The modern music scene is heating up, especially regarding the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry. Starting with programs anyone can use to write lyrics, then inputting a desired musical style prompt, AI generates realistic compositions. AI music tools attract users ranging from casual experimenters to professional artists seeking inspiration for their own creations.
Thairath Plus had the opportunity to talk with PREP, a beloved British indie band among Thai fans. Tom Havelock, Llywelyn Ap Myrddin, Guillaume Jambel, and Dan Radclyffe spoke together live from their private studio, sharing their views on the music industry amid global turmoil and the growing influence of AI.
“I'm sure the changing global situation has some impact, but not as much as I’ve heard,” Tom said. “We feel lucky to have a strong identity. When we come together to make music, it feels like doing something distinctly PREP, with its own world. But I’m not sure how others see it.”
“Historically, great music often emerges during politically turbulent times,” Dan added. “When life is peaceful, there’s little creative energy. I think when something significant happens, it fills the air with ideas and creativity, giving us new things to say or express.”
The music industry today has changed a lot as well. PREP began in 2015 as a fun project without plans for a serious band. It started when Llywelyn and Guillaume made instrumental tracks blending 70s music with modern production. They then presented these to Dan before final member Tom—Dan’s friend—added falsetto vocals, resulting in the song 'Cheapest Flight.' This track sparked a chemistry that led to their Extended Play 'Futures,' which went viral on Hype Music, Soundcloud, and other streaming platforms.
“We’ve been making music for about 10-11 years now. It’s interesting to see its evolution—from the Soundcloud era to TikTok and short clips—and now AI-generated music is the new frontier,” Llywelyn said.
“There’s concern that musicianship might fade and its importance lessen because of AI tools. But I believe AI will become essential for all musicians. We’re not opposed to new technology; I just think making music should be fun—the joy of being together, jamming, or writing songs—and people are forgetting that.”
“I often hear people say, ‘Why bother learning an instrument when you can just have AI create the music for you?’”
“I think the same,” Dan said. “I’ve tried AI-generated songs from different eras—it’s novel and fun to input a prompt and get the song you want. It can make you feel connected because you wrote the prompt. But it disconnects you from actually playing and doing everything yourself.”
Dan added that it’s hard to predict whether future generations, when they reach the age to make music, will want to play real guitars or simply use software to produce songs. Before he finished, Guillaume quickly jumped in.
“I don’t think you can truly feel connected to something made by AI. Knowing a song wasn’t created by any human, with no emotions involved—I don’t see how people can emotionally relate to that.”
“Music celebrates human greatness and all emotions. Even if you don’t understand the words, it’s something everyone can connect to. So, if you remove its heart, I’d be disheartened because what I love wouldn’t feel real,” Guillaume said firmly and thoughtfully.
Given the current global chaos—with political unrest and war—Thairath Plus asked PREP’s members, as creators who inspire hope through sound, what they consider the best survival guide during these times.
“The PREP Bubble,” Guillaume laughed. “We leave everything outside and write music full of happiness, pretending everything’s okay.” The other members nodded in agreement.
“I think it’s about accepting what you can’t control and focusing on what you can do. For us, that’s making music, which makes us happy,” Tom said.
“It gives us a sense of what to do next,” Guillaume added.
“Exactly. Knowing what we have to do next year makes us think, ‘Oh, this will come out, and it’ll be great.’ Life would be bleak without music,” Tom explained.
“Being a musician means having hope; otherwise, there’s no chance. You have to believe in your work’s value. Once you start, you must trust it will pay off for your effort,” Dan concluded.
PREP’s uplifting message woven into their latest EP, 'One Day In The Sun'.
PREP released their latest Extended Play, 'One Day In The Sun,' on 20 March, following the earlier single 'Do What You Gotta,' a collaboration with Sunset Rollercoaster, a laid-back indie band from Taiwan.
“This is the second track we’ve done with Sunset Rollercoaster. They spent about one to two weeks in the studio. We made this song pretty quickly. Usually, a band with a strong identity like Sunset Rollercoaster might struggle to gel, but it felt very natural after just a few tries. Honestly, while recording, I wasn’t sure how much guitar or vocals Kuo (Sunset Rollercoaster’s lead singer) wanted us to use, but we ended up using quite a lot,” Tom said.
'One Day In The Sun' consists of four songs: 'Do What You Gotta,' 'Fade To Blue,' 'One Day In The Sun,' and 'The Face.' Each tells a different story but shares the theme of healing and encouraging those trapped in despair.
“These songs offer encouragement to people going through tough times, feeling like they want to explode. The EP’s theme is reflected in the cover art, showing an underwater room beneath a pool with light shining from above. It symbolizes pushing through feelings of being down, like sinking to the bottom of a pool,” Tom explained.
“All the songs deal with difficult situations and how we cope. You know, like relationships that don’t go as hoped, with their sad sides. We express that through sounds designed to make you feel better when you hear them.”
Everyone can listen to 'One Day In The Sun' now on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms. For updates, follow their Facebook page: PREP. Perhaps soon, we might hear them perform live again in Thailand.