Drummer Iwan Griffths, bassist James Frost, keyboards Alex Pennie and lead singer Robin Hawkins

The Automatic way to become accepted

INTERVIEW - THE AUTOMATIC

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THE Automatic burst onto the scene with Raoul, and followed it up with Monster.
They are from Cardiff, Wales. I interviewed Pennie, 20, as he wandered around PC World in Cardiff, catching up with colleagues he worked with five months ago.
Their album Not Accepted Anywhere came out on June 19.
They recently played at the O2 Wireless Festival and have sold out their ULU gigs. They will be playing Oxygen, T in the Park and Reading festivals.

Q: You’ve toured with Hard-Fi and The Ordinary Boys. Any on-the-road tales?

A: There’s a great one about Rich Archer [Hard-Fi singer]. I came across him walking out of a toilet with a girl, he saw me and said: “And that’s how the new flush system works.”
I thought that was pretty quick. With Preston [TOB singer], didn’t really see him. After Big Brother he was really busy with people hanging around for hours to talk to him.
It must be a bit strange to go from having a thuggish Fred Perry following to teenage girls. I thought it was a mistake to go on BB.

Q: Charlotte Church is from Cardiff, what do you think of her?

A: She was always a bit brassy – there’s this classic story of her just walking to the front of the dinner queue at school. I know a few people who are quite proud they’ve given her a slap.

Q: What do you think of Goldie Lookin’ Chain – who you’ve toured with and who are also from Cardiff – getting dropped from their label?

A: I saw them two weeks ago, it was nice to see them. The industry is very fickle and you can’t depend on it.
The press and public can change so quickly. We’re trying to buy a house so we’ve always got somewhere to live and a bit of security.
We’ve had a lot of support from NME and they can make or break a band, but you’ve got to be careful.
[What about that Drowned In Sound review where they described listening to your single Monster as like “being bludgeoned over the head, causing my skull’s brain content to seep out of the fractures, with a chorus as delicately crafted as a battering ram.”]
A reviewer should take both sides of an argument. A reviewer that just slates something is not informative.

Q: What were the famously bitchy Simon Amstell and Miquita Oliver like when you went on Popworld?

A: He was really nice, he just tries to be a bit clever. The best way to deal with him is to be a bit random. She wasn’t feeling well and after the interview she just put her tracksuit on and left.

Q: Do you believe in Heaven?

A: No. I’d like to, it’s a great idea but in terms of general science it’s bizarre. I’ll find out when I get there. Or not.

Q: Should Ryan Giggs have joined the England team?

A: No it’s good that he’s patriotic.

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