Why the Right and Record Labels Want to Replace Artists with AI
AI music is about control. From record labels chasing profit to right-wing culture warriors pushing “neutral” art, this is the plan to replace real artists with machines.In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, Stephen White explores how the rise of AI in music is being weaponised by both corporate and political forces. Why are record labels and conservative commentators so interested in a world without artists? And what does that mean for creativity, culture, and control?
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House of Guinness: How the Soundtrack Saved It
Netflix’s new series House of Guinness has been slammed by Irish critics for its stereotypes and shallow storytelling. But there’s one part of the show that works the soundtrack. Featuring artists like Fontaines D.C., Kneecap, Lankum, Lisa O’Neill, and The Mary Wallopers, the music captures the rebellious poetry of Ireland far better than the drama itself.In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, Stephen explores how the soundtrack dismantles the very caricatures the show indulges in, and why modern Irish music has become a cultural reclamation in its own right.
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Mo Chara Walks Free: What the Kneecap Trial Means for Art & Free Speech
Mo Chara (real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaid , a member of Belfast rap group Kneecap, has had terrorism charges against him thrown out at Woolwich Crown Court. The case, which alleged that Mo Chara displayed a Hezbollah flag during a London performance, collapsed when the judge ruled the prosecution was unlawful because the Attorney General’s consent had not been sought.This verdict means no conviction but it raises urgent questions about free speech, censorship, and the growing pressure on artists who speak out on political issues, particularly around Palestine and Gaza. This week we explore what the trial of Mo Chara means for the future.00:00 Intro00:30 Mo Chara 01:02 Kneecap Win, Why It Matters01:38 Kneecap Vs The UK Government 06:53 What We’ve Lost15:09 Gaza, Palestine17:34 What Do You Think?18:05 Liam Óg
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Fascists Can’t Dance
Fascists can’t create. They can only silence, steal, and twist music into something hollow.From Nazi Germany banning jazz, to the Catholic Church blacklisting artists in Ireland, to punk, disco, and hip-hop being targeted, authoritarian regimes have always feared music. Because music is messy, imperfect, alive… everything fascism can’t stand.In this video, I explore how fascists try to erase or hijack culture, from Pink Floyd’s The Wall to Ireland’s recent “Míse Éire Festival.” And why, no matter how many times they raid the dancefloor or burn the records, music always slips free.If you enjoyed this, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and join me every week on The Last Mixed Tape for more deep dives into music, culture, and resistance.00:00 Intro00:28 Frank Zappa 01:13 Fascists Can’t Dance01;42 A Brief History of Authoritarianist Oppression05:52 Because of Woke!06:03 Why Fascists Hate Music13:25 Why this matters16:21 Zappa
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Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights Is the Best Brontë Adaptation
Emerald Fennell’s new Wuthering Heights film has already stirred controversy, but I want to make the case that the best adaptation of Emily Brontë’s gothic masterpiece already exists and it isn’t on screen. In 1978, an 18-year-old Kate Bush captured the wild, haunting atmosphere of the novel in just four minutes of music, creating a version of Wuthering Heights that has outlived almost every film and TV attempt.In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, I explore why Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights is the definitive adaptation: from its ghostly perspective and groundbreaking composition to its cultural afterlife in flash mobs, memes, and even later adaptations. I also share my personal story of hearing the song for the first time as a child and how it revealed music as something magical and otherworldly.00:00 Intro00:30 Kate Bush01:01 Why Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights?01:53 Brief History of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights02:38 Emerald Fennell, Olivier, & Ian McShane04:16 Kate finds Cathy05:45 The Definitive Adaptation of Wuthering Heights 17:14 Kate’s Cultural Impact18:59 What do you think?19:45 Heathcliff…
Ireland