Surrealist independent rock troupe The Anti-Job formed in 2009 at Vassar College (NY) initially as a project to fuse the musical ideas of psych-rocker Amanda Jones and indie-folk guitarist Martin Lopez-Iu. The Anti-Job’s music has been classified as dreamy, surreal, and romantically emotive.
With the release of their debut album Bloom the band found praise from the likes of Henry Rollins with rotation on his program (KCRW 89.9 FM Los Angeles) stating that they were a “must see emerging act!” Shortly after recording The Anti-Job enlisted avant-jazz percussionist Lee Harcourt as a permanent member to join them on tour as well as contribute to future recordings. With the subsequent release of their EP You’re Not Real (produced & engineered by Brandon Eggeleston [Mountain Goats, Swans, Tune-yards]) LA Record likened the dream-like quality of their sound-scapes to the hanging gardens of Babylon by declaring them both “A lovely space to walk around in.” Music Connection commented on their unique style of genre-bending saying their music “pushes the envelope with its experimental tunes that blur the lines between psychedelic, noise rock, alternative and punk.”
Pioneering a hybrid genre coined as “surrealist rock” The Anti-Job have shared the stage with a myriad of noise makers, touring with Deerhoof and Cy Dune (Seth Olinsky of Akron Family) as well as playing festivals and shows with Of Montreal, FIDLAR, Elizabeth and the Catapult, Diane Coffee and Kayo Dot.
The Anti-Job’s music elicits a cinematic quality thanks to Amanda Jones’ background in film composition working alongside greats such as Michael A. Levine, Hans Zimmer, Henry Jackman and John Powell. Jones’ surrealist inspiration is grounded in the catharsis of film and theatre; telling stories that provide emotional outlets.
Their latest EP As a Place is a suite of scenes that continues in the reverence of the fanciful, abstract, and cinematic. The EP was recorded in Los Angeles at home next to a warm fire-place while sipping the finest of hot chocolates. Release date Spring 2016.