Press release: Lancashire artists challenge “un-human” generated AI with tailored music and art release

From left: Typhaine Patron with Mini-CD, Ste Whiley and M8 Tracker and CD, and VVzyk with her original art.

An electronic musician, singer and illustrator from Preston have collaborated on a new mini-album, that includes a special edition with both tailored art and music.

Ste Whiley, under the musical alias Myths and Monsters, has collaborated with artist VVzyk (Vi-vi-Zik) and singer Typhaine Patron on the new release titled ‘Beyond’, which will be available from Friday 6th September. 

Along with a standard version available digitally and on CD, a very limited special edition will be available consisting of 9 mini-CDs that features both art and music that is exclusive to each.

The 9 mini-CD designs by VVzyk.

Ste explains: "Anyone who picks up one of the 9 multiverse mini-CDs will have a version of Beyond that’s theirs alone. The idea came to me after seeing AI-generated music and art flooding social media. There's no soul or creativity in that kind of cookie-cutter content. We wanted to create something truly unique and human, offering one-of-a-kind audio-visual experiences with thought behind it and a collaborative spirit."

For this special "Multiverse Edition", Ste used a music device called an M8 Tracker programmed with various selectable loops and randomization functions to create unique live-recorded remixes of the first two tracks on each mini-CD.

With additional manual tweaks to the sounds when recording the songs, and exclusive CD labels illustrated for each mini-CD, the aim has been to create an experience bespoke for the nine people that pick up a copy.

Art print and standard CD.

Vvzyk, who created the unique watercolour illustrations on the 9 mini-CD covers as well as the main cover art, reflects on the collaboration: “Each mini-CD is a piece of art in its own right, and all of my original illustrations will be available to purchase as part of the release too. I’m excited to offer people something that feels authentic and human through this collaboration. It’s vital for us artists to continue making the effort to create meaningful experiences.”

The opening track on Beyond is the first in a series of recordings by Ste and singer Typhaine, of folk band Midnight Café, who has been joining live Myths and Monsters performances. It contains lyrics such as “don’t let this change everything.”

Myths and Monsters performing - Ste Whiley with Typhaine Patron

Ste said: “The song with Typhaine is called ‘We Must Resist’ and on some level it’s about the resistance to AI at the heart of this release.

"AI has benefits. I do use it and it's going to become unavoidable. But, without moderation, it does risk devaluing art, creating job losses, causing misinformation and stifling collaboration. I've much preferred working with Typhaine and VVzyk in the real world over any algorithm!"

Beyond by Myths and Monsters will be available for pre-order on Friday 6th September, before being shipped and released digitally on 27th September. It contains over 20 minutes of music. For updates, visit myths-and-monsters-uk.blogspot.com

ENDS

Notes for editor.

Main top photo (from left): Typhaine Patron with a Mini-CD, Ste Whiley with an M8 Tracker and CD, and VVzyk (Viviane Barzyk) with original artwork. Photo by Karolina Zielony.