Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: Hi there! My name’s Jules Atlas and I’m a singer-songwriter from Hamburg. To be honest nothing ever made me want to start a career in music. I’ve just been playing music from a very young age and before I really knew what was happening I found myself in London writing songs and playing on the music scene. Music gives me joy like no other job or profession in the world could ever replicate.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: I’ve been playing a lot of Sam Fender and Phoebe Bridgers recently. There’s also been a lot of the likes of The 1975 and Laura Marling.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: Due to my dad’s passion for Bob Dylan this must be one of my biggest artistic influences. Being a big fan of folk music I was also heavily influenced by Ben Howard and Mumford & Sons.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Lockers’. Is there a story behind it?
A: I wrote this song in LA after helping my girlfriend going through a bunch of her family’s storage lockers. Her parents were going through a divorce and this whole situation of two people locking away stuff from each other sort of inspired the song.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: The next single will be released May 26th and the album is coming out in June.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: I would hope people will resonate with the stories of the songs. The whole album is an accumulation of songs I have written over the past few years; stories I think a lot of people can relate to in their 20s. My sound I would describe as folk in a robe of pop. It definitely has those folk elements but more polished than traditional folk.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: To me the fulfilment lies within creating music and playing it to people. I feel like everything beyond that is out of my control so I always try to find purpose and fulfilment in the creation itself. Anything else I welcome and am grateful for; like when people enjoy and listen to my music. However, I find myself most content when I write a song I’m proud of. That’s the most rewarding thing.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: To be honest that varies a lot. There are times when I read a lyric or a line in a book and I see a whole concept for a song. Those are the most natural songs because once you have a clear concept they usually come out in a flow. Other times I start playing something on the guitar and get hooked on a certain picking or a chord progression. In these cases I tend to write the melody first and lyrics later. I also find it helpful to take breaks and sometimes leave a song on the shelf for a bit when I’m stuck with something.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: Rejection is something I’m sure every musician will be confronted with and definitely something you have to get used to. Accepting that not everybody will like your music and having an A&R say to your face “Eh, don’t like it” without being hurt is tough; especially when you’re young and starting out. That’s definitely something I had a hard time learning but ultimately gave me a lot of strength and persistence.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: After years of recording, trying things out and scratching everything again I’m extremely proud to have started releasing music this year. What people outside music don’t understand is how much work goes into the songs, how many hours you spend writing and recording them and how many of them never see the light of day. I’m super excited to be able to call myself a recording artist and can’t wait for what’s to come.
Q: You lived in London for several years. Tell us about your time there.
A: I tend to say that half my heart lies in London. I moved there when I was 18 and did the whole gig circuit for a few years. As an artist you can’t ask for better practice than playing several times a week and sharing the stage with incredibly talented musicians. I wrote lots of songs there and had some fantastic experiences. London also brings you down and drains you; that has to be said, too. But it’ll reward you with creative energy that you’ll fail to find in most other places.
