Indie band claims AI copied their Billie Eilish cover before release

A viral moment turns into a dispute

An independent band from Milton Keynes says artificial intelligence has copied their music before they had the chance to officially release it. The group, Torus, claims that an AI generated track appeared on streaming platforms shortly after a teaser of their own cover began gaining attention online.

The band had been working on a grunge style cover of Ocean Eyes, a song originally performed by Billie Eilish. A short clip of Torus performing the track was shared on TikTok, where it started to attract growing interest. According to the band, the response suggested there was genuine appetite for a heavier reinterpretation of the song.

What followed, however, left them frustrated and concerned about how quickly AI can replicate creative work shared online.

A mysterious upload appears online

Before Torus could release their full version, a strikingly similar track appeared on Spotify. The song was uploaded by an account named Independent Lemon, an artist profile that mainly hosts cover versions and appears to have no public social media presence, record label, or live performance history.

The band says the similarities between the two versions went beyond coincidence. They believe their teaser was used to generate the track using AI tools, effectively allowing someone else to publish a version of their idea first.

For Torus, the experience felt like having their creative momentum taken away just as they were beginning to gain traction.

How AI is changing music creation

Artificial intelligence tools capable of generating music have advanced rapidly in recent years. Some systems can replicate voices, styles, and arrangements based on short audio samples. While these technologies can be used creatively and responsibly, they also raise serious questions about ownership and originality.

Independent musicians are particularly vulnerable. Unlike major artists, they often rely on social media teasers to build interest ahead of a release. Sharing unfinished work has long been a way to connect with audiences, but AI has changed the risks involved.

What once felt like harmless promotion can now become a data source for systems capable of recreating songs in minutes.

The impact on emerging artists

For Torus, the situation highlights a growing imbalance between creators and technology. They invested time, skill, and emotion into reimagining a well known song, only to feel undercut by a system that could replicate the result without context or credit.

The band has said the experience was disheartening, particularly because it involved a cover rather than an original song. Covers have always been a way for artists to express personality and interpretation. When an AI generated version appears first, it can dilute that personal connection.

There is also the practical concern of discoverability. Streaming platforms often reward whoever uploads first, regardless of how the track was created. This can affect listening figures, algorithmic promotion, and future opportunities.

Legal grey areas around AI music

Cases like this sit in a complex legal space. While copyright law protects original recordings and compositions, it is less clear how it applies to AI generated music trained on publicly available content.

If a system recreates a style or arrangement based on a short clip, proving direct copying can be difficult. Platforms currently rely on takedown requests and copyright claims, processes that can be slow and uncertain for independent artists.

Industry groups have begun calling for clearer rules around AI training data and attribution. Without regulation, musicians fear that sharing work online could become increasingly risky.

A warning sign for the music industry

The dispute involving Torus may seem small, but it reflects a much larger issue facing the music world. As AI tools become more accessible, the line between inspiration and replication is becoming harder to define.

For fans, AI generated covers may seem harmless. For artists, they raise concerns about fairness, recognition, and creative control.

Torus says they still plan to release their version of Ocean Eyes, but the experience has changed how they think about sharing music online. What was once a moment of excitement has become a lesson in how quickly creativity can be copied in the digital age.

As AI continues to reshape music production, the challenge will be finding ways to protect human creativity without shutting down innovation altogether.