Trent Reznor says Kanye West has lost his mind, and calls out Taylor Swift for staying silent on Trump
Nine Inch Nails' frontman, Trent Reznor, spoke about the band's latest trilogy of releases, which includes the 'Not the Actual Events', 'Add Violence', and their six-track album, 'Bad Witch'. However, the highlight of the artist's talks is mainly focused on his opinion of Kanye West, Taylor Swift's silence on important political issues, and the overall disappointment with the US political climate under the Trump administration.
In an exclusive piece with the New York Times, the founder of 'Nine Inch Nails' had a lot to say about President Donald Trump and the Hollywood industry's response to their responsibilities to "call out whatever needs to be called out". When asked about their ninth studio album, 'Bad Witch', which is also being noted as the last of their politically minded trilogy, the artist responded by addressing the fact that it is the artist's job to voice out what other people cannot.
He said in the interview, "I think about that today because it seemed like it was a lot easier to just keep your mouth shut and let it go back then. You don’t hear a lot from the Taylor Swifts of the world, and top-tier, needle-moving cultural youth, because they are concerned about their brand, their demographic and their success and career and whatnot."
He went to say that scenarios are different for him now, as he feels differently about things. However, he worries that it isn't helping anything. About the Trump government, he stated his opinion that what the administration is doing is "concerning and infuriating". He added, "...it’s not the conservative agenda, it’s not a question of religious preference, it’s not a question of should a government be big or small. I don’t have any problem with those topics. But the disregard for decency and truth and civility is what’s really disheartening. It feels like a country that celebrates stupidity is really taking it up a notch."
Nine Inch Nails has been popular in the music scene ever since their formation in 1988 for their typical elements such as garage rock, lyrics involving pain, and the absence (or presence) of sex. In an article, the Guardian interviewed the frontman of the band- who remains the only official member till date, until he was joined by his long-term British collaborator, Atticus Ross - who said: "We’re just animals that, left to our own devices, will kill each other...We’re only out for ourselves anyway. This illusion that we’re more than that is nothing but that: an illusion.”
With his big admiration for David Bowie, Reznor is known for his politically stirring stances. During the interview with the Guardian, he stated that Childish Gambino's song 'This is America' is one of the rare pieces of excellence. However, he too noted in the falling era of America people cannot solely live on the basis of some escapist lyric writing. "That would sum up my cursory feelings on popular culture right now...There’s plenty of birthday cake, Migos being a great example – there’s nothing wrong with that. But isn’t there anything else? There are times I don’t mind being reminded of excellence.” Admitting his alienation from pop culture, he believes that there should be more think pieces on rock, just as much as there is for pop.
Mocking Guardian's wide coverage of Kanye West, he commented, "How many Kanye West thinkpieces have the Guardian done in the last fucking month?...The guy’s lost his f***ing mind: that’s the thinkpiece. His record sucked, and that’s it. He has made great s**t; he’s not in a great place right now.” He would probably prefer wider horizons for conversations but, then "there is no appetite."