The computer avant-garde duo brings back-man-made-storytelling and elegant pop to their latest AI video Cryptoman. We’ve all seen AI music videos—they can get boring fast. When anything is possible, nothing feels special. In WILL LAUT’s latest video, a dierent approach takes place: story is prioritized. The AI is only used to enhance, not overwhelm the narrative. It’s here for the vibes, not the drama.
The story? Two sisters. One, a coder, gets pulled into her laptop; the other films it all on her phone, because that’s what siblings do! The adventure unfolds on-screen, brought to life with tools like MidJourney, Flux, Luma, and Runway.
Unlike other AI videos that feel chaotic, this story combines AI with “Screen Life” realism (think Searching). Consequently, it is grounding the chaos in emotion and character.
As for the music, it’s not AI-generated—it’s handcrafted, an artisan soundscape that mixes the precision of Kraftwerk with the soul of Scott Walker. This conception of AI pioneers WILL LAUT’s unique brand of “electric chanson”. In “Cryptoman”, AI elevates the visuals, while the music stays purely, unapologetically human. Again, it’s here for the vibes, not the drama.
Conceived in studios of Los Angeles and Paris, WILL LAUT is a duo led by Frankie Gothard, aka COH, known for his role in the computer avant-garde scene of the late 90s. The project draws on COH’s earlier collaborations with vocal performers like John Balance of Coil, Cosey Fanni Tutti of Throbbing Gristle, and fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester.
The duo’s singer and frontman William Laut, once a Eurovision contender, has a diverse musical background. His background ranges from working with children’s choirs to composing rock anthems, and organizing Asian music showcase festivals.
WILL LAUT’s music is a blend of ambient pop, noir minimalism, and synthesizer tango, featuring atmospheric textures, minimalist rhythms, and haunting crooner-style lyrics.
