Not long stepped off stage, Los Angeles trio Automatic are tired.
So tired, in fact, they speak with little animation. A far cry from the rampant post-punk sounds they punch through their moody music. Such is the sophistication and complexity of their kitsch sound, the girls can be forgiven for being sleepy.However, as is evident across their two albums, 'Excess' and 'Signal', Automatic's genre-bending music often carries quite weighted political themes and social commentary – nihilism, loneliness, corporate culture, and extravagance to name a few – and with their rate of touring thus far having been extensive, Automatic say they've seen their music's thematic interest be a universally acknowledge occurrence.
"I think a lot of our fans have gravitated toward us because of our message," the band's drummer/ vocalist Lola Dompé says.
"It hasn't sparked a whole lot of conversation at the shows, but I think where it comes in handy is finding a camaraderie in each other, by people who are listening to our record. They know where we stand, and they can feel less alone, and that's how we see, or feel it come together."
Not only do Automatic have three Australian headline shows and an appearance at Splendour In The Grass on the cards in July, they have a coveted support slot for Yeah Yeah Yeahs as the latter group also tour Australia.
It's an opportunity Automatic aren't taking for granted, each of the three girls calling the indie rock icons "inspiring".
"It wasn't an intentional inspiration with this band," muses Halle Saxon, Automatic's bassist/ vocalist, "but I think they really affected what kind of music I like and who I am as a musician."
"Same," agrees lead vocalist Izzy Glaudini. "Now there are a lot more female-fronted bands and women in music," adds Lola, "it was kind of a rarity growing up to have a frontwoman, so that's inspiring too."
"Her career is really inspiring, too," Halle continues of Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwomn, Karen O. "She's kept it going, and I think that's cool. She's such a great performer, too, so I'm so excited to share the stage with her."
No small remark to make, as Automatic have toured with just about everyone. From our own Tame Impala to The Voidz, Crumb to Parquet Courts, Automatic agree there's an element of exchange occurring when they tour with these musicians, contributing to how they develop their own sound.
"I feel really inspired by the bassist of Crumb [Jesse Brotter]," Halle says, "and I was asking him about his pedals, which I don't normally do because I feel like that's not what bass is about usually, but he has cool style, so."
"And I'm taking drum lessons from the Crumb drummer [Jonathan Gilad] now," adds Lola, "so I guess that was an inspiring band for us."
"Yeah, Crumb is pretty cool," agrees Izzy; before Halle continues: "Just because they're, like, such great people, they're easy to relate to, and I think they respect us, and we respect them, so we feel comfortable talking to them and gaining inspiration."
By gathering inspiration and schooling from their peers beyond their years, it has given Automatic an idea of how they'd like to deliver their Australian performances and for their sound to be received.
"I feel like it's a good idea to set that intention," Izzy says. "We're sort of go with the flow, take it as it comes vibe.
"But I just hope we can look alive for every performance, no matter how tired we feel, and, like, not let them know we're tired."
Lola knows what the biggest compliment Automatic could receive from an Aussie audience member would be: "'Wow, you guys are really awake! Looks like you got a lot of sleep last night!'"
Automatic 2023 Tour Dates
Wed 19 Jul - The Night Cat (Melbourne)Thu 20 Jul - Margaret Court Arena (Melbourne)* supporting Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Sat 22 Jul - Splendour In The Grass (Byron Bay)
Mon 24 Jul - Hordern Pavilion (Sydney)* supporting Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Wed 26 Jul - The Lansdowne (Sydney)
Fri 28 Jul - Mojos Bar (Fremantle)
