The Velvet Sundown: viral band that doesn't actually exist

These AI-generated rock hits are brought to listeners by… no one

The Velvet Sundown AI band
The 'synthetic music project' rang alarm bells with some listeners and critics
(Image credit: The Velvet Sundown)

The Velvet Sundown, apparently a four-piece band of "shaggy-haired rockers", arrived on the music scene seemingly out of nowhere in June with a blend of "laid-back 1970s-inspired rock and modern indie pop", said CBC.

Now the group are racking up a million streams per month on Spotify, featuring in several of the platform's popular playlists.

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Rebekah Evans joined The Week as newsletter editor in 2023 and has written on subjects ranging from Ukraine and Afghanistan to fast fashion and "brotox". She started her career at Reach plc, where she cut her teeth on news, before pivoting into personal finance at the height of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. Social affairs is another of her passions, and she has interviewed people from across the world and from all walks of life. Rebekah completed an NCTJ with the Press Association and has written for publications including The Guardian, The Week magazine, the Press Association and local newspapers.