AI/Bio-Tech Music: Exploring Post-Mortem Creativity & Ethics
The sensational title about a deceased musician "resurrected as a clump of brain matter" to compose new music, whether literal or metaphorical (e.g., AI trained on their work), taps into significant emerging themes: the ethical boundaries of AI and biotechnology, the future of creative output, and the concept of legacy beyond death. This topic can spark discussions in entertainment, tech, and bioethics. For businesses, opportunities lie in speculative design, ethical AI development (e.g., frameworks for digital legacies), intellectual property for AI-generated content, or even immersive experiences that explore these sci-fi concepts. Marketing could focus on "future of music," "AI and creativity," or "digital immortality."
Origin Reddit Post
r/music
Musician Who Died in 2021 Resurrected as Clump of Brain Matter, Now Composing New Music
Posted by u/ddgr815•07/27/2025
Top Comments
u/trashmoder
are the aussies ok?
u/Sa7aSa7a
From the clips I've seen, she is playing loose with the term "performs" as well.
u/mustisetausername
I was sitting in a room when I read this article; different from the one you are in.
u/RufiosBrotherKev
its ultimately a stupid premise because we can just ask someone who recieves a donated organ, or even just a blood transfusion, if they have gained any memories from the donator. the answer i
u/AuguryKnox
Iiiiiiiiii ain’t got no booooooody!
u/RufiosBrotherKev
the title way over-implies whats going on- they grew a piece of "brain" using the experimental composer's donated blood, and then hooked it up to some wires that trigger sounds when an electr
u/slusho55
Isn’t that the Miley Cyrus episode of Black Mirror?
u/The_Great_ATuin
I've been to this exhibit at the Art Gallery of WA. It was interesting and creepy. It's more like an experimental noise room than music. It seems to me you could get a similar result with any
u/BreezyWalking
Snake oil. Its AI
u/jaim1
u/Chemical_Fissure
Yeah what the fuck is this?
u/Demonyx12
u/No_Court6633
which Black Mirror episode is this wtf
u/pillbuggery
How so? They grew a simple clump of neurons from his stem cells as an art project that he signed off on. It's not really that big of a deal.
u/No_Court6633
which Black Mirror episode is this wtf
u/bunky_done_gun
Krang is getting down over here.
u/Earllad
No photo or video. What the heck
u/BattlinBud
Yeah, big deal, Kurt Russell did that in the 80s already
u/TheSamurabbi
u/shadowyflight
[Blink 182 music video](https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/s/N6SNQ1Mgd2)
u/Colavs9601
I think this is closer to a penitent engine or dreadnought.
u/chuckiechap33
Wtf are we living through right now. Shit is crazy.
u/Christmas_Queef
It's from 2001. That music video is old enough to be married and have kids and a 9-5 job with a 401k now.
I was 14. I have long accepted my childhood is now the oldies.
u/ForRoiBoi
The title is wildly inaccurate and leaves people incorrectly believing this guys brain is sitting in a jar somewhere. He donated blood and they’re basically just running electricity through i
u/maddenmcfadden
a clump of brain matter composing music makes me think of katy perry.
u/LifeAwaking
What’s my age again?
u/InsideOut803
u/Cijj
You need to shut up with your dangerous talk! 😭
u/airz23s_coffee
Yeah same, we didn't have any music channels in our house til 4music started happening and by then they wouldn't be showing this song
u/dzzi
Crazy how you don't find out til the bottom of the article whether the artist consented to this or not.
Thankfully, he did. In which case I find this kinda interesting instead of horrifying.
u/NMFG
Dammit.
u/nwaa
On a *music* sub...
u/Fxplus
Love this
u/JobbyJobberson
May I please use The Biomechanical Windchimes as my new band name?
Lmk, Thanks!
