Interview with AUTOMATIC answers by Izzy Glaudini
Aliens Have Landed — and They Brought Synths.
Los Angeles trio Automatic has never been interested in playing it straight. With their signature blend of post-punk cool, krautrock mechanics, and dance-floor magnetism, the band delivers existential dread with a wink — like androids stuck in traffic, wondering how it all got so weird. On their new album Is It Now?, Automatic fuses breakbeats, trip-hop mysticism, and dystopian satire into something eerily fun and sharply prescient. Whether they’re unpacking techno-spiritual collapse on “Mercury” or channeling Devo-esque irreverence, the group proves you can still dance in the ruins — just don’t forget to read the subtext.
We caught up with vocalist/synth wizard Izzy Glaudini to talk alien perspectives, the band’s Beastie Boys phase, and why sometimes the best protest song is one you can lose yourself in.
1. “Is It Now?” opens with a cheeky but pressing question. In an age of Cybertrucks and fast-food brands acting like your best friend, how do you toe the line between satire and sincerity when addressing societal decay through music?
As a band we tend to lean more towards an aloof, or irreverent perspective, even when engaging in politics. I think because we are a group & we write as a collective, the lyrical voice never becomes too personal or emo or overly sincere. I like to pretend we are aliens who have landed on an absurd planet, here to observe the chaotic breakdown of the US. There are certain bands that have approached politics in a similar way- Devo is a great example of how to hold a mirror to the world without being preachy or virtue signaling. It’s something we aim to do, whether we are successful or not.
2. Your new single “Mercury” blends trip-hop textures with a dreamy spiritual lens. Can you talk about the emotional and lyrical tension between confronting darkness and preserving wonder and why that balance feels so vital right now? It seems like no one enjoys the grip technology has on our psyches and our lives, but we’re all still compulsively chained to it.
I think the song is a bit about turning away from that suffocating feeling, to remember that life is an expansive mystery. As a band we like tarot, astrology, & esoteric things that have a dash of magic. Call us witches, whatever! The breakbeat element was something the producer Loren contributed, which was great because we were in our Beastie Boys era at the time (& I still am). Trip hop and Mazzy Star were also big influences.
3. Working with Loren Humphrey brought a more live, breathing feel to the record. What surprised you most about recording with that looseness, and how did it shape the final personality of the album?
This album was the first time we worked with a producer that wasn’t a close friend, so it was a bit anxiety inducing. Loren was really patient and encouraging, and he pushed us to improve our technical abilities. We’re not a band that strives to be ‘masters’ of our instruments, in the traditional sense; scrappiness has always been a part of our identity. I think Loren helped us shed some of our self-imposed limitations, which meant we had to commit to a lot of creative decisions in the moment. It was difficult at times and brought out some insecurities, but ultimately it lead us to grow as a band.
4. You’ve described your music as a kind of Trojan horse; catchy grooves carrying critical messages. Have you noticed fans catching on to the commentary beneath the surface, or are they often dancing first and decoding later?
I think a lot of our fanbase has similar values, so maybe its cathartic to see more left-wing perspectives represented in music. The political atmosphere in America is so insane it would be ridiculous to ignore it completely. That being said, life is a party and people need to have fun! We’re happy to subliminally influence people if it means they become more engaged.
5. You’ve toured with bands like Tame Impala, IDLES, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs — all artists who bring big ideas to the stage. What did those experiences teach you about the kind of impact you want Automatic to have live, especially as you gear up to tour Is It Now??
We’ve learned a lot through observation, watching these bands connect with their audience is electrifying– its not something you can commodify or fake, its real and human. It’s a relief to remember there is still room for some kind of counter-culture to blossom. We tend to be in our heads a lot, so it can be hard to enjoy the live-aspect of the show, especially because our music is so minimal. We’re currently rehearsing for our upcoming tour, and trying out new ways to fill out our sound– we’re still experimenting with it, so we’ll see how it all pans out!