The Anti-Job

Hot new L.A. band and I dig em! - Henry Rollins (KCRW 89.9FM / LA Weekly Contributor)

“Enjoyed the EP and will definitely be keeping an eye out for future stuff.” - Spin Magazine

Led by composer Amanda Jones, the band eschews the proggier instincts and bombast of an artist who came up collaborating with famed film scorer Hans Zimmer. Instead, The Anti-Job mines their depth from the tension between Amanda Jones' folk-inflected hushed melodies and the band's love for coloring in the margins with noise. “You're Not Real” is a perfect indie-pop gem, taking subtle cues from that fork of the DC sound pushed by bands like Shudder to Think and Beauty Pill. “This world is poetry” Amanda Jones sings right before the hand claps chime in, inviting us to “celebrate fear / with no more tears.” On 'Joni Mitchell in Love,' the band teases a 3 minute intro. Ethereal “oohs” float over a dreamy riff that builds and releases without ever quite becoming a song. A brief chorus of “you're what I want / you're what I need” climaxes in the middle before the song devolves again. It probably shouldn't work, but it does, almost the sonic equivalent of butterflies in your stomach.

The band's magnum opus is their 8 minute closer “9 to 5” (which has nothing in common with Dolly Parton for better or for worse). A journey from commute to cacophony, the song is the synthesis of their philosophy of music as liberation from the drudgeries of work, the anti-job, if you will. Over the band's loudest riffs, Amanda Jones pleads with herself to “wait for tomorrow.” From the explosive build and release of their jittering alt rock, the band invokes the catharsis from work-stress of a killer rock show. Drenched in feedback and distortion, the bullshit vanishes. There is only music.

Reportedly, The Anti-Job has been in the studio working on new music. In the meantime, let You're Not Real carry you through. I promise we won't wait this long to cover it. - AFROPUNK

Material: The Anti-Job pushes the envelope with its experimental tunes that blur the lines between psychedelic, noise rock, alternative and punk. While the band describes its music as “surrealist rock,” the ever-changing rhythms, big dynamics, esoteric guitar effects, and seductive vocals harmoniously coexist and give the material somewhat of a pop sensibility. “Mushroom,” for example, is structurally unconventional, but the distortion heavy minor chord riff combined with Jones’ strong belting establishes an edgy, punk rock attitude. Her sexy vocals string the material together, caress the listener’s ear, and complement spacey, alternative backdrops.

Performance: The Anti-Job took the audience on a journey through an experimental setlist replete with ominous effects and big dynamics. - Music Connection

Recent Deli poll winners Anti-Job could very well be considered a three headed hydra of sorts - a trio of musicians whose stylistic musical sensibilities may be completely different, yet they seamlessly integrate together when they put their efforts to one specific sound. But it never sounds like a compromise. In fact, it augments an environment to explore and try new things in a supporting environment.

What caught my attention after having a chat with the trio, comprised of Amanda Jones, Martin Lopez-lu, and Lee Harcourt, at Lot One Café in Echo Park is how committed they are to one another, and how even the the most minimal achievement is a means for celebration. They’ve shown considerable growth on their latest EP, You’re Not Real, a cerebral, yet constantly playful effort that extends their streak of writing compositions in oft-kilter time signatures with a pop slant. It’s equally refined and rebellious, which finds them fleshing out their distinctive idiosyncrasies into an unpredictable mesh of jerky-jerky rhythms and quavering guitar arrangements carried by the honeyed vocal tone of singer Amanda Jones.

I was able to ask them a few questions that range from how their sound has evolved with a new drummer, the challenges that arise from home recording to working in a proper studio, and how their distinct personalities makes for a harmonious band relationship.

The Anti-Job started as a duo in New York. What caused the move to Los Angeles?

Amanda: Martin and I went to school together at Vassar College. Once I graduated in 2010 we decided to tour across the East Coast. We played many, many shows. After that I decided, “let’s keep making music”. Martin’s from LA, so I thought at the time it was the right move.

How was the process of adding a new drummer, and how did it help nurture your sound?

Lee: Well, I found a Craigslist post in which they were looking for someone who likes indie avant rock psychedelic punk…all these genres that I totally like. And I checked out and really digged their music. Then I e-mailed them and I didn’t hear from them for over a year. (laughs) So I thought that fell through.

Amanda: We needed a drummer to help us record Bloom, and in the end, ended up working with three drummers in the EP.

So I’m assuming they were all very talented, but talent doesn’t necessarily equate to efficiency. That’s why you went through the whole process of trying different drummers?

