The Fake Whales “Shine” with AI
The Fake Whales are refreshingly forthright about incorporating AI into many aspects of their artistry, including their music videos
A band cannot often say they’re using emerging cutting-edge technologies in their pursuit of great music, but The Fake Whales can. This debut, UK-based band is boldly venturing into uncharted territory—experimenting with the rapidly expanding possibilities for AI in music. Yet, despite the name, The Fake Whales are anything but artificial. Rather, they treat AI as an “extra member of the band”—a creative collaborator who enhances textures, layers, and ideas. The instrumentals and vocals are performed by real musicians, anchored by the production and songwriting expertise of Kevin Edward Jarvis. Starting as a keyboard session player, his keen ear led him to a lasting career in studio engineering, working with legends like Sir Paul McCartney, Keith Emerson, and many others. Though now retired, he wasn’t quite ready to leave the world of music behind, sparking the creation of The Fake Whales. Determined to ride the wave of innovation, this inventive group channels the timeless soundscapes of pop and rock into fan-favorite covers and clever originals. As they carve out their identity with youthful spirit and creative energy, with new songs already on the way, they’re proving that the fusion of music and technology isn’t something to fear. It might just be the future.
Sometimes, a musical gem can get lost in the fabric of time, waiting to be uncovered by new ears. Originally written by Jarvis in collaboration with Guy Fletcher and Jeremy Bird, this fresh cover of “Shine” reimagines the 1984 track popularized by Frida, one of ABBA’s former lead singers. The Fake Whale’s shimmering soundscape propels the track into the present day, offering a closer reflection of Jarvis’ initial vision. Returning to its rock roots, this new version preserves the lushest elements of the original—the dreamy synths, the layered harmonies, and the reverend guitars—while infusing them with a contemporary sense of expansiveness, echoing the cinematic styles of Electric Light Orchestra and Supertramp. Fans of the original won’t be disappointed—it remains the perfect soundtrack for any triumph, quiet breakthrough, love story, or moment of resilience. For those seeking that glimmering, fantasy-like feeling where everything suddenly falls into place, all wrapped up in a montage-ready anthem of grit and glam—look no further.
The Fake Whales are refreshingly forthright about incorporating AI into many aspects of their artistry, including their music videos. The “Shine” music video is entirely AI-generated, enabling the band to emulate the grand visual aesthetics of classic pop and rock on an impressive scale. Here, the track’s infectious energy comes alive through vivid, imaginative scenes, following The Fake Whales as they traverse neon-shrouded cities and breathtaking landscapes. The larger-than-life dreaminess elevates the song’s breathless exhilaration, illustrating exactly how expansive the world can feel when one’s “perfect visions” are fully realized. Yet, true to the heart of the track, tender touches of romanticism are woven throughout, connecting with the song’s intimate side. “Shine” is the kind of track that never loses its luster, and now, with The Fake Whales polishing it to perfection, the world gets to experience its sparkle once again, as audiences find new ways to “make it shine” in their own lives and beyond.
You describe AI as an “extra member of the band.” How does AI contribute to your creative process?
We use AI like we might a session player and it depends on exactly what we’re needing for the particular track. For SHINE we wanted to experiment with some different guitar sounds so we asked AI to present some alternative ideas to our normal Stratocaster sound. So AI replicated Doug’s guitar part with the new sound.
How closely does your reimagined version of “Shine” align with Jarvis’ original creative vision back in the 80s?
This version is as close to the original writing that Jarvis had hoped would be released back in the day, but was drastically modified by Steve Lillywhite for Frida.
As a celebratory anthem of resilience, is there a central theme or message that you hope audiences take away from the song?
Well you have hit the nail on the head with your opening for the question. Resilience, Self-determination, believing in yourself, and making sure the people around you are people who make you SHINE.
How important is visual storytelling when presenting your music? What kind of atmosphere were you hoping to achieve in the “Shine” music video?
Very important. We are fully aware that a good film is always supported by a good music score and we feel the same should be in reverse. we are not claiming that we can make great imagery with all videos, but we will try. This was our first venture into AI video generation, so we were pretty much handing over the whole concept to AI. AI came up with the story, then the prompts, and then, of course, the images, which we piece together with editing software. At the core, however, was our request for the video to show a positive and uplifting expression of emotion from someone who has been lifted in spirit and mind by another person (the lover).
Were there any visual moments in the “Shine” music video that surprised or moved you?
Actually, we were wholly impressed with most, if not all of the imagery presented back to us. There were elements of humor, such as the laundromat, Café and white raft rápid, scenes, as well as the excellent expression of love being ignited between the two characters, with the fiery stars, which we could only have done with AI. We simply did not have the expertise to do that ourselves.
How do you see the future of music and music videos evolving as AI becomes more accessible?
This is in some ways difficult to answer, but having looked at how rapidly the landscape is changing with the advent of AI. We feel that videos and perhaps the industry as a whole is going to shift towards AI art generation, however, there is always a possibility that AI becomes stale by reproducing the same type of content over and over. It’s so difficult to know. Perhaps we (the artists) will revert back to more basic and wholesome visuals of a band performing. It’s this question that makes the whole AI journey so exciting.….. Where are we going? 😉
You have more songs in the works—can audiences look forward to more songs and videos like “Shine” in the future?
New songs and videos. Yes, certainly. We have just produced a song, Romeo and Juliet, with an accompanying video of Shakespeare’s immortal story retold from AI in the modern world, and we have other works in the pipeline.
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