Skiving

Skiving (fka Human Resources) is the art rock post-office organisation currently restructuring London’s musical identity. Contrasting the sterile aesthetics and jargon of the workplace with their chaotic and exuberant music, the quintet aims to play the nuances of surreal social commentary against a backdrop of musical exploration to construct their immersive lyrical landscapes. Their music is founded in contrast - sonically veering from brazen post rock to delicate electronica to bombastic kraut riffs.

It is the project of Harry Handford (vocals, keys, guitar), Matt Baker (guitar; Modern Woman, The Wheel 2!), Juan Brint-Gutierrez (saxophone; Modern Woman), Colin Olive (drums) and Leo Dutton (bass). The core trio of Matt, Harry, and Colin met at university in London and formed the band just after graduation in 2018. After years of casual jamming and writing, Leo joined after he and Matt connected through sketch comedy, and Juan completed the lineup after their original saxophonist had to leave for health reasons.

The band's evolution from Human Resources to Skiving reflects their commitment to a unique artistic identity rooted in office culture satire. They perform in what they describe as "schlubby middle-management office attire," embracing corporate mundanity as both visual concept and thematic foundation. This aesthetic permeates their branding, social media presence, and live performances, turning the banality of modern work life into sharp, observational art.

Musically, Skiving self-describes their sound as "prog-punk" - lyrically sharp and literate with a dry sense of humor, and musically dense with ideas. Their songwriting process centers around Matt's framework development, which he brings to the practice room for collaborative input, while Harry matches his lyrical ideas to the mood and structure of each song. The result is music that's both intellectually engaging and viscerally exciting, drawing from disparate influences that span metal to ambient techno, post-hardcore to R&B.

Their influences are deliberately eclectic, citing artists as varied as Fugazi, Silver Jews, Black Midi, Neu!, MF DOOM, and even Scissor Sisters. This musical diversity manifests in their approach to composition, where instruments often play in different time signatures, creating what they describe as "audio Moiré patterns" that add dreamlike intensity to their already complex arrangements.

The band's debut album "The Family Computer," recorded with Conor Kearney at Modal Studios and Adam Brown at Stranger Sounds and Little Legs studios, explores themes of wistfulness, yearning, and nostalgia from multiple lyrical perspectives. The album artwork, created by friend Kate Weir using cross-stitch designs, evokes "that sense of wonder you used to get sitting at the family computer with all that information, connection, and art to be discovered."

Live, Skiving translates their recorded complexity into "raucous, energetic, sweaty, and fun" performances that have seen them share stages with notable acts including Do Nothing, The Last Dinner Party, and Yowl. They've performed at festivals including Earthworks Festival and FarmFest, completed headline and support tours across the UK and France, and appeared on BBC Radio York Introducing.

Beyond entertainment, the band demonstrates social consciousness through organizing fundraiser gigs for Medical Aid Palestine, showing that their critique of contemporary culture extends beyond lyrical content into meaningful action.

With their debut single "The National Lottery" released via Brussels-based EXAG' Records, Skiving represents a new generation of UK art rock - one that refuses to take itself too seriously while maintaining serious artistic ambition, turning the absurdities of modern life into compelling, danceable, and deeply intelligent music.