"Copy of A"
Single byNine Inch Nails
from the albumHesitation Marks
Released	August 13, 2013 (2013-08-13)
Recorded	2012–13
Genre	Electronic[1][2] industrial[1] techno[3]
Length	5:23
Label	Columbia The Null Corporation
Songwriter	Trent Reznor
Producers	Alan Moulder Trent Reznor Atticus Ross
Nine Inch Nails singles chronology
"Came Back Haunted" (2013) "Copy of A" (2013) "Everything" (2013)

"Copy of A" (stylized as 'Copy of a') is a song by Americanindustrial rock bandNine Inch Nails, released as the second single from their eighth studio album,Hesitation Marks (2013). It was originally released as a free digital download onAmazon in the United States and the United Kingdom for a limited time starting on August 13, 2013.^[4][5] On August 20, the song was made available on theiTunes Store.^[6] It was also made available to those who had pre-ordered the album from Nine Inch Nails' official online store, together with "Came Back Haunted" in a zip file labeled "Hesitation Marks Singles".

The song was played live in concert for the first time about two weeks before the official studio track was released.^[7][8][9]

The song features the use of aSwarmatron, ananalogue synthesizer which was most notably used byTrent Reznor andAtticus Ross forthe soundtrack of the 2010 filmThe Social Network.^[10] Reznor's singing on the track uses both theminor and theacoustic scales.

When referring to the song, Marc Hogan ofSpin magazine stated that "the concept of 'a copy of a copy' is somewhat quaint in a time when digital files can be copied limitlessly without any discernible drop in quality". He also described thedrum machine in the song as "crisp" and the synths as "jittery", while noting the "overlapping vocals and smeared tendrils of fuzzy noise".^[11] Andrew Trendell ofGigwise described the song as "an epic, sprawling and typically NIN number that features a gradual and repetitive trancey build-up with a dark intensity before an almighty rockcrescendo". He also interpreted the song's lyrical theme as "a struggle for identity".^[12]Triple M inferred from the song that Reznor "stays true to his roots while trying something different".^[13] Similarly, Forrest Wickman ofSlate magazine stated that "the song is an update on an old NIN sound", while speculating on the possible muse on thepostmodern condition orFight Club on the lyrics. He also praised themusical beats byAtticus Ross andAlan Moulder and the use ofSwarmatron.^[10]This Is Fake DIY also referred the song "as a punchyelectronic piece, suitably harsh on the senses".^[1]Fact magazine described the song as "an urgently paced but slow-building chiller constructed from ice-coldtechno arpeggiations anddroning synths",^[14] while Katie Hasty ofHitfix remarked positively on the track's mellow vocals. She also praised the effect of loopingsampler and itchy beat, contrasting it with the features of the previous single, "Came Back Haunted".^[15]

"Copy of A" was featured in the soundtrack of the video gameFIFA 14.

In 2014, humorist Freddy Scott wrote and performed a song about Reznor's musical style, "This Is A Trent Reznor Song", whose tune is based on "Copy of A";Spin referred to it as "the copy that [...] 'Copy of A' never knew it always needed."^[16]

• Trent Reznor – vocals, electronics, percussion, guitar, production
• Lindsey Buckingham – guitar
• Pino Palladino – bass
• Ilan Rubin – tom drum
• Atticus Ross – production
• Alan Moulder – production

• 2013 singles
• 2013 songs
• Columbia Records singles
• Electronic songs
• Techno songs
• Nine Inch Nails songs
• Song recordings produced by Alan Moulder
• Song recordings produced by Atticus Ross
• Song recordings produced by Trent Reznor
• Songs written by Trent Reznor

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from June 2017
• Articles with hAudio microformats