The Layoffs the world’s first band to leverage ChatGPT to advance songwriting & release an album in less than 50 days!
“During the post-COVID wave of tech layoffs we were inspired by a New York Times article that covered the chaos and angst surrounding remote job cuts during the pandemic.” The Layoffs write, “People got the news through emails, Slack messages or video calls, then sent their goodbye notes and powered down their computers, with no teammates around to commiserate over beer.” David, Jeremy and Josh were longtime creative guys who’ve spent their careers in music, media, design, and tech who decided to use AI as part of the instrument panel, not just the gimmick. The songs are sharp, funny, a little unhinged, and very much about modern life, work, tech, and the general absurdity of being alive right now. Two albums, a 3-track EP, several singles and videos later, The Layoffs proudly contend their music opens up bigger topics around creativity, technology, and what artists are supposed to do with all these new tools. Then, a cover headline on Billboard caught Josh’s attention, “AI OF THE BEHOLDER” immediately an irked viewer responded with, “I cannot think of anything more sad and lame than willingly listening to AI generated music!” The Layoffs promptly asked Norman B at Life Elsewhere to discuss their adventure into music via AI.
The Layoffs
David Robinson (D-Rob)
David has led design at places like Google, Yahoo and Flexport, and somehow still has enough emotional energy left to be in a band.
Jeremy Le Croix (Jerry Business)
With roots in punk, magazines and Silicon Valley, Jeremy brings the “this could either become a song or a problem” energy every good band needs.
Josh Klenert
Josh has spent years leading design across media and big brands, from magazines to digital platforms. “The Layoffs have become our way to experiment with where creativity and AI collide.” Announces Josh
Listening to Josh, Jeremy and David AKA The Layoffs talk about AI we were reminded of music from the late 70s to early 80s that used computers and electronics to full effect. In fact there was an outfit who claimed they “were the world’s first manufactured electronic pop band. Comprised of members Darryl, Jacki, Paul and Diane, Silicon Teens were the brainchild of producer Larry Least.” Of course, Silicon Teens were the creative work of Daniel Miller the owner and founder of the now legendary Mute Records. Miller founded Mute in 1978 and began recording music, using synthesizers under the name The Normal with TVOD and Warm Leatherette being the first double-sided single. Over the decades that followed, Daniel Miller and Mute had enormous success with diverse artists such as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Mark Stewart, Nitzer Ebb, Goldfrapp, Wire, Einstürzende Neubauten, Yahoo and so many more. It was in 1980, that Miller signed his first artist to Mute, Frank Tovey, better known as Fad Gadget. A British avant-garde electronic musician and vocalist, a proponent of New Wave and early Industrial Music. Tovey’s music was characterized by the use of synthesizers in conjunction with sounds of found objects, including drills and electric razors. His bleak, sarcastic and darkly humorous lyrics were filled with biting social commentary toward subjects such as machinery, industrialization, consumerism, human sexuality, mass media, religion, domestic violence and dehumanization, often sung in a deadpan voice. One can only wonder what The Layoffs will think of these recordings:
Life Elsewhere 