A Welsh Band’s Ten-Year Journey Surpassed by AI Imitator in Just Two Months

Lucas Woodland’s Shocking Discovery

Lucas Woodland, the frontman of the Welsh post-hardcore band Holding Absence, recently encountered an unsettling realization on Spotify. An artificially generated musical act, known as Bleeding Verse, claims to draw inspiration from his band and has garnered more monthly listeners than them—despite Holding Absence’s decade-long presence in the music industry. While they have been creating and performing music since 2015, Bleeding Verse only emerged on the platform in late July and has quickly built a significant following.

Woodland expressed his dismay on X, stating, “It’s shocking, it’s disheartening, it’s insulting. Most importantly – it’s a wake-up call. Oppose AI music, or bands like us stop existing.” This statement highlights a growing concern within the music community regarding the rise of AI-generated content.

Bleeding Verse: The New AI Act

Bleeding Verse claims in its Spotify bio that it offers "human lyrics, turned into songs with AI." In just a couple of months, the band achieved an impressive 897,349 monthly listeners. In contrast, Holding Absence currently has 847,638 monthly listeners, an audience built through years of hard work and live performances.

While Bleeding Verse does not explicitly mention Holding Absence on its Spotify page, their YouTube bio reveals more. It describes Bleeding Verse as "an emotional post-hardcore band crafting cinematic soundscapes and heartbreak-heavy melodies." Their approach includes “AI-assisted instrumentation and vocals” while being inspired by artists like Dayseeker and Holding Absence.

Spotify’s Stance on AI Music

In a recent press conference, Spotify clarified that it does not plan to ban AI-generated music on its platform. Charlie Hellman, Spotify’s VP and global head of music product, stated, “We’re not here to punish artists for using AI authentically and responsibly. We hope that artists’ use of AI production tools will enable them to be more creative than ever.”

Despite this, Spotify announced initiatives to reduce mass uploads and other tactics that might mislead listeners. They are also introducing a system to assist artists in identifying their AI usage, while encouraging transparency in music creation.

Holding Absence’s Ongoing Journey

Bleeding Verse is proud of its AI foundation and debuted their first album, I Became What You Broke, on July 25. Following this, they released multiple singles and an EP titled The Anatomy of Hurt. Meanwhile, Holding Absence put out their latest album, The Noble Art of Self Destruction, in 2023 and collaborated with Halocene on the recent single “Bite My Tongue.”

As the landscape of music continues to evolve, how do you feel about the role AI plays in shaping the future of sound?