UK solo-artist LiVES (aka Peter Chisholm) was the singer & guitarist with cult UK rock duo The Sea (along with his brother Alex on drums), they released 3 studio albums & played over 1000 concerts & festivals (inc: Glastonbury, CMJ, SXSW, Eurosonic & supported Muse, The Kills & James Morrison on UK/European tours). As well as having 3 songs in Kerrang Magazine’s ‘Top 10 Songs of the Week Chart’ & being ‘Record Of The Week/Month’ in The Guardian, The Fly, Rocksound & CMJ Magazine, they also had several radio hits with songs such as:New York, Love Love Love & Get Up Stand Up Die. 

In this interview spotlight, I chat with LiVES about the latest music, AI, dream collabs, and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

This AI thing is getting way out of control. I have students using ChatGPT to write death metal songs about country music…and country songs about being sad. You can feed some Ais a text prompt and create a Hollywood-quality short film. How do you feel about this new wave of technological innovation?

Cool question! I think that in an ideal world it could have some place as a tool (and nothing more) but people said that about the internet in the late 90s and look where we are now!

Right now it has it’s limitations with music…have you heard that band that made an Oasis “record” with A.I Liam Gallagher singing? it’s pretty incredible but also not quite right…but I think it’s pretty obvious that this is just the begininng.

So yeah, it’s clever but I guess it comes down to what we as consumers of art actually want? Do you want a song made by a computer? I f**king don’t!!!

The point of any art form is that it is a human response…So really, what’s the f**king point?

I know it’s hard…but what’s your favorite song and/or favorite artist of all time? If not favorite, in your top 3?

Oh come on!!! Hahaha I can’t answer that about specific songs, just not possible!! But artists, I’ll have stab…number 1 will always be The Beatles that’ll never change. Number 2 is Nirvana and number 3 hmmmmm Oasis I guess

Reasons why: The Beatles were probably the first band I ever listened to (thanks to my Dad) and to be honest their melodies, arrangements and ideas are STILL amazing today, they are the best and NO ONE will ever convince me otherwise (in fact I generally try to avoid people that say they don’t like The Beatles!) Nirvana – the raw power, energy and lyrics are so inline with how I view the world and how I view the GUITAR!! Oasis – simple, the swagger!!!

You can generally find elements of these three in most of what I do (in one way or another)

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific or different with this project? What’s the back story?

Yes I was! I am a person that feels extremely disenfranchised by society, I’m addicted to my phone like everyone else and I hate myself for it! I despise the comments sections, the f**king lame homogenisation of people on social media, the way the extreme right and extreme left are basically the same, for the most part they’re thick as shit! Meanwhile whilst we bicker between ourselves about bullshit the politicians ‘clean up’ and get away with stuff that would’ve been unthinkable 20 years ago.

There is this sense that we as a society are the most enlightened we have ever been…I don’t see that! I see a bunch of self righteous hypocrites!

THIS is what I have based the vast majority of my songs on…how I see the world and trying to reconcile my part in it. I think I’ve achieved that with these songs…I’m a very angry man hahahahahaha

What drives you to create? What keeps you going, especially on the bad days?

I don’t know really. It’s not something I “choose” to do…I’m compelled to do it! I think all artists are really, to be honest I wouldn’t “choose” it if it were a choice!!

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? Please plug them with a link so readers can check them out.

Well I guess John Lennon or McCartney but actually I think I’d probably clash with them…I clash with most people when I try and writing with them!

I’m not a brilliant collaborator to be honest! I’ve tried to write with a few people (quite famous people) for occasional projects in the past but in my heart I never really liked it, I prefer to work alone (in the writing process) even with people that have had far more success than me there is a voice in my head saying “they’re doing it wrong, they’re doing it wrong…” In fact my least favourite phrases are: “you know what you should do…?” and “why don’t you try…” In my head I’m saying “fuck off, fuck off, fuck off…” God, I sound like a monster don’t I? hahahahahaha

Where is the best place to stay connected with You?

urgghhh…as much as it pains me to say it: Instagram or facebook I guess: Insta: @lives.music / FB: facebook.com/lives.official

I appreciate Your time. Want to say anything else before we sign off?

Ah thanks! it’s been a pleasure…but I think we’ve covered all bases….I hate society, I’m terrible to work with and I don’t know why I make music – lovely stuff!! hahahahahaha