(I’m calling it anyway)
u/Vuuqs
It’s from the music video for the song “first date” by Blink 182
u/CinoSRelliK
People will do literally anything except commission music from living composers
u/Lorikeeter
https://i.redd.it/3i38tcbx6cff1.gif
u/exaviyur
The amount of people that don't know what this gif is from is aging me faster than drugs or alcohol ever could.
u/WitELeoparD
Bs
u/Etzell
>You could make an orchestra out of 40 people defecating if you had the right software
That'd be super inefficient. Symphonies typically only have 4 movements.
u/Eljimb0
Glory to the Omnissiah
u/mrp8528
u/Snorkelbender
Good. I hope I can make pointless reddit comments after I’m dead.
u/DeathByBamboo
>To create the "mini-brain," researchers at Harvard Medical School used Lucier's white blood cells to derive stem cells, the foundational building blocks of the body which possess the abil
u/raphattacks
That’s Tom Delonge
u/gorka_la_pork
Well I guess this is growing up 🥲
u/Colavs9601
Servitor.
u/heidly_ees
I very rarely watch music videos, usually just listen, so it's rare for me to recognise one
u/jjaylopez
Where is this meme from I feel like it's from a movie or show I wouldn't mind watching
u/getbackjoe94
The results are good, but the action of posthumously taking biological material from a person without consent and using that to make a profit without any payment to the person who provided th
u/jjaylopez
Where is this meme from I feel like it's from a movie or show I wouldn't mind watching
u/Howard_Cosine
Bullshit.
u/somestupidname1
The one with Miley Cyrus in a coma
u/Sergeace
Agreed. The article explains they grew proto-brain tissue from his blood sample taken before his death. Anyone who understands neuroscience would know the researchers would need the composer'
u/Strict-Brick-5274
You say that like it's surprising...? Like most of the music on YouTube was made before YouTube was a platform??
u/thegreatimmaculate
Blink 182 music video
u/Enders-game
You know the artist could raise the question about what constitutes "self" by just asking.
u/the_interlink
u/bunky_done_gun
Krang is getting down over here.
u/somestupidname1
The one with Miley Cyrus in a coma
u/melodychocolat_
WTF?
u/Potential_Bread2702
“the HeLa cell line continues to be a source of invaluable medical data to the present day” sounds like a good thing
u/Magus44
You should absolutely check out the [Blink 182 - First Date](https://youtu.be/vVy9Lgpg1m8?si=GLf5sJUuXT0_BPs1) video if you haven’t before…
u/TheCarrzilico
https://youtu.be/UiQOaK8Mv6E?si=vnrnV0a668KObF2h
u/Chidi-P
It's from the music video for First Date by Blink 182
u/Nageef
If this is real, this is how you play god. I’ve seen enough sci fi movies to know that doesn’t end well
u/ymcameron
If you think this is messed up, look up [Henrietta Lacks.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks) She was a black woman who died of cervical cancer. Researchers stole her genetic ma
u/dicklord_airplane
This sounds like a line from Metalocalypse. Well done.
u/leprosyhead
Yeah I've been too and agree. It's definitely an experimental art piece moreso than "composed music". Was an interesting vibe
u/littlelucidmoments
Hey Mark!
u/RufiosBrotherKev
the title way over-implies whats going on- they grew a piece of "brain" using the experimental composer's donated blood, and then hooked it up to some wires that trigger sounds when an electr
u/kingtacticool
Resurrected death metal. Cool song title
u/chuckiechap33
Wtf are we living through right now. Shit is crazy.
u/Mayonnaise_Poptart
>biomechanical windchime
So Pavement then?
u/BradBradley1
Wow, you guys are totally gonna believe the new single that Will.i.am’s cerebellum just dropped!
u/nerankori
Well,I guess it's not abominable intelligence if it's a servitor
u/Omnitheist
The article headline asks: "Could there be a filament of memory that persists through this biological transformation?"
I don't think so, no. Music is about experience. Experience is central
u/username161013
AI is snake oil too. It's not actually artificial intelligence composing music. It's just mathematically predicting notes and sounds based on a formula that uses input it stole from actual hu
u/DarkSociety1033
u/dansdata
"Could there be a filament of memory that persists through this biological transformation?"
[No.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headlines)
u/veryphaggy
i do cocaine
u/Razor_Fox
Look she's very busy being an astronaut ok?
u/Eljimb0
Glory to the Omnissiah
u/the_interlink
# Finally the future is here!
(Without music, life - and resurrection - would be a mistake.)
u/dicklord_airplane
This sounds like a line from Metalocalypse. Well done.
u/SubmissiveDinosaur
Macross Pluss
u/slusho55
Isn’t that the Miley Cyrus episode of Black Mirror?
u/cherrycoloured
so not like futurama?
u/iGlutton
So do I after eating Taco Bell
u/stuartgm
Life comes at you fast, blink and you’ll miss it.
u/ymcameron
If you think this is messed up, look up [Henrietta Lacks.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks) She was a black woman who died of cervical cancer. Researchers stole her genetic ma
u/deviltrombone
Check out the little brain on Brad!
