We had the pleasure of interviewing Jules Atlas, and here’s what he had to say:
Q: What motivated you to create and share “Lions”?
ATLAS: I wrote “Lions” at a time when a lot of people in my personal environment had to deal with emotional mistreatment in their jobs as well as in their relationships. It made me realize how easily we sometimes let other people just walk over us when we forget our own worth. The song calls for you to stand your ground and not tolerate any form of emotional abuse.
Q: What is one thing you’d like listeners to take away from this song?
ATLAS: I would love for people to get hooked on the melody and the beat, stomp their feet, and carry it along in their heads after they hear it.
Q: In what ways do you think your songs reflect your personality?
ATLAS: My songs always contain bits of me and stuff that’s on my mind. My mood and the way I feel while writing them seep into the music. I would say I have a pretty wide emotional range, which definitely reflects the variety in my songwriting. The songs I have released so far are all quite different from one another, so I guess in that way, my songs do reflect my personality.
Q: What role do you think music played in the early years of your life?
ATLAS: I have played guitar from a very young age and sang in a choir as a kid. Music has always been around and present in my life. My parents introduced me to the Beatles, Bob Dylan, as well as Simon & Garfunkel, who (although I didn’t properly appreciate them until much later) played a big role in my early years of music.
Q: Are there any musicians who inspire you? What qualities do you admire in them?
ATLAS: Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney… just to name a couple from the songwriting department. Lyrically genius and blessed with the gift of melody. In terms of vocalists, I would name Bonnie Raitt. She has this undeniable truth in her voice that I aspire to as a singer.
Q: What projects are currently in the works?
ATLAS: We’re currently doing some final touches on my debut album, which will appear in September. Apart from that, we’re in the process of getting a band together and ready for touring. I’m beyond excited for the next few months and can’t wait to take this record on the road.
Interviewed by Zoey King
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