ARTIFICIAL

"Artificial" throws down the gauntlet at the feet of our burgeoning AI overlords. Imagine, if you will, a world where a voice assistant not only controls your thermostat but decides what you wear and who you date (shudder). That's the future Daughtry envisions, a world painted not with the rosy hues of Jetsons optimism, but with the cold, blue light of a computer monitor. Lines like "No love, no embrace, something's wrong and outta place" hint at a future society populated by these emotionless machines, efficient but utterly devoid of the messy beauty of human experience. "'Artificial' is about the potential nightmare that AI could become and the idea that everything and everyone could eventually be replaced, essentially to perfection, and rendered obsolete," said Chris Daughtry. "However, the heart and soul of humanity and the ability to feel love, sadness, and compassion can never be replaced," he added. "While there are plenty of applications where AI can improve our lives and assist in many areas of creativity, I feel it's imperative that we find a way to protect our musicians, actors, writers, and all creative outlets from being destroyed."

The overall tone is dark and warns of a future where AI becomes a threat to humanity. No god, no religion No beliefs No belief No belief The bridge climaxes with Chris Daughtry absolutely losing his mind as he screams, "no belief, no belief!" According to a YouTube interview, this was an entirely unplanned outburst, a moment of pure, existential angst. The band loved it and reshuffled the song, shoving the chorus aside to make way for Daughtry's first-ever breakdown.

Chris Daughtry wrote "Artificial" with Aerosmith producer Marti Frederiksen and Scott Stevens (Shinedown, Halestorm, New Years Day). Frederiksen and Stevens also produced the track.