Start Listening To: Automatic
Automatic return with Is It Now?, a sharp, analog-driven record that balances urgency, groove, and defiance.
Los Angeles trio Automatic have spent nearly a decade carving out their own space between post-punk, new wave and deviant pop. With just synth, bass, and drums, they create music that’s both minimalist and expansive, weaving danceable rhythms with stark reflections on isolation, politics, and survival. Their new album Is It Now?, produced by Loren Humphrey and recorded to tape, leans into long takes, live energy, and an analog warmth that grounds its themes of war, escapism, and resilience. We caught up with Halle and Lola to talk about recording chaos, the value of doing things the “hard way,” and why even songs about drone warfare can still move you to the dancefloor.
For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
Halle: we’re a band of synth, bass and drums played by three women in Los Angeles.
Lola: We’re a band called automatic from Los Angeles CA. Consisting of drums, bass and synth, we make music that we sometimes call deviant pop / post punk / new wave.
Can you tell us more about the themes on your upcoming album Is It Now?
Halle: there are themes of war, continued themes of escapism, continued themes of isolation.
Lola: In a nutshell shell it’s about all the different reactions people can have to the state of the world right now.
How was the album produced?
Halle: To tape on both sides of the country, through many hands until finally landing with Loren Humphrey.
Lola: We worked with a new producer, Loren Humphrey, for this album- recording and mixing in New York. It was a combination of live room recordings and some added elements, all to tape.
Loren Humphrey staged an invisible knife fight during playback of ‘Mercury’. What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in the studio while recording?
Halle: for me the weirdest thing was finding out I paid $600 in missed therapy appointment charges and trying not to cry about it and feeling so dumb but then later I learned I have adhd so it’s okay.
You’ve said this record involved long takes and playing more live in the studio. Did any happy accidents make it into the final mixes?
Lola: I really like all the percussion elements and the unique swing / vibe that each song has.
The band’s personal lives clearly influenced Is It Now? botany, horses, stray cats. Which song on the album do you think most reflects where each of you are now, individually?
Halle: I relate so much to every song honestly. I think there’s a piece of us in all of them.
Lola: Izzy writes the lyrics for country song, which is about me moving to the country side and getting into horses.
The track ‘mq9’ has such a propulsive, infectious groove that it takes a moment to realise it’s about drone warfare. Was it important for you to use the structure of pop to mask or amplify those messages?
Halle: It’s just important for us to use our music that way. And we just make music the way we make music. I’m not trying to be this or that way, pop or alt or anything. It just comes out the way it does.
Lola: I think that’s always been an important element to our music… you got to reel in people somehow and also offer a glimmer of hope at the same time.
You mention that there aren’t many people committing to analog tape. What do you think you gain by doing things the hard way?
Halle: Many would argue that we gain nothing lol. I personally just mourn the loss of using our hands and our minds as we slip further and further into brain rot idiocracy territory… I swear it sounds warmer and deeper though… so maybe it’s somewhat of an internal journey. But it brought us to some really cool studios and really cool people. Not solely sitting behind a screen in the dark the ENTIRE time.
Lola: I wouldn’t even say it’s harder as long as you find the right engineer. It just adds a warmth and fills the empty space, which compliments our sound because it’s so minimal.
There’s a through-line from dub and post-punk to disco and krautrock across this record. Were there any artists or tracks you had on repeat while working on Is It Now??
Halle: The Graveyard and the Ballroom by A Certain Ratio, Viva! LA woman by Cibo Matto were on heavy rotation for me. And Saint Etienne. And the sensual woman by Herbaliser haha.
Lola: I was listening to Air, Susan cadogan, thievery corporation and many other things.
You formed Automatic nine years ago with a fairly DIY approach to your instruments. Looking back, what would surprise your younger selves most about where you’ve ended up?
Halle: I’d be so surprised and happy that I was a musician at all. I didn’t think I was capable. But I proved all the haters wrong especially the ones in my mind.
Lola: I think we’ve been so lucky to have reached this point of success, even though it’s still hard to make a living as a musician. We have the best team of people helping us and we’ve been able to play in Australia, Japan and Bangkok!
What’s it been like working with Stones Throw Records?
Halle: Flawless.
Lola: It’s been a great local community for us to grow up in!
What do you love right now?
Halle: Maga people burning their maga hats.
Lola: Native plants and coffee.
What do you hate right now?
Halle: The death cult of the American Government.
Lola: Racist people and spiders.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?
Halle: Endtroducing…. By DJ shadow. I kinda forgot about it for so long until Loren played it in the studio. It’s just good.
Lola: Velvet Underground Loaded will always be my go to album that makes me feel grounded.
What do you hope listeners take away from your music after hearing it for the first time?
Halle: I hope it makes them feel strong and energised and like we can handle this and fight on the side of life.
Lola: I hope they feel connected, grounded, and empowered.
