EP/44: VIRTUAL ARTISTS

The Coming Explosion of Virtual Artists with Ian Simon of Spirit Bomb

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Virtual artists have been around since the time of Alvin and the Chipmunks but have never really penetrated mainstream music. This could be about to change. Increasingly we’re seeing breakout hits from artists like Grimes’ War Nymph and Lil Miquela. And with the coming of the metaverse, virtual artists could have the platform they always needed to propel this niche into overdrive.    

To help explain this trend, our guest today is Ian Simon who joins us from Los Angeles. Ian is a co-founder of Strangeloop Studios, a visual production company that has created music videos and concert visuals for artists like the Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar. Ian and his partner David Wexler also founded a new startup called Spirit Bomb. Spirit Bomb is a music label dedicated to virtual artists. 
Learn about Spirit Bomb at spiritbomb.ai and follow Spirit Bomb on Instagram at: @spiritbomb.ai

About IAN

Ian Simon is the CEO and co-founder of Strangeloop Studios, working with artists to realize new audio-visual experiments and narrative experiences. Strangeloop has produced tour visuals for artists including The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, and SZA. Ian and his partner David Wexler also founded a new startup called Spirit Bomb, a music lable for managing virtual artists. Spirit Bomb, the first label of its kind, is funded by Warner Music Group, popular lifestyle brand Chinatown Market, Japanese label Avex Entertainment, and startup accelerator TechStars Music, who see the experimental label as a promising new way to market and release music. Some of the IRL artists that the Spirit Bomb virtual artists have collaborated with include Mr Carmack, The Glitch Mob, Zeds Dead, Flying Lotus, Huxley Anne, Sweater Beats, Two Fresh, and Salva.