Parts Per Million strike back against AI technology on the adrenalized ‘CTRL ALT DEL’
Boston hard rock band unleashes another impactful single and dystopian music video, set for release on Wednesday, October 25
<<< ‘Just push play / For the end of days’ >>>
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BOSTON, MA. [October 25, 2023] -- Attention: Parts Per Million is composed entirely of human beings, and so is their creative network. As we barrel headlong into the tail end of 2023, it’s important to make that distinction at a time when the walls of artificial intelligence close in around us and continue to replicate art and emotion through technology at a startling pace.
A resistance to our tech overlords is at the noisy core of “CTRL ALT DEL,” the Boston hard rock band’s blistering new single and dystopian music video, set for release on Wednesday, October 25. In both the song and visual, Parts Per Million grapples with unwanted advances in technology, and does so with weaponized riffs at significant volumes.
“‘CTRL ALT DEL’ is about the rise of A.I. and where we all fit in as things change with that technology,” says Parts Per Million guitarist and vocalist Paul Mcsweeney. “It’s kind of a scary feeling to imagine being replaced in areas where we have always been needed. We’re on the cusp of a revolution that actually may hurt humanity as a whole if we don’t also rethink some of our social constructs and just put people out of jobs that may never return. That’s not even getting into the ultra scary idea of this thing sort of going full Skynet mode.”
The adrenalized “CTRL ALT DEL” was recorded at The Halo Studio in Portland, Maine, produced and mixed by the band’s longtime collaborator Kevin Billingslea (Lamb of God, Trivium, The Pretty Reckless), and mastered by Ted Jensen of Sterling Sound (The Eagles, Green Day, Norah Jones). Mcsweeney brought what he calls “riff salad” to the rest of the band – guitarist S. Brian Bailey; bassist Alex Marks; and former drummer Jake French, since replaced behind the kit by Brad Griffen – and the group worked together to flesh out the track, allowing for changes in the studio to develop it into its final form.
The follow-up to last year’s riveting “Placebo,” which addressed domestic violence and generational trauma, “CTRL ALT DEL” is the first heavy dose of new music from Parts Per Million this year, following their appearance in the spring at the 2023 Rock And Roll Rumble in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A new cover song arrives just before the holidays, following a 2021 rendition of Donald Glover’s “Me And Your Mama.” Two new singles, part of The Halo Studio sessions that the band says range “from unhinged to just downright angry about negative changes in our society,” will deliver Parts Per Million’s rock and roll fury into 2024.
“When we got to The Halo Studio we had three days set aside for these three songs,” Mcsweeney notes. “The riff in the bridge of ‘CTRL ALT DEL’ was always our favorite part of the song, but we couldn’t figure out how to best use it. It was much shorter, and that’s where Kevin comes in. We love working with him. His ideas always inspire more ideas and the song always ends up better because of it. He’s exactly what you want in a producer and he’s a big part of all of these songs. They really wouldn’t be what they are without him.”
Like all Parts Per Million releases, the frenzied song is augmented by a stunning visual, as the band went back to its trusted collaborators at Revelry Studios in Manchester, New Hampshire. What would be described just a few short years ago as science fiction is now a cruel reality, with the visual, produced by Mcsweeney and directed by Revelry’s Tyler Ayers, depicting the band being erased and replicated by AI technology. The face in front of the camera may look friendly, but it has sinister motives as it wipes away our capacity — and need — for human creativity.
“The video is pretty specific towards artists, who seem to really be at risk from AI,” Mcsweeney adds. “Remember the Drake/Weeknd collab that came out and was a hit in one day that wasn’t actually Drake or The Weeknd? Or the fact that actors are fighting to own their likeness in films? In the video we basically see actor Amanda Marie portraying AI taking over everyone’s spot in this band. I sit here and think about the amount of people involved to help us release this – from the artwork to the campaigns – to try and push this out there, and how we could have just used AI to do almost all of it. It’s a little unsettling.”
That’s why the band is steadfast in creating everything organically, deliberately, and through human interaction and collaboration. So while our overall future outlook may be grim, Mcsweeney understands that ultimately, humans are in control of humanity’s narrative. As the song goes, “Just push play / For the end of days” – but it’s important to remember who, exactly, is pushing that button.
