American Idol’s Chris Daughtry releases “Artificial” the first single on new label Big Machine Records
Chris Daughtry and his band are back with a new label and their first original material in over two years. The recent Big Machine Records signees usher in a new era with “Artificial,” an aurally epic track that warns about the dangers of heart and soul lost in an artificially intelligent world. Driven by the American Idol season 5 alum’s singular vocal prowess, the band leans into their rock roots. The song is released under Daughtry’s independent label Dogtree Records under exclusive licence to Big Machine Label Group.
Daughtry, Lzzy Hale Drop Powerful “Separate Ways” Music Video
“‘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,” Daughtry explains. “However, the heart and soul of humanity and the ability to feel love, sadness, and compassion can never be replaced. 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 release follows the launch of Daughtry’s Bare Bones Tour, plotting a rare acoustic run with 26 new US dates running throughout the fall. Alongside rocker Ayron Jones, who is set to open on select stops, the upcoming performances mark a unique opportunity to highlight the stars’ powerhouse musical versatility and vocal prowess in the most intimate of settings.
Daughtry went independent after many years with RCA/19R
The singer formed Daughtry shortly after the end of his American Idol season in 2006. He signed a deal with RCA Records/19Records, under which he released five studio album, the last being Cage to Rattle in 2018.
After the band and RCA parted ways, they went on to release Dearly Beloved in 2021 on their independent Dogtree Record label. In interviews, Chris shared that the band began trying too hard for radio hits. The band lost their way musically. But once they took reins, Daughtry got back to producing rock music without the frills. Apparently, Big Machine shares Daughtry’s vision of authenticity and staying true to their roots.
