Fake Folk, Real Rage & Songs That Actually Rock
What’s up, 18%ers!? Mark here with another jam-packed episode of Songs That Don’t Suck. But before we dive into the tracks worth your precious earbuds, we need to talk about something that’s getting creepier by the day: AI music fraud. Yeah, it’s getting real dystopian out there.
🎭 AI vs. The Human Soul: The Emily Portman Incident
Imagine this: you’re a modest, well-respected British folk singer like Emily Portman. One day, you get a message from a fan praising your “new album.” Only problem? You didn’t release one.
Instead, someone trained an AI to imitate her voice and style, created an entire fake album called Orca, complete with track titles like Sprig of Thyme and Silent Hearth, and uploaded it to her Spotify page. We’re talking eerily folky, overly perfect, algorithmically precise music that fooled actual fans.
Portman summed it up best:
“I’ll never be able to sing that perfectly in tune. And that’s not the point. I don’t want to. I’m human.”
💔 Her takedown process? Slow and exhausting. Spotify took three weeks just to respond. Meanwhile, the impersonator uploaded another batch of AI sludge. Talk about insult to injury.
And she’s not alone:
- Josh Kaufman (producer for Folklore)
- Jeff Tweedy, Father John Misty, Teddy Thompson, Iron & Wine, Jakob Dylan
- Even the late Blaze Foley (!)
All saw fake AI tracks show up on their artist pages, often uploaded by shady labels with sketchy names. One even credited a phantom producer called Zyan Maliq Mahardika—the AI Max Martin of Christian metalcore, apparently?
⚠️ The bottom line: The streaming platforms aren’t protecting artists. 99,000 tracks get uploaded daily, and unless you’re Beyoncé, it’s a free-for-all. Fake voices, fake names, fake songs… real consequences.
But real music? That’s still out there. And that’s what we’re here for.
🎵 This Week’s Songs That Don’t Suck:
1. “Taste” – The Bogards
🎸 AM-era Arctic Monkeys vibes, with a sarcastic bite.
London alt-rock trio The Bogards deliver big with this slick, slinky track. It’s got:
- 🔥 Scorn-drenched lyrics with vivid storytelling
- 🎤 A sing-along chorus that hits hard live
- 🎸 Guitar interplay that shines post-chorus
- 🌀 A surprise tempo shift outro that closes it out perfectly
👉 “Taste” is smart, stylish, and deserves a spot on your late-night drive playlist.
2. “Back to the 80s” – The Publics
🧨 Angsty nostalgia with synthy rebellion.
Back again on the pod, The Publics rip through today’s creatively bankrupt media landscape with a high-energy protest anthem. This track:
- 🚀 Channels 80s pop-rock flair in harmonies and production
- 😡 Lyrically dunks on modern entertainment monotony
- 💥 Calls out the industry with unapologetic honesty
Seriously, this track is a vibe and a vent session.
3. “Changing” – Scarhaven
🔥 Grunge revival with Cornell-level vocals.
After teasing us for what felt like forever, Scarhaven finally dropped their debut—and it’s worth every second of the wait. Think:
- 🗣️ Vocals that echo Chris Cornell’s power and soul
- 🤘 Big alt-rock guitar tones and punchy 90s-style production
- 🌀 Atmospheric pre-chorus reverb that hits just right
If you’re into Soundgarden or Audioslave, don’t sleep on Scarhaven.
4. “The Soul You’re Tethered To” – Nuns of the Tundra
🔩 Chunky riffs + modern alt-grunge fusion.
Back with a vengeance, Nuns of the Tundra drop another fuzz-drenched banger. This one:
- 🔊 Leans into thick, syncopated guitar riffs
- 🌀 Marries 90s grunge with modern prog-rock edges
- 💀 Has a title that belongs on a killer tour shirt
These guys are forging their own sound—and it slaps.
📢 Final Thoughts
We’re in a weird era, folks—one where machines can mimic emotion, but never feel it. The good news? Artists like Emily Portman, Scarhaven, and The Publics are doubling down on real, human expression.
🎧 Go support the music that actually means something. Visit songsthatdontsuck.net for:
- 💌 The newsletter (Live Music Archive access!)
- 🧢 Merch + earplug discounts
- 📸 Concert photo drops
- 🗳️ Monthly music polls
Like, subscribe, and tell your friends. Because in a world full of AI slop, we need songs that don’t suck more than ever.
Til next week—stay real. Stay loud. 🎤🔥