u/BattlinBud
Yeah, big deal, Kurt Russell did that in the 80s already
u/SupaKoopa714
Sounds like something Carcass would use to describe an album.
u/undead_dead_guy
If that ain’t the most dystopian shit I’ve ever heard
u/Potential_Bread2702
“the HeLa cell line continues to be a source of invaluable medical data to the present day” sounds like a good thing
u/ymcameron
Sure, but it’s the difference between being an organ donor and someone stealing your kidney to sell it. You don’t technically need both of them, but it’s about consenting to one of the proced
u/toadphoney
u/Valaseun
u/Jadjabone
It’s the music video for First Date by Blink 182
u/Guy-Inkognito
Are you maybe questioning what your age is?
Related note: there's so many legendary Simpsons references in comments that fly past 98% of the people here.
u/thegreatimmaculate
Blink 182 music video
u/Champigne
She performs music, she sure as hell ain't composing it.
u/Spirited-Joke5545
And no body cares! (Starts scatting)
u/Turlap
Noice.
u/filthythedog
Their name?
A.B.
A.B. Normal
u/TheRexRider
Oh boy! Man-made horrors beyond my comprehension!
u/NoIsTheNewMaybe
It’s Tom from Blink 182.
u/IShookMeAllNightLong
TIL that's not Steve Zahn
u/techsuppr0t
Now that's metal af
u/Appropriate_Link_551
Symphony in B shat
u/CinoSRelliK
People will do literally anything except commission music from living composers
u/1dayaway
Can we please just have affordable housing?
u/anne_jumps
God, I never even realized that.
u/MrSecond23
https://preview.redd.it/i81kwpjssbff1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4369cb3292e0acdeb42cf70350488ea54860eb30
u/Gotgold7
And people acting like MTV didn't exist
u/sandefurian
Unpopular opinion - you should list at least two examples before using “etc”
u/pistolwhip_pete
This was basically the Black Mirror episode with Miley Cyrus.
u/Funkycoldmedici
It’s pretty much [Carneous Cacophony](https://youtu.be/GOJEVHe3tXE?si=MIwoHhUFyEw0nU5v), from one of their best alums.
u/ymcameron
Sure, but it’s the difference between being an organ donor and someone stealing your kidney to sell it. You don’t technically need both of them, but it’s about consenting to one of the proced
u/toadphoney
u/passerineby
like those vids of mushrooms "playing synths" you see in ig reels etc
u/RufiosBrotherKev
[As always, Betteridge applies.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headlines)
this is being framed intentionally provactively, and asking a question to which any reasona
u/NoThrowLikeAway
Nobody likes you when you’re 23
u/Lee_III
Brutal
u/Omnitheist
The article headline asks: "Could there be a filament of memory that persists through this biological transformation?"
I don't think so, no. Music is about experience. Experience is central
u/filthythedog
Their name?
A.B.
A.B. Normal
u/Turlap
Noice.
u/leprosyhead
Nah it's legit, one of the guys who made it is an acquaintance and I've been to the exhibit
u/Champigne
She performs music, she sure as hell ain't composing it.
u/passerineby
like those vids of mushrooms "playing synths" you see in ig reels etc
u/tropicalhotdogdays
Been upvoting it for years.
Does the job for sure... thank you for your service Mr What The Fuck
u/youareactuallygod
They got mushrooms and plants to “compose” music by essentially assigning different notes *in the same key* to different physiological processes.
You could make an orchestra out of 40 people
u/Medic1642
"We've already restructured the Orchestra, placing prime candidates according to risk factor."
u/DOMAN127
I’m kinda sad that they didn’t think Alvin Lucier was noteworthy enough to be named in the headline
u/HugoRBMarques
I Have No Mouth And I Must Sing
u/SupaKoopa714
Sounds like something Carcass would use to describe an album.
u/stars_mcdazzler
...fuck man... Too soon?
u/gloebe10
Hang on, Mac Miller is making new music?
u/mrp8528
u/charlie2135
Monty Python already sang about the decomposing composers.
u/CRTPTRSN
I can't wait for Beethoven's Plinth.
u/NoIsTheNewMaybe
It’s Tom from Blink 182.
u/Mayonnaise_Poptart
>biomechanical windchime
So Pavement then?
