MANUFRACTURE MUSIC

Q: What was the main inspiration behind writing “Skip My Tracks”?
A: My music is born on predominantly analogue synthesizers—not through AI. “Skip My Tracks” was triggered by a fascinating paradox in how modern music is curated and consumed.

On one hand, I’ve been fortunate enough to get some great organic traction. My tracks hit the top ten on the newcomer charts on Groover, and they’ve picked up airplay on fantastic underground stations across the globe—places like Bloodlit Radio in Canada, Frecuencia Millennial in Mexico, or Sword Radio and Sine FM in the UK and others. But on the other hand, traditional print and digital music magazines almost completely ignore personalized pitches nowadays. It made me realize how much the traditional gatekeepers have disconnected from the actual underground.

The second trigger—and this is where it gets highly personal—came from EBM purist forums. I tried to open a dialogue about my A.C.I. (Analog Core Industrial) concept, which is essentially a form of protest. A protest against AI.

Too many people are using AI completely irresponsibly today. They are practically letting AI dictate their lives. Political actors use it to blind the public, driving people toward anti-democratic voting choices. It even leads to terrible decisions in personal relationships. Why? Because an AI is programmed to keep the user engaged; it is designed to simply tell you what you want to hear, feeding into your fears and insecurities even when they have absolutely no basis in reality. I create the music strictly with analogue gear, but use AI visuals as a purely conceptual tool—a trojan horse of sorts—to mirror and protest this dangerous development.

And ironically, the very EBM purists who protest against AI refused to understand my concept. Let’s be clear: EBM stands for Electronic Body Music. Not Electronic Body Video. To these purists, the wrapping paper is clearly more important than the actual content. They completely missed the point of my protest.

Yes, my AI videos and cover arts are based on knowledge trained by AI—knowledge that previous artists created with their own two hands. But how is that any different from the iconic bands who literally invented EBM, building their entire sound on samples that were ultimately created by other artists before them? To top it off, platforms like Reddit rely heavily and provably on AI algorithms. Yet, that is the exact platform where these purists gather to whine about any use of AI. It’s hypocrisy at its finest. You can’t get any more double-tongued than that, can you?!

That staggering paradox was the exact catalyst for “Skip My Track.” Writing it wasn’t an act of frustration; it was a total liberation. I realized I don’t need to play by their rules.

Q: The song feels like a direct challenge to modern music culture. Was there a specific experience that pushed you to write it?
A: Yes. Today’s music industry is entirely ruled by algorithms. Someone sits at a computer, types a prompt like “write a song in the style of XY,” and uploads it. To me, that is completely soulless. Anyone who views music as a manual, independent craft fueled by ideas, joy, struggle, endurance, and sweat is expressing a piece of their humanity. Even if a track just serves as background atmosphere, you still catch a glimpse of what the artist wanted to say. A prompt can never achieve that; it just sounds like a clinical, mass-produced product.

Q: How much of the frustration expressed in the lyrics comes from your own journey as an artist?
A: I literally wrote the frustration right out of my soul. The lyrics came together in fragments—while hiking, working out, or having dinner with friends. I just noted down lines wherever I was. My ultimate luxury is that I don’t rely on music to pay my bills. But as an independent artist, you still have to be careful not to lose yourself in the machine. You have to stay true and authentic. You aren’t doing this for the masses.

Q: The track talks a lot about authenticity versus imitation. Why is that theme so important to you?
A: An algorithm-driven music industry chokes out the potential of unique, individual artists. People are genuinely annoyed by the flood of AI content, which I completely understand. As human beings, we crave rawness and authenticity. My A.C.I. concept purposefully creates discomfort right at that friction point. And friction triggers discourse and self-reflection—at least for those mature enough to question themselves.

Q: Do you feel that originality is becoming harder to find in today’s music industry?
A: I believe that if we aren’t careful, AI-generated music will eventually dominate the digital space. But there will be a tipping point—provided humanity manages to keep AI from running other areas of life. We shouldn’t take artificial intelligence for granted, or we risk losing our human authenticity. We’ve already hit that tipping point visually. You scroll through social media, see something, and instantly dismiss it as “AI slop.” We want to see real human faces. We are humans, not machines.

The same tipping point will come for music. People will starve for handmade, real art. I predict a massive resurgence of live concerts by actual human performers, while standard streaming platforms will increasingly be abandoned. The coming years will show where the path leads.

Q: The lyrics criticize people who seem more interested in trends than artistic expression. What are your thoughts on the role trends play in modern music?
A: The current trend dictates that a song is deemed worthless if it doesn’t hit its first major climax within the first ten seconds. EBM and Industrial music are cut from a different cloth. In these genres, you can actually take your time to tell a story and convey a deeper message.

