If there’s one thing we’ve learnt over the years, it’s that you don’t really want to make enemies with Trent Reznor. From a spat with Marilyn Manson, to a much-shared disdain for Courtney Love, the Nine Inch Nails frontman has taken aim at anyone who rubs him the wrong way, but he’s got his sights set on a much broader audience now.
Speaking to Yahoo recently with collaborator Atticus Ross, Reznor spoke very harshly about how hard it is to create for today’s audiences. “What has crept in is that everyone’s a commentator now,” he says. “The internet is giving voice to everybody thinking that someone gives a shit what they have to say and they have the right.”
“I think, in general, that has created a toxic environment for artists and led to some very safe music. Artists are trying to make music to please the tastemakers that tell the sheep what to like. It’s a vicious cycle and I think it’s unhealthy. I don’t see any Princes emerging on the scene today. I see a lot of people making formulaic, made to please, vegan restaurant patron-type shit.”
Clearly not a fan of what the internet has become, in typical Trent Reznor style, he finishes off with a succinct summation of his thoughts on the topic; “You got a Facebook account? Nobody gives a fuck. You haven’t achieved anything.”
We’re not quite sure if the irony of Trent Reznor’s rant on social media despite winning an Oscar for his soundtrack work on the film The Social Network has become apparent to him yet, we’re sure that this will not be the last that we hear of Trent’s thoughts on the subject.