Matin: It’s one of those things where we had to try it. We had to find out how to record drums and figure out what we don’t ever want to do again.

An immediate impression i get from your latest EP is that the percussion sounds punchier, more vibrant.

Amanda: It definitely does. It’s more cohesive than Bloom. That EP was recorded with only one microphone, so we had to record the snare and the hi-hat, and then go back and record the cymbal tracks. We kinda paced it together and it sounded terrible at first. But doing it live with Lee definitely brings a new dynamic.

How did the recording go for You’re not Real?

Amanda: For the EP we rehearsed like crazy in LA. But we recorded it in Portland with Brandon Eggleston, who is amazing. He let us stay home with his family, and we would play for five days straight. We’d work for about 10-12 hours, and it was our first time properly recording in a studio.

That must’ve been a revealing experience. Traveling out of the city to record in a new place for the first time.

Amanda: It was our first time recording in a studio and we never had experienced flying to an unfamiliar area and seeing what happens. It was my first time in Portland and it was so damp. I would cry and everything, but everything turned out okay. Bloom was recorded in Martin’s house, and it was familiar. We had all this time, we can play on and on, and we can add things a week later if we had to. We had five songs in mind, and the aim was to bust it out. 5 songs in 5 days.

Martin: I think the pressure helped, or at least it helped me. When I listen to it back there’s a handful of things I don’t like, or that I would’ve liked to do differently. But that’s how it always pans out, even if you have all the time in the world to record.

Having Lee in the band, have you thought about expanding your sound?

There’s definitely that pursuit of trying new things. Lee helps a lot rhythmically. For example, there’s “9 to 5”, which is the one song with this section that goes really fast. It’s the only time when Lee is actually moving. I’d get so worried - when he started playing with us he’d look so bored, and we wasn’t moving at all.

Lee: I felt like I moved. But I’m not a showy drummer. I don’t do like to do these big jumps, or raise the cymbals really high. I was taught by a jazz percussionist, and everything’s meant to be very efficient. Don’t use more energy than you need to, so it’s not very rock n’ roll. But I’m not bored.

How do all these changes impact the evol - The Deli Magazine - Los Angeles

In the over-saturated Los Angeles music market, it seems as though everything has been done. Musicians are well aware of this and must attempt to approach the ideas of the past from a modern angle. In 2009, Amanda Jones and Martin Lopez-Iu began to explore this concept with simple yet thoughtful songwriting and a fresh perspective on the wit and wonder of 1990s. The duo called themselves The Anti-Job.

The Anti-Job began when Amanda and Martin met in college in New York. Jones’ curious, insightful lyrics and Lopez-Iu’s ability to marry melody and innovative guitar sounds resulted in a sound reminiscent of the Pixies and PJ Harvey but with a modern, dreamy overtone. Backed by drummer Lee Harcourt’s playful and interesting rhythmic style, The Anti-Job has a sound that is unique and exploratory.

After the release of their 2009 EP, We Are The Anti-Job, and their debut full-length, Bloom, in 2012, The Anti-Job garnered attention from KCRW DJs, including the influential Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins. Additional radio play and media attention got them on an East Coast tour. Since then, they have played with such buzz bands as FIDLAR and Kayo Dot.

October 11th, 2013 brings the release of their newest effort, You’re Not Real, a five-song EP featuring a range of sounds and emotions. It proves that The Anti-Job isn’t afraid to create a sound that differs from the norm while paying tribute to some influential and amazing artists. Their single “Miss You” is available for free download and can be heard below.

With this excitement and progress already under their belt, The Anti-Job will head to the CMJ Music Festival in New York the same week their EP is released. With a great live show and the songs to back it up, they are sure to create even more of a buzz there and here in LA. Keep an eye out for The Anti-Job. - LA Music Blog

"To have a successful rock duo, you really need a dynamic front (wo)man, and Amanda jones sure as shit sounds the part. She has the kind of childlike, girlish but not wide-eyed voice that evokes, say Emily Haines of Metric, kiddie-folker Melanie or even KatieJane Garside of the very early 90s alt-rock band Daisy Chainsaw. That last band might have the best footsteps for Jones to follow, since BLOOM is at its best when the Anti-Job pairs Jones' voice with loud, harsh stuff, like wah-wah synths, field recordings and space noises-like on the song "Running Down the Alleyway," which sounds like what would happen if a Prius commercial ended in a knife fight. The whole album has lovely live drums and bass and some subdued guitar strums here and there, all of which sit under a broad lattice-work of synths like the hanging gardens of Babylon. Perhaps that's why they called the album, BLOOM; it's a lovely space to walk around id, and it feels like the band is just starting to grow into something that will be even stronger for the very next release.
- Dan Collins