Look, I understand that the music industry needs to generate revenue to survive. But I think the industry would do itself a much better favor in the long run by discovering, building, and supporting independent artists—including those who choose not to be actively represented on mainstream streaming platforms. True longevity comes from art that leaves an impact, not just short-lived trends designed for instant gratification.

Q: Was “Skip My Track” written from a personal perspective, or did you want it to represent a wider group of independent artists?
A: While it stems from my personal release, an algorithm-dominated industry stifles the potential of all independent artists. Many people are tired of the artificiality. My A.C.I. concept deliberately creates that necessary friction to provoke a wider dialogue about what we value in art.

Q: The title itself is very interesting. What does “Skip My Track” mean to you beyond its obvious connection to streaming platforms?
A: The “Skip” isn’t just aimed at streaming consumers. It’s a critique of our fast-paced, short-attention-span society where people no longer take the time to sit with themselves. If something doesn’t provide an instant kick within five seconds—and I don’t just mean a bass drum—people get bored. It’s a dangerous phase. It reflects a society where people rush to judgment without looking at the background context. People are oversaturated. They need to be shaken awake.

Q: How do you personally deal with being overlooked or underestimated as a musician?
A: I am fully aware that I am a provocative artist. There is a reason my main project is named MANUFRACTURE MUSIC. My messages are uncomfortable—the “R” in ManufRacture is intentional.
Ever since I finished producing this track, I feel liberated.

Before, I fell into the trap of thinking my music had to find a massive audience, especially since curators were praising it. I didn’t find that audience—perhaps due to poor marketing on my part. But honestly? I no longer care. I don’t live off my music, which grants me the ultimate freedom to do exactly what I want, on my own terms.

Q: Do you see MANUFRACTURE MUSIC as an outsider project challenging established systems?
A: Yes, absolutely. I don’t even fit into a standard niche; MANUFRACTURE MUSIC is far too uncompromising for that. My side projects like Music of Synergia or Fourtiyfication5* fit more easily into established niches like EDM, Glitch, Synthwave, or Cinematic music. But I never focused on them. They only exist to catch the ideas that are too conventional for Manufracture Music.

Q: The lyrics suggest that creativity should disrupt rather than simply fit in. Do you believe great art needs to make people uncomfortable at times?
A: To me, art has a profound social responsibility. It can be accessible, but it should also carry a message—even an uncomfortable one. Historically, artists who put their fingers in society’s open wounds were rarely loved in their time. When you look at Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring,” the premiere caused actual riots because the music was too progressive and jarring for the audience. Knowing that, it’s quite comforting that as an underground EBM artist, my A.C.I. approach makes me disliked in certain purist circles simply because I hold up a mirror to them.

Q: How important is artistic freedom when you sit down to write new material?
A: It is the absolute core. I refuse to work under pressure, and I no longer pressure myself. I refuse to produce repetitive, brainless techno or generic EBM where a single bassline and beat loop endlessly for an entire track—and barely change in the next song. When I see acts like that opening for major artists, I sometimes wonder what went wrong with the scene. But that’s exactly what labels want. Then again, judging everything by your own standards is a trap. Tastes differ, and that’s a good thing.

Q: The song often contrasts genuine emotion with commercial success. Do you think the industry places too much value on numbers and metrics?
A: Yes, entirely. The industry demands profits and stares blindly at Spotify metrics. From a business standpoint, it’s understandable. Labels use public metrics tools to spot trends, which is why so much algorithmic AI music is currently being pushed. The artist is forced to invest heavily upfront, leaving high-concept, ambitious art with zero chance in the mainstream market.

Q: There is a line of thought throughout the song that rejection can become motivation. Has that mindset helped shape your career?
A: Yes, absolutely. And ironically, it happened through “Skip My Track.” Rejection forces you to evolve, to learn, and to sharpen your craft.

Q: What do you hope listeners take away from “Skip My Tracks” after hearing it for the first time?
A: In tandem with my A.C.I. concept, I want to urge curators, labels, and EBM consumers to value true authenticity. Supporting artists who rely on genuine human craftsmanship—rather than prompt-writers who call themselves musicians without an ounce of musical background—is the only sustainable, long-term strategy for real culture.

Q: Do you think the themes explored in this song will continue to appear in future MANUFRACTURE MUSIC releases?
A: It will undoubtedly shape my future work in one way or another. You grow more mature and reflective. The whole journey is a continuous line that reshapes your internal mind map.

Q: If you could send one message to artists who feel ignored by the industry, what would you tell them?
A: Stay authentic. Stop chasing external validation and stand firmly by your values. Make music because it is your vital form of expression!