“I think everyone is a little concerned for the future. I mean how can you not be?” he asks. “The past three years have been nothing but a mindfuck between Covid, shutdowns, the political landscape and now there are robots coming for our livelihood? It all feels like a bad movie sometimes. But if we’re good at anything, it’s adapting. Even with all the consistent doom and gloom that’s constantly pushed into our faces, I feel like we always find a way to get through.”
That’s why optimism, even in the most depressing of times, is a human emotion that is awfully hard to replicate or reproduce. Digital overlords be damned.
Please direct all press inquiries to Michael Marotta at michael@knyvet.com and reach Paul Mcsweeney of Parts Per Million at partspermillion106@gmail.com.
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Parts Per Million is:
Paul Mcsweeney: Vocals and guitar
S. Brian Bailey: Guitar and vocals
Alex Marks: Bass and vocals
Brad Griffen: Drums
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‘CTRL ALT DEL’ behind the scenes:
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‘CTRL ALT DEL’ production credits:
Written by Parts Per Million
Recorded at The Halo Studio
Mixed and produced by Kevin Billingslea
Mastered by Ted Jensen of Sterling Sound
Video-produced by Paul Mcsweeney
Directed by Tyler Ayers of Revelry Studios
Album Art by Evan Middleton
T-shirt designs by Eryka Fir
ISRC code-qz-taz-23-39969
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‘CTRL ALT DEL’ single artwork:
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Parts Per Million short bio:
Parts Per Million is an independent rock band from the New England area founded by singer/songwriter Paul McSweeney and guitarist Brian Bailey. The band rounded out its line up with bassist Alex Marks and drummer Jake French.
The band uses each member’s abilities and different influences as the catalyst to form a sound surpassing something to be listened to and become something to be experienced. Parts Per Million intertwines the ‘90s-era heavy rock and grunge while incorporating something that is rarely heard in rock music with four-part singing harmonies, soaring guitar solos, and a chemistry between them that generate a sound that's unlike anything in today's rock scene.
In 2020 the band received a Video of the Year nomination for their song “2020 Vision” at the Boston Music Awards. In 2021, they followed up with a gripping and powerful video for “Find the Light” and a personal cover of Childish Gambino’s “Me And Your Mama” with the same vision that’s always been in mind – to change hearts and minds to believe there is always a way through adversity, and that something better is waiting on the other side. What followed was 2022’s “Placebo,” which addressed suicide and gun violence, and 2023’s “CTRL ALT DEL,” a blistering takedown of growing AI technology set for release in October.
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Parts Per Million press photo:
Photo Credit: Parts Per Million
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Media praise for Parts Per Million:
“The performance by the band is flawless… impressive.” _Blood Makes Noise
“Parts Per Million’s video for ‘Placebo’ is disturbing. Very disturbing.” _DigBoston
“While hard to pinpoint in terms of genre, they are definitely a rock band – chock full of anthemic choruses, melodies, and guitar riffs.” _The New Fury
“Parts Per Million’s influences stem from ‘90s hard rock and grunge, which can be heard in their harmonies and scorching guitar solos.” _Don’t Forget To Rock
“Parts Per Million has its special magic around their music and their writing style. It stems from a genuine and gentle place and as they continue to grow as a band, we fall more in love with their magic and their presence.” _Keep Walking Music
“If there’s one thing that is certain in this time of uncertainty, it’s that these guys rock. With powerful vocals over pounding drums and riffs aplenty, ‘2020 Vision’ is as big as any rock track to come out this year… If you need something new to help the beers go down then give this a go. It’s sure to get you rocking.” _Hard Beat UK
“While you’re loading up your summer playlist, we recommend Parts Per Million’s new single, a cover of Childish Gambino’s ‘Me And Your Mama.’ The New England-based rock band landed a nom for Video of the Year at the 2020 Boston Music Awards, and this one may be an early contender for best single.” _DigBoston
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Press Contact: michael@knyvet.com
Band Contact: partspermillion106@gmail.com
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