there is a pattern of gate keeping and policing what punk is which can limit the growth of the genre and ironically outcast people who don’t conform. the pattern is a frenzy, then every time everything is okay. 

the members of ls dunes have experienced this as individuals throughout their careers. starting in diy scenes and transitioning into being band with a label entering mainstream spaces they have had to deal with flack in the moment for things that people in the present love. example, mcr got flack from their peers for i’m not okay because it was dubbed as a pop song. ‘selling out’ is the career. you have to charge industry rates for concerts. you have to sell merch. you will advertise yourself, in interviews and now on social media. and on the other hand, the creative side of things is you will experiment with new technology and methodologies. create new art. i doubt they see ai as much different. 

the argument for ai points out that it can increase accessibility and there is a point to be made about fair use of style and imagery. and we live in a time where reproduction can add value instead of subtract. 

and before someone comes for my jugular, my personal stance is i am against ai. i just like fair discussion and calling out bullshit behaviour.

with ai recreating human voices, i think an example can be put forward that say if anthony’s voice is recreated and his physical image can be created in a visual projected performance and labels technically no longer ‘need’ him - people would still want the original artist and the fact that he is a person will always put him in priority to ai. and in that sense new artists will always be sought after for the reason - to have something real and new. i believe they don’t think that ai can ever replace artists. it is a fair argument even if you don’t personally agree. like they said, you can have your opinion. 

ai is a bit like pandora’s box, it’s already been open and can’t be taken back. we need to look towards the future of how we approach this technology. for example, the writer’s guild is not demanding the erasure of ai, they are demanding regulation. we are in an uncertain time where we as a population are both experimenting with it while coming up with solutions to address how it can be abuse. ls dunes releasing this video won’t make or break anything. it’s in this interesting grey zone of ‘let’s give it a try to see and learn from it and if we don’t like it we don’t have to use it again’. looking back on it could be fascinating. 

but harassing the band will not regulate ai technology. it’s one thing to disagree and to comment about that disagreement and not engaged with the art, it’s another thing to harass, mock and threaten. if you really care about the regulation of ai you can support the writers guild, start local campaign groups and write to government representatives. what is really pissing me off about the response to the old wounds is it is not even arm chair activism, it’s armchair bullying presented as activism. 

i see people constantly complaining of the lack of online interaction (include mcr in this) - but then persecute for every mistake. no wonder why. quick to judge, quick to condemn, quick to attack. this is another reminder to the dunes that fans can never be trusted.  and so many false equivalencies and bad takes.

it is a slap in the face to say they don’t care about small creators when they have been sharing/promoting small artists on their instagram for weeks with linked accounts. the variety of artists they hire for album art/merch/music videos etc. supporting others in the scene. they aren’t as big of band as many fans seem to forget, they are not making their sole living off of dunes alone. it is a passion project. they have their other acts and other non music jobs to keep them afloat. 

this backlash ironically feels relevant to ls dune’s discography, and many interviews/meet and greet questions. 

i’m not all of my mistakes no matter what they say about it. 

i would be shocked if they back down and i’m happy to see they keep a united front, even when things get difficult. they mean what they say.

everyone in the industry frowns upon this behaviour, btw. mob mentalities are not good vehicles for justice, there is a reason we hold trials and why prohibiting the death penalty protects the innocent and members of opposition.