A Label Statement on AI in Art

This labels position on A.I.:

We publish art, which is to say, we publish artifacts of Human thoughts, feelings, and reflections. We do this in music, we do this in writing, and we do this in art.

We are also part of a culture of punk rock, which encourages folks to do things themselves, and embraces the results as at least owning up to that intent.

Accordingly, allowing A.I. generated stuff to be released through this label, either in music, in cover art, or in writing, betrays the aim of this label.

We exist to perpetuate an ecosystem of punk rock.

So when we need a cover, a punk artist gets a gig, when we need a recording, a punk artist gets a gig, when we need copyrighting, a punk artist gets a gig. Trading any of these for A.I…. we might as well just trade the whole thing.

As a recording engineer earlier in life, i spent a lot of time trying to document a band, rather than make a perfect recording. And that ethos, translates to this label. I’d rather see a ‘less perfect’, more human art, than a ‘perfect’ one, mainly cuz perfection is unimaginative. But also, because the fuckups are actually the beauty we all have. Its how life works. Perfection, and computers, and algorithms, lack the actual interaction and fragile beauty of life. And in times of such atomization of people, dispersed so wide and only connected sometimes through digital means, we really must make the most of the messages we share.

So from this point forward, we are going to be aggressive about making sure anything coming in, is free of that A.I. bullshit.

A.I. may be great for typing a note to yourself, but having a place in your Art? Then whats the fucking point?

With love,
– Gary