As Alive as You Need Me to Be

"As Alive as You Need Me to Be"
Single by Nine Inch Nails
from the album Tron: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
B-side
  • "Building Better Worlds" (Comic-Con-exclusive vinyl single)[1]
  • "Empathetic Response" (standard vinyl single)[2]
ReleasedJuly 17, 2025 (2025-07-17)
Genre
Length3:53
LabelInterscope
Songwriters
Producers
Nine Inch Nails singles chronology
"Isn't Everyone"
(2021) 		"As Alive as You Need Me to Be"
(2025)
Halo numbers chronology
Halo 34
(2020) 		Halo 35
(2025) 		Halo 36
(2025)
Music video
As Alive as You Need Me to Be (Official Music Video) on YouTube

"As Alive as You Need Me to Be" is a song by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails and additional production by Boys Noize. Released on July 17, 2025, it is the lead single from their score for the film Tron: Ares (2025). It is the first Nine Inch Nails release since their collaboration with Health on the song "Isn't Everyone" (2021) and their first non-collaboration release since the double release of Ghosts V: Together and Ghosts VI: Locusts (2020).

Release and reception

A few days before the song's release, its title was teased on a T-shirt sold at European dates on the band's Peel It Back world tour.[3]

The release was accompanied by a lyric video uploaded to Nine Inch Nails' official YouTube channel, as well as a new trailer for Tron: Ares featuring the song.[4][5] The release date, track list, and pre-orders for the film's soundtrack were also announced on the day of the song's release.[6]

The song debuted at No. 10 on Billboard's Dance Digital Song Sales chart, and received nominations for the Best Rock Song and Best Song Written for Visual Media, winning the first at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.[7][8]

Stereogum described the song as "a fearsome rocker built on retro-futuristic '80s electro synths" with "Reznor [bringing] real ferocity to his lead vocal", while Uproxx described it as "an electronic banger [...] that could fit on a regular NIN studio album".[9][10] Furthermore, Revolver characterized the track by its "huge-ass synth-bass rhythms and quake-inducing drum-machine beats [as well as] a devilishly melodic, distortion-pressed chorus", also theorizing that its "vocoded backups [are] perhaps a nod to previous Tron scorers Daft Punk".[11]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Grammy Awards February 1, 2026 Best Rock Song Nine Inch Nails for "As Alive As You Need Me To Be” Won [12]
Best Song Written for Visual Media Nominated

Music video

In September 2025, a music video directed by Maxime Quoilin was released. According to Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone, the video is centered "around a close-up performance from Trent Reznor, while using an array of different effects to bend space and warp reality."[13] Revolver describes the video as a "pixelscape of terror" with Reznor and Ross "tormented by bizarre, CGI-mangled fists scraping across their skin."[14]

Track listings

All tracks written by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

San Diego Comic-Con-exclusive 7" single

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."As Alive as You Need Me to Be"3:53
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Building Better Worlds"2:11

Standard 7" single

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."As Alive as You Need Me to Be"3:53
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Empathetic Response"2:23

Charts

References

  1. ^ Betti, Tony (July 23, 2025). "Photos: San Diego Comic-Con Attendees Can Get Their Hands On Special "TRON: Ares" Memorabilia". Laughing Place. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  2. ^ MacMichael, Paul (July 28, 2025). "As Alive As You Need Me To Be | 7" Vinyl". nin.com. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  3. ^ Chan, Anna (July 17, 2025). "Nine Inch Nails Drops Surprise New Song, Reveals Release Date & Tracklist for 'Tron: Ares' Soundtrack". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  4. ^ MacMichael, Paul (July 17, 2025). "As Alive As You Need Me To Be | Official Lyric Video". nine inch nails. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  5. ^ Taylor, Drew (July 17, 2025). "Latest 'Tron: Ares' Trailer Reveals New Nine Inch Nails Song 'As Alive As You Need Me to Be'". TheWrap. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  6. ^ Strauss, Matthew (July 17, 2025). "Nine Inch Nails Detail Tron: Ares Soundtrack Album, Share New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  7. ^ McIntyre, Hugh. "Nine Inch Nails Launches A Comeback With A New Top 10 Hit". Forbes. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  8. ^ Faulkner, Clara (November 7, 2025). "2026 GRAMMYS: See The Full Nominations List | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  9. ^ "Nine Inch Nails Share New 'Tron' Soundtrack Single "As Alive As You Need Me To Be": Listen". Stereogum. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  10. ^ "Nine Inch Nails Share 'As Alive As You Need Me To Be' From 'Tron'". UPROXX. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  11. ^ Adams, Gregory. "Hear NINE INCH NAILS' first song in five years "As Alive as You Need Me to Be"". Revolver. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  12. ^ Blisten, Jon (November 7, 2025). "Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga Lead 2026 Grammy Nominees". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  13. ^ Blistein, Jon (September 3, 2025). "Nine Inch Nails Get Glitchy in 'As Alive As You Need Me to Be' Music Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  14. ^ Adams, Gregory. "See NINE INCH NAILS' gripping new video for "As Alive As You Need Me to Be"". Revolver. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  15. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 28 July 2025". The ARIA Report. No. 1847. Australian Recording Industry Association. July 28, 2025. p. 9.
  16. ^ "Canada Mainstream Rock: December 20, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  17. ^ "Billboard Canada Modern Rock: November 22, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  18. ^ "CZ – Radio – Top 20 Modern Rock: 42. týden 2025" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  19. ^ "Deutsche Alternative Charts - Week: 43 Year: 2025 Category: Single". Deutsche Alternative Charts. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  20. ^ "EarOne Airplay Rock". EarOne (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. August 1, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  21. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of October 15, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart on 25/7/2025 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart". Official Charts Company. August 29, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  24. ^ "Nine Inch Nails Chart History (Hot Dance/Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  25. ^ "Nine Inch Nails Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  26. ^ "Year End Charts 2025: Canada Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  27. ^ "Year End Charts 2025: Canada Modern Rock". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  28. ^ "Rock & Alternative Airplay – Year-End 2025". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
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