Check out The Anti-Job, an LA band!
We played their song “Rain Dance Part 1? on today’s show. (KPFK 90.7FM) - Chris Bennett

Digital promo of the week goes to an excellent new LA band called The Anti-Job. I was mentioning on twitter how I was enjoying tracks from their new album “Bloom” on Soundcloud, and they were kind enough to notice and send over an email with download code. - Chuck P - KCRW Music Blog

The quirky, effervescent music video of "Running Down the Alleyway" by bubbly trio The Anti-Job should serve as a welcome reprieve to those who can't say no to their jobs. You can catch them promoting their latest release, Bloom, on Saturday, March 9th at Canter's Deli - Kibitz Room in West Hollywood. - Deli Magazine - Los Angeles

Your band is AWESOME! Quixotic Pleasure and Rain Dance!
Especially great songs and good looks!

Great to meet you too.

xoxo
MJ - Malia James

Underground New York Types - Art Rocker Magazine TV

We are:
Amanda Jones – Vox, Acoustic and Electric Guitar
Martin Lopez-Iu – Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Keyboard
Katie Troy – Drums and Percussion

Where are you based out of (location)?
We’ve just relocated to Los Angeles, CA! Originally we were based out of New York City.

Your music sounds like?
Indie-avant-punk-psychedelic-rock. Influences range from 13th Floor Elevators to the Pixies to The White Stripes

How did you discover music as a creative outlet?
We’ve all been playing music in some way, shape or form, since we were little. However a beautiful mixture of life’s influences, parents, friends and fate led us to our chosen instruments…

What’s the best part of being an independent musician, and how do you get the message out about your music and connect to fans?
The best part of being an independent musician is being able to have total control over our visions and free ourselves from any greed. we get the message out by playing shows, and blowing up the internet.

What are you future musical projects and goals?
We are currently recording our debut album, so far it remains untitled, however it’s a concept album with nine songs. The songs on the album trend from mental instability to stability/ the stress one feels from living in the city to the serenity experience when going to the countryside. - Verbicide Magazine

Ladies and Gentleman, mark this down, because The Anti-Job are here. Made up of a rag-tag bunch from across our great nation, Amanda Jones, Martin Lopez-lu and Katie Troy are poised and ready for their debut, We are the Anti-Job, set for release on July 15.

The legend of The Anti-Job began one drunken night at the liberal arts college Vassar in Poughkeepsie, NY (just two hours outside of NYC). Jones and Lopez-lu had often wandered the same social circles, like two ships passing in the night -- that is until they discovered their mutual passion for music.

As Jones explains it, “A mutual friend encouraged us to jam. We went to my room and I picked up my electric guitar, Martin used my acoustic and our friend was singing...and there was this moment of pure ecstasy! When we snapped out of it, I looked at Martin and Martin looked at me, and we were like, ‘Shit...let’s play together’.”

Although they could not have come from more different places -- Lopez-lu hails from LA, while Jones is a Virginia native -- their love of guitar was mutual. Lopez-lu started to play in middle school, when an “old hippie” taught him the basics, which he followed up with a few years of formal lessons by a British guitarist who played island reggae. Jones picked up the instrument in high school when she borrowed one from a friend, mimicking the classic rock greats like Hendrix and Lynard Skynard by ear. Unlike Lopez-lu, she had no formal training until college. Both had been in bands in high school, but neither had gone very far in pursuing their musical careers until they met each other.

Since that first epic jam session, it’s been upwards and onwards. Starting by playing at local coffee houses and open-mics around the college campus, Jones and Lopez-lu soon realized that they’d need a name. Says Jones on the christening of The Anti-Job, “The name has a few meanings. In one sense it represents our collective understanding for never wanting to work a 9-5 job. It’s also a play on words meaning, ‘a passionate pursuit,’ – i.e., your time away from work.”

A few months later (and just in time for the band’s first NYC show) the band added drummer Troy to the mix. Another Vassar student and close friend of Jones’, Troy had played percussion in her middle school orchestra, and when she bought a full drum kit on Craigslist her junior year in college Jones and Lopez-lu were happy to add her “unique vibe” to fill out The Anti-Job sound.

With the lineup complete, the band started on their first EP. Recorded in the basement of the college music building, the five tracks are a musical statement from an undeniably talented and refreshing group. “My favorite song off the EP is probably ‘The Bug,’” says Lopez-lu, “because it’s the most fun for me to play. I get to go from little cowboy licks to a smooth groove and then to a raging chorus. I guess I just really like the transitions of that song.”

