Rob Laakso

Rob Laakso
Rob Laakso performing in 2019 Photo: Tore Sætre
Background information
Genres	Indie rock, indie folk, lo-fi
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizers
Labels	Matador
Website	www.roblaakso.com

Rob Laakso is an American musician, record producer and engineer, best known as the recording partner of indie rock musician Kurt Vile, and as a multi-instrumentalist in his backing band The Violators. Laakso is also a multi-instrumentalist in the shoegaze band Swirlies, and a former member of Mice Parade, contributing to the studio albums, Obrigado Saudade (2004), Mice Parade (2007) and What It Means to Be Left-Handed (2010).

After contributing to Vile's second and fourth studio albums, God Is Saying This to You... (2009) and Smoke Ring for My Halo (2011), Laakso became a full member of The Violators in 2011, following the departure of guitarist Adam Granduciel. Upon joining the band, Laakso contributed heavily to Vile's subsequent studio albums, Wakin on a Pretty Daze (2013) and b'lieve I'm goin down... (2015).

Discography

with Kurt Vile

• God Is Saying This to You... (2009)
• Smoke Ring for My Halo (2011)
• So Outta Reach (2011)
• Wakin on a Pretty Daze (2013)
• It's a Big World Out There (And I Am Scared) (2013)
• b'lieve I'm goin down... (2015)
• Bottle It In (2018)

with Mice Parade

• Obrigado Saudade (2004)
• Mice Parade (2007)
• What It Means to Be Left-Handed (2010)

with Amazing Baby

• Rewild (2009)

with Diamond Nights

• Popsicle (2005)
• Once We Were Diamonds EP (2005)

with Swirlies

• Damon, Andy, Rob, Ron: The Yes Girls (2000)
• Cats of the Wild Volume 2 (2003)
• Swirlies' Magic Strop: Winsome Zamula's Hammer of Contumely (2005)

with The Wicked Farleys

• Make It It (2000)
• Sustained Interest EP (1999)
• Sentinel and Enterprise (1998)