motel void

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. It is the project of Harry Handford, Matt Baker (Modern Woman, The Wheel 2!), Juan Brint-Gutierrez (Modern Woman), Colin Olive and Leo Dutton. 

MOTEL VOID: In November you released a new single, Conversations With David Berman (Was That Civilised?). Could you describe how the song came about?

SKIVING (HH): Matt brought the song to the practice space almost reluctantly, not sure if it would fit our sound at the time – we were still mainly doing the spiky post-punk thing, and maybe a song as down-the-line beautiful didn’t feel like us yet, but we convinced Matt it was too good not to use. The first few rehearsals I was just improving lyrics, and one of the times I used the Brain Gremlin’s monologue from Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Eventually I realised the verses and coda needed something more direct and personal, to match the romantic yearning feeling from the music, but the lyrics in the heavy section of the song have stuck.

MOTEL VOID: Will it be part of your debut album? (this interview took place before the album was released)

SKIVING: It’s the closing song on the album – we’ve almost always played it as our last song live so it felt right to put it there.

MOTEL VOID: I can’t help asking this – also given the name of my blog and the references in the song – what is your relationship to David Berman’s music, whether Silver Jews or Purple Mountains?

SKIVING: David Berman is one of my favourite lyricists, probably top 5. I’ve been into Silver Jews for a long time, and always keep coming back because of his approach of raw, personal feelings told in poetic, sometimes abstracted images. A lot of songs from The Natural Bridge and American Water are all timers for me.

MOTEL VOID: You’re based in London. How would you describe the local scene there and your place within it? Do you have any favourite venues or artists you feel connected to?

SKIVING: In terms of venues, definitely The George Tavern would be up there, we’ve played a bunch of times and always had a good show. Also Paper Dress, we have a good relationship with Pierre over there and have also had some of our best shows there. Dream Bags, as well. In terms of artists, Yowl have had a special place in the band’s hearts for a long time – we’ve always been fans, we’ve played with them in London, but they also took us on tour, and kind of under their wing. We’ve also had great times playing with For Breakfast, Sheepish, Drum Tower.

MOTEL VOID: Who or what is inspiring you the most at the moment?

SKIVING: YHWH Nailgun, Water From Your Eyes, Computer, getting concussed falling off a lime bike.

MOTEL VOID: Are you planning to tour new material in 2026 as well?

SKIVING: We are – we have a UK tour in the works for March, and we’re hunkering in the rehearsal space at the minute starting writing on the next album.