Biography
The Brooklyn-rooted electronic punk outfit Semiautomatic centers on vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Akiko Carver alongside programmer and multi-instrumentalist Rop Vasquez. Ian Vanek, known from the Teamsters and the Tight Bro's from Way Back When, once rounded out the lineup. Vasquez previously played in the PeeChees, the Lefties, the Creeps, and Rice; his solo endeavor manmatesmachine employs homemade and altered electronic instruments that likewise surface on Semiautomatic recordings. The band's name derives from Technics' 1970s semi-automatic direct-drive turntables. Its self-titled debut appeared in 2000 through 5 Rue Christine, the sister label of Kill Rock Stars. The 2001 album The Trebuchet came out on Vex, after which the group returned to 5RC for 2002's Resident Genius.
Beyond their work in Semiautomatic, both Carver and Vasquez pursue visual art: Vasquez works as a graphic designer while Carver, an animator, helmed a Claymation clip for the track "The Ballad of Puss Puss" that screened at the NAATA San Francisco Asian American International Film Festival. Issued in 2003, Wolf Centric featured two songs with the Slits' Ari Up; the band first encountered Up at a 2001 New York Ladyfest performance, and Carver later supplied vocals for one of Up's dancehall releases. Additional ventures encompass an EP reworked by Concentrick—also known as Tim Green of the Fucking Champs, Lice, and Nation of Ulysses—on Gold Standard Laboratories, original music for the film Better Luck Tomorrow, and a split 7" alongside XBXRX.
Beyond their work in Semiautomatic, both Carver and Vasquez pursue visual art: Vasquez works as a graphic designer while Carver, an animator, helmed a Claymation clip for the track "The Ballad of Puss Puss" that screened at the NAATA San Francisco Asian American International Film Festival. Issued in 2003, Wolf Centric featured two songs with the Slits' Ari Up; the band first encountered Up at a 2001 New York Ladyfest performance, and Carver later supplied vocals for one of Up's dancehall releases. Additional ventures encompass an EP reworked by Concentrick—also known as Tim Green of the Fucking Champs, Lice, and Nation of Ulysses—on Gold Standard Laboratories, original music for the film Better Luck Tomorrow, and a split 7" alongside XBXRX.
Albums
