LEKNES & THE LAYOFFS

Leknes & The LayOffs is an alternative rock noir band led by Leknes, an artist with roots on a frozen island in the north of Norway, now partly living among the sun-drenched landscapes of Mexico. This journey unfolds alongside a mysterious and shadowy figure, M.S. Playhead, who is at the heart of the band's debut album, M.S. Playhead Vol. 1 that will be released on November 6th.

The story of Playhead is told through dark, cinematic sounds, blending howling saxophones, distorted organs, twisted guitars, and a voice pulled from the depths of the desert. Leknes invites listeners into a world where nothing is taboo, and where the ugly becomes the new beauty. The pulsating drums echo the hearts of those yearning to escape the monotony of daily life and dive into the unknown.

Three singles are available now, the prequel Sun in the Bottle and the two official singles  from M.S. Playhead Volume I, San Miguel and Nahual, both of which are availabe for a free download here

Leknes & The LayOffs are:

-Stian Leknes (Hoist!, Manifest) on vocals.

-Vegard Bjerkan (Thomas Dybdahl, Morten Abel, Mooving Oos) on keys.

-Per Spjøtvold (Goat the Head, Atrox, Hoist!) on more keys.

-Kurt Sprenger (Desperado, Hoist!, Sexy Police) the master of ugly guitar sound.

-Rolf Martin Snustad (Spidergawd, Hopalong Knut) on saxophornications.

-Tomas Järmyr (Motorpsycho, Zoo, Årabrot, Slowshift) on drums and percussion.

With this lineup of seasoned musicians, the music has found a home worthy of queens, kings, queers, and bums alike. The songs are itching to break free and find their way into your ears—and once they do, they’ll take you on a ride that’s dark, winding, and filled with twists. So unscrew your head and buckle up, because this might just be your last trip.

The album was recorded live at Sørgården Studio by Per Borten and at Nautilus Studio by Rune Stavnesli. All tracks were produced by Rune Stavnesli and Leknes, with all tracks from Sørgården Studio co-produced by Per Borten.