James Atlas – Retail Therapy

By starrymag | November 4, 2024

By: Paige Zinaman

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) My sound is pretty eclectic on this album. There’s a wide range of genres and styles, yet it all still seems cohesive.

Q) Who are some of the artists that influenced you when you were growing up?

A) When I was growing up, I would listen to a lot of Incubus and A Perfect Circle was another favorite – two completely different sounds and I admired them both for that. Brandon Boyd has such a sharp ping to his voice, while Maynard [James Keenan] has such an open throaty sound. I would sing to their songs endlessly.

Q) Congratulations on your newest single,” Retail Therapy.” Tell us a little about how this song came to be. What inspired this song?

A) I’ll never forget, I was in Dubai when DJ Sever sent me the arrangement and I had spent the whole day in the Dubai Mall; the most epic shopping mall I have ever seen. The music just had this grandiose feel to it, and it made my mind go to the crazy shopping mall I’d just experienced. So, I thought it would be funny to make a song about my shopping addiction.

Q) “Retail Therapy” is such a unique sound and message, when you went through the writing process did the lyrics come first or did the music?

A) The music has always come first for me, and that is what informs the lyrics. After we knew it was going to be about shopping, I had more ideas for it like adding samples of cash registers and credit card swipes. So, once we know what the song will be about, we can go back in and add things in or take things away.

Q) How would you say “Retail Therapy” is different from your other works like “Floating Away?”

A) “Retail Therapy” is like an electro-pop shopping anthem while “Floating Away” is more of a love song. “Retail Therapy” is like your perfect soundtrack for anything to do with shopping, it encourages you to pull the trigger and make the purchase for that hit of dopamine!

Q) The official visualizer for “Retail Therapy” is very unique in the way it’s done, what was the process like to craft the video?

A) This was a blast to film. We were at this giant green screen cyclorama in Singapore to get the walking footage for the visualizer. We shot it on a RED camera which they use for all the movies, so it’s high quality and something I’ve always wanted to do. I have a background in 3D modeling for film, so I’ve employed some friends from previous projects to help me with the 3D work, graphics and compositing. Shout out to Graphiss Media, Ccube, Brian Chow, Eric Espejo and Ricardo Ferreira.

Q) Besides “Retail Therapy,” what song would you say is your favorite song to perform?

A) Right now it’s “Diverging Lines” because the vocals are so powerful in that one and everyone moves to it!

Q) Social media is a huge part of music. Being a part of social media yourself, why do you think it’s such an important way to connect with fans? 

A) Social media is a great way to interact with fans. They can easily see what you’ve been up to and even interact. It’s a means of making people feel connected to you and your music and also building a community.

Q) Do you love having that instant response to your music? 

A) I do; I feel like I’m bonding with people and it’s a total privilege to know that something you’re doing is making other people happy.

Q) Who is someone you would love to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Ed Sheeran inspired me to pick up the acoustic guitar, so he would be a great candidate.

Q) What is the message you hope fans take away from your music?

A) This song, “Retail Therapy,” is written in a very unbiased and judgement-free way. So, they can take anything they like from this song, as long as they have fun!

Q) What’s next on the horizon? A full album or an EP by chance?

A) I am already in talks about the next album. However, that is top secret.

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of the beautiful music that you make?

A) Thank you for appreciating my music and letting it into your lives with open arms. It’s truly a blessing and, even though it seems like it’s about me, it’s really about you.