u/RATGUT1996
No……. No
u/DonnyMox
I’m sorry, WHAT
u/Hotrian
Did you read the article? They grew tissues from stem cells using his blood, and the tissues are wired up in such a way as to generate sounds. Nothing too crazy here, technologically speaking
u/WilliamMurderfacex3
I hate that guy.
u/BobsonDugnut1
u/Jadjabone
It’s the music video for First Date by Blink 182
u/silent_ovation
Imagine the possibilities, in the future not even death will keep them from sending you back to work.
u/internetlad
If it's any consolation I'm of the age that I should know and didn't.
u/Snorkelbender
Good. I hope I can make pointless reddit comments after I’m dead.
u/nerankori
Well,I guess it's not abominable intelligence if it's a servitor
u/Fxplus
Love this
u/RSchreib
Imagine though if the dead “composer” composed music with similar style to their live counterpart, that would indicate something going on other than random electrical impulses
u/getbackjoe94
The results are good, but the action of posthumously taking biological material from a person without consent and using that to make a profit without any payment to the person who provided th
u/Aprowl
I woke up with a clown's hand in my pants. That's what I did today.
u/IANALbutIAMAcat
Holy shit. And I’m also the age where I should’ve know the actual reference. I was certain it was Joe dirt.
u/Peter_Rabid
I think you mean, decomposing new music
u/Vuuqs
It’s from the music video for the song “first date” by Blink 182
u/TheRexRider
Oh boy! Man-made horrors beyond my comprehension!
u/SlamJam64
His latest song "please end this" follows up his debut "where am I"
u/business_drunk
"You can say what you like to DeBussy,
But there's not much of him left to hear"
u/SeaBearPA
u/Chidi-P
It's from the music video for First Date by Blink 182
u/tropicalhotdogdays
Been upvoting it for years.
Does the job for sure... thank you for your service Mr What The Fuck
u/DinosHedly
What's your age.....again?
u/iAMbigmeesh
That doesn’t even look like Steve!
u/Stinky_Fartface
r/nottheonion
u/techsuppr0t
Now that's metal af
u/BreezyWalking
Snake oil. Its AI
u/InsideOut803
u/bluvasa
So like Robocop...
Robo...composer!?!?
u/ForRoiBoi
The title is wildly inaccurate and leaves people incorrectly believing this guys brain is sitting in a jar somewhere. He donated blood and they’re basically just running electricity through i
u/mustisetausername
I was sitting in a room when I read this article; different from the one you are in.
u/Colavs9601
I think this is closer to a penitent engine or dreadnought.
u/HugoRBMarques
I Have No Mouth And I Must Sing
u/MurmurmurMyShurima
One of the references in the article links to some bizarre "alpha brainwave" musical experiment. Which sounds ridiculous and the methodology sounds closer to that of a Ouja board (ideamotor a
u/Magus44
You should absolutely check out the [Blink 182 - First Date](https://youtu.be/vVy9Lgpg1m8?si=GLf5sJUuXT0_BPs1) video if you haven’t before…
u/shadowyflight
[Blink 182 music video](https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/s/N6SNQ1Mgd2)
u/Funkycoldmedici
It’s pretty much [Carneous Cacophony](https://youtu.be/GOJEVHe3tXE?si=MIwoHhUFyEw0nU5v), from one of their best alums.
u/jakehood47
u/Ectobatic
Nah that opinion is not unpopular
u/WitELeoparD
Bs
u/WiggsMagoo
And where's my asian friend!
u/maddenmcfadden
a clump of brain matter composing music makes me think of katy perry.
u/Icy-Whale-2253
Um… what?
u/Squint22
https://preview.redd.it/i7n1pkgsjbff1.jpeg?width=168&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4a9734dab6e340b8cea18fab9e1f38bed03b0222
u/tiabeaniedrunkowitz
Why are you doing that? Don’t do that.
u/the_interlink
u/Spill_the_Tea
To be fair. This song was released before youtube was launched. I know the song. I haven't watched their music videos.
u/zoqfotpik
This is why I will be cremated when I die. Let me have my rest, don't force me to come back as a zombie programmer to fix bugs in the code that I wrote when I was alive.
u/DarthDoobz
And we'll pretend, it's ok 👍
u/anne_jumps
God, I never even realized that.
u/TheRayGunCowboy
I actually thought it was a clip from Joe Dirt for years
u/Peter_Rabid
I think you mean, decomposing new music