So how do you describe The Anti-Job: folksy, psychedelic, classic rock smeared with the modern grit of garage punk, topped with the unexpectedly sweet, soulful powerhouse of a voice from Jones. From the haunting charm of “Love Strange” to the tongue-in-cheek rollick of “Watch out, Panda,” no two songs are alike, yet they share a surprising high caliber for a band’s first recording.

And the future? “We hope to play festivals, great gigs, meet other artists, record more music, and just have fun.” And after they graduate, the band hopes to make this passionate pursuit into a real Job.

The Anti-Job’s EP, We Are the Anti-Job will be available on the band’s myspace for free download on July 15.

http://www.knocksfromtheunderground.com/ny-album-reviews/2009/7/11/we-are-the-anti-job-by-the-anti-job.html - Knocks from the Underground

Fresh from the DIY New York College Scene, The Anti Job have been entertaining all Jocks, Geeks, stoners, preppies, cheerleaders and even the janitor at a variety of venues close to their campus. Originally a pair, The Anti job have now required a drummer and on the back of this have released an excellent E.P self titled "We are the Anti Job"which is full of both lo-fi melodic charm and avante garde punk. It is refreshingly original and will no doubt be blaring out of the speakers of many a Students dorm and Professors office

Fresh from finishing thier summer exams, they very kindly dropped us a line to talk about their new EP and to put forward thier own version of Cockney Rhyming Slang!

So Anti Job, How are you all and what are you up to?

We are great! We are on summer break enjoying being away from the stress of school and what not. Right now all three of us are scattered all over the country with Amanda in Washington D.C, Martin in L.A, and Katie in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Would you like to introduce yourselves?
We are the Anti-Job, We are a band. And we REALLY enjoy making music. Katie Troy plays the drums, Martin lopez-iu plays electric guitar and Amanda Jones plays acoustic and sings.

If you could describe your sound in one sentence, how would you do it?

We are an indie-avant-punk-psychedelic-clepto-rock band from New York

Tell us about our excellent EP?


There are five songs on the EP. its a collection of songs written from 2007-2009. We recorded it by ourselves in a diy, unpolished spirit. We talk about war, crime, long distance relationships, mental health and pandas...yes pandas

How can we get hold of a copy?

You can download a copy of the entire EP "We are the Anti-Job" on our myspace page June 25th for free. In addition we will be passing them out at shows and if you want a hard copy you can email us your mailing address to: antijob@rocketmail.com
I hear you guys are from New York, which coincidently is where my girlfriend originates from (she moved to England when she was 7) She still dreams about eating Pizza at a place called Johns, somewhere in Greenwich Village. Do any of you know it? where is the best Place to get Pizza near you? Yea we know it we go there all the time. We know John personally...actually we don't eat pizza....only guacamole.

Am I right in thinking you guys are still at college? in England we associate American colleges with Geeks and Jocks, what category do you fall into and are you members of a fraternity?

Yes we are still in College Let's see I think we transcend all definitions And noo we are not in any fraternities there are none at our college....we can out drink those bastards anyways

Have you ever heard of cockney rhyming slang?

Yea....kinda. All we can say is an expression when someone is in trouble. Um rob a bank your in barney. Haha we try.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Martin will share his body. And hopefully we'll be seeing you at your local venue! Check out the EP!!!! "We are the Anti-Job" online and at our shows!....they will not be in stores soon.

The Anti Job can be found here......Watch out!
http://thetuckshopcommunityradionews.blogspot.com/2009/06/fresh-from-diy-new-york-college-scene.html - Tuck Shop Community Radio

I get really excited when I get good music that comes into my inbox. This is a good example of that. I would like to introduce you to a band out of NY, named The Anti-Job. Their music is “indie-avant-punk-clepto-rock ” and it has a new sound that is original. This is one of the singles from The Anti-Job titled The Robbery, which is on their debut EP We Are the Anti-Job. Check out more of The Anti-Job on their Myspace Page Shouts out to Amanda, Martin, and Katie.

http://www.hypelg.com/2009/06/the-anti-job-the-robbery/ - Hype LG

I had a listen to your music and it really intrigued me.
I think its an awesome sound and is very unique.
Let me also say I am a huge fan of the lo-fi movement and found your sound to completely embrace and complement indie ideals and aesthetics.
Melodically appealing, sonically enriching and rhythmically sound. Your enigmatically opaque lyrics and breathless urgency both beguiles and entrances the listener. - Lukas Clark - Memler (Editor of Get Frank)