An indie band from Milton Keynes has accused artificial intelligence of stealing their music after a cover they planned to release appeared online under another name.
Torus vs. Independent Lemon
Torus had been preparing a grunge-style cover of Billie Eilish’s Ocean Eyes after a short teaser of their performance gained traction on TikTok. Before they could release the full version, a similar track surfaced on Spotify, uploaded by an artist called Independent Lemon. The account, which has nearly 700,000 monthly listeners, regularly posts covers but has no social media presence, record label, or live shows. Spotify confirmed it removed the reported track after Torus raised concerns.
Suspected AI Involvement
Band members believe generative AI was used to extend their teaser clip into a full-length track. Singer Alfie Glass initially thought it was a human cover, but drummer Jack Orr noticed identical drum patterns and riffs that seemed artificially generated. “They literally copied it,” Orr said. “AI in music loses the soul. It’s more about crediting—this wasn’t inspiration, it was duplication.”
Independent Lemon’s Reach
The account has uploaded around 100 singles in the past year, including covers of Michael Jackson, Lorde, and even Macarena. Many of these tracks have earned millions of streams, often altered by speeding up, slowing down, or changing genres.
The Band’s Frustration
Torus spent a month recording their version of Ocean Eyes, aiming to capture the same vibe as their viral TikTok clip. Seeing another version appear in seconds was “pretty annoying,” Glass admitted. The band hopes Spotify’s removal sets a precedent for protecting musicians from AI-generated imitations.
Expert Perspective
Simon Holland, professor of music and human-computer interaction at the Open University, explained that AI can generate polished tracks from short demos. While he couldn’t confirm Independent Lemon’s songs were AI-made, he noted they had hallmarks of machine generation, such as unclear vocals.
Holland emphasized that AI won’t replace musicians but will change the industry. “It’s not a good situation where people appear to be ripping off music by original musicians,” he said. “But musicians will adapt, creating styles AI can’t replicate.”
Looking Ahead
Spotify stated its music team had contacted Torus and reminded artists that infringements can be reported through its website. For Torus, the incident highlights the challenges musicians face in an era where AI can replicate creativity in seconds.
