Automatic, the Los Angeles trio of Izzy Glaudini (synths, vocals), Halle Saxon (bass, vocals), and Lola Dompé (drums, vocals), channels the stark energy of post-punk and no-wave through a modern lens. The band secured a key career milestone by signing with the influential independent label Stones Throw Records in 2019, setting the stage for their critically noted debut.

 

The three members first connected while immersed in L.A.'s vibrant DIY music scene, bonding over a shared affinity for minimalist rock and new wave. They began performing together in 2017, quickly developing a signature style defined by the interplay between Glaudini’s analog synths, Saxon’s melodic basslines, and Dompé’s precise, motorik drumming. Their name, taken from the track “Automatic” on The Go-Go’s album Beauty and the Beat, signals their debt to pioneering female-fronted bands. The group’s musical lineage is also notable, with Dompé being the daughter of Bauhaus drummer Kevin Haskins, a connection that underscores their deep roots in post-punk history.

 

The partnership with Stones Throw yielded their debut album, Signal, in 2019. Led by singles like “Calling It” and a cover of Delta 5’s “Mind Your Own Business,” the album established their aesthetic. Pitchfork praised it as “an exercise in post-punk and no-wave galvanism,” capturing the record’s tense, atmospheric, and propulsive sound. The band’s profile within the independent music community was further highlighted by the 2021 release of Signal Remixes, which featured reworks from notable peers and producers, demonstrating their reach and influence.

 

Their sophomore album, Excess, arrived in 2022, showcasing an evolution in their sound and thematic focus. Incorporating elements of '60s pop kitsch, the record explored concepts of corporate culture, consumerism, and futurism with sharp lyrical commentary. With subsequent releases like the 2025 album Is It Now?, Automatic continues to refine its distinctive identity, balancing sharp social critique with hypnotic, danceable grooves that feel both retro and contemporary.