AI Slop OR Good Music
June 4, 2026
Ok, this is a new one for me. I have grown up with music my entire life. My mom was a concert pianist, and even though we weren't well off, my dad, who wasn't musically inclined, somehow found a way to buy a piano for the house. It wasn't a new piano and I don't know where he got it, but it sounded beautiful in the hands of my mother. A fond memory as a kid having music being created in the house. By the way, I can play a few instruments about as well as I fly, but both have been attempted in my life :)
If it wasn't my mom playing piano, it was music on the stereo. A simple stereo that played records and had a couple of speakers (side note, I found an old pair and had them refinished for my parents - I can be nostalgic).
There is something about vinyl that is really tactile. Growing up, holding large album covers, reading the inserts, using the inserts as most albums had the words to the songs. Funny I still remember the words from those old songs, but I can't remember my own phone number. Isn't the brain one of the wonders of the world.
From a young age I like to explore music, find new songs and bands. Radio was really how most people found new music, but it was always curated by someone else. That was fine for some, but not for me. I spent countless hours in music stores looking for new bands. So vinyl is still in my blood and I have a large (for me) vinyl collection - for a later post.
Then along came Apple iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Bandcamp, Pandora (I am sure there are many more). We had Spotify, but I like HD music as I play it mostly through my stereo, so I changed to Apple Music. I treat it much like I did a music store. I spend time listening to new music, finding songs and artists that aren't necessarily at the top of Apple's lists or really anyone's lists.
And this is where it gets interesting.
I found some music that I really like. I find it interesting, melodic, and somehow it captures my ear.
I have to take a step back here. I like all genres, from classical to country to metal and pretty much everything in between. Over the years, the genres have become so specific (which is so confusing) so I don't really know what any of them are, just what I like.
Ok, so back. Over the last couple of months, and maybe I am late to the party, I have found a few artists (can I call them that, I think so) that I keep going back to, knowing that they are using AI as their vehicle to create. This is an important part in my mind — AI as a vehicle to create.
Let me name a few and provide some short clips so that you can get an idea. You will have to decide if collaborations (AI) with humans can create music that you would listen to. From my perspective this fits into AI as a tool, much like a screwdriver or hammer.
However, as always, I want to provide another perspective, which to be fair, I don't disagree with his take, in fact, it makes me second guess whether I should even listen to the music that I am going to present here — is it theft of intellectual property, does it destroy the artists economy, how will the law handle this, does it actually matter? As always, you need to make your own decisions on what you like or don't like.
Although this is long, watch this first:
I am going to start with the "artist" that I find most versatile.
Kelly Boesch
Kelly Boesch is an AI visual innovator blending two decades of design expertise from IMAX and abstract painting with cutting-edge technology.
A pioneer in developing a new visual language, her visually arresting content has captivated over 2M followers and generates 60M+ views per month across platforms.
She sees AI as a powerful collaborator, pushing creative boundaries at the intersection of human artistry and machine learning. Read more about Kelly Boesch
My Opinion: Her music is really versatile. She blends sounds from different cultures and times. I know she is an AI artist, but her process of using AI to realize her ideas and visions is really no different than how I use AI (I am not comparing us as she is truly talented and I am just someone who wanted a diary).
Listen for yourself to some tracks that I like:
Now we move onto another genre bending AI induced music. I think it's called viking rock or viking rap, or whatever. Why do I like it — it's tough, melodic, and has some mythical components.
Here's a great article on Viking Rappers. Note: there seems to be a clear bias in the article although producing 12 albums in a year is pretty extraordinary - I don't produce records, I am not a musician or singer for that matter (zinga!)
There are a couple of bands or musicians that I will introduce to you.
Ragal Ironbull
I really can't find any great detail on this artist so I used Grok to give me a summation. I am still in "limbo" as to what conclusion I can draw. But it is definitely music that I listen to currently.
- Reddit (r/isthisAI): Extensive discussion on the surge of similar tracks. Consensus leans toward heavy AI involvement, with some defending hybrid human+AI as valid modern creation. Read the thread
- Criticism: Accusations of flooding platforms, misleading listeners (no clear AI disclosure on Spotify/YouTube), and impacting human artists. Tracks like "Valhalla Calling" have charted amid AI music debates. Read more
- Defense: Hybrid workflow (human vision/lyrics + AI tools) is "how AI music works" today — akin to using digital production software. The output resonates with fans seeking epic, motivational Viking content.
Listen for yourself:
Draugr Balled
Ok, maybe I just suck at internet research, but when the first hundred or so Google responses don't provide me with a musician's bio, and I have to resort to Grok again, maybe this is telling me something.
Key Findings from Research
- No Real Identity or Human Performer: There is zero credible evidence of a real person (singer, rapper, or performer) behind the name. Searches for a real name, biography, live performances, interviews, photos of a human artist, or any pre-2026 history turn up nothing. The persona is entirely digital: a bald or long-haired, heavily tattooed, muscular "Viking rapper" depicted in AI-generated imagery across videos, album art, and socials.
- Output Characteristics: Extremely high volume of releases (multiple tracks/albums quickly), generic yet polished Viking-themed lyrics (Norse legends, battles, Valhalla, etc.), and consistent production style. Videos frequently show lip-sync issues, AI artifacts, and repetitive visual tropes typical of tools like Suno, Udio, or video generators.
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