[Tim Atlas](https://www.instagram.com/timothyatlas/?hl=en) is an anomaly in the music industry, carving his own lane somewhere in the midst of downtempo R&B, neo-soul, and bedroom pop. Hailing from the Bay Area but now based in sunny Los Angeles, the rising star is a writer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and recording artist, here to bless audiences around the world with his feel-good vibrations and music.
In describing himself, Atlas states, “I am a musician, producer to the core of me, but the singer-songwriter aspect of my artistry has been calling me for the last few years so I guess that’s what I identify as… You can brand my music as indie pop, I really love blending certain funk R&B elements into my music. You get a little bit of everything.”
Exploding onto the scene with his debut EP titled _All Talk!_, Atlas started to organically build his own loyal fanbase which to this day, results in over 50 million streams across all streaming platforms. Fast forward to today, Tim returns with his newest EP titled _QUOTA_, inspired directly by the endless emotions we go through as humans. Recording the project through the COVID-19 pandemic in his living room studio, Atlas unveils his most vulnerable side, something he’s truly grateful for.
_Flaunt_ caught up with Tim via FaceTime to discuss his move to New York, roots in the Bay, biggest influences, the turning point in his music career, new EP _QUOTA_, his favorite songs, the making of “Courtside,” editing his own video for “Cold Shoulder,” studio essentials, fashion, goals, and more!
Photo Credit: Maya Fuhr
**How are you holding up?**
I’m doing good. Gearing up for the record release, tying up loose ends. I’m moving to New York in September, I’m really stoked. It’s a transitional part of my life right now.
**Why are you moving to New York?**
I felt really comfortable in LA. I've been here for 4 or 5 years now. As awesome as the city has been for me, it’s time for the next phase. I spent a month in Williamsburg in May as a test run to see if I wanted to be an East Coast boy, and I do.
**How was it growing up in the Bay Area?**
I was born in Oakland and grew up in San Jose. Both of my parents were in tech. My dad sang songs at church on Sundays and a lot on the karaoke machine. While they’re doing that, my sister was listening to 90’s, early 2000’s R&B in her room. I was influenced by that but I also really liked rock music and stuff my dad listened to, such as Johnny Cash, The Beatles, really old acts like that. I had a well-rounded upbringing, so I like to think my artist project is a culmination of all those things.
**Who were you listening to coming up?**
The first artist I really liked was John Mayer. I had my metal phase. I was screaming in bands at one point, but also playing drums in marching band and jazz bands. I really loved Phoenix and a little bit of Hall & Oates here and there.
**At what point did you realize you could do music as a career?**
I didn’t have a realization as to when I could do it, it was me giving myself no other option but to do it. I got a degree in Photography and was blessed enough to get a product photography job right out of college. It lasted a little over a year, but when I was working a 9 to 5 I didn't have time for music. When I did have time, all I wanted to do was watch Netflix and go to bed. \[laughs\] It came to a certain point where I wasn’t being fulfilled creatively in that job. It was gonna take me falling flat on my face or the possibility of me falling flat on my face in order to really pursue it.
I just went for it. I quit my job, it was a strange serendipitous moment for me. As soon as I quit my job, I started getting inquiries from artists in the Bay Area to start producing records for them. One of the artists was this man named No Vacation, and I did that record for $100. They’re such a talented band, it was only a matter of time until they exploded in front of us. Those little projects were the moments I gave myself permission to pursue it full-time. I went for it after that.
**_Quota_ EP out now, what’re you most excited for?**
I’m excited for people to see themselves in this record. It was very much the product of quarantine. This record was made with Zoom sessions, being alone in my studio for days at a time. Sonically, it was very much a product of that time. I know a lot of it is new music, but maybe it can feel a bit nostalgic for them to go on this journey with me. We all collectively experienced a similar experience in the last year.
**You talk about swinging between moods. Was it difficult for you to be so vulnerable?**
It might’ve been difficult for me years ago. I’m generally a private person. Art persists more when you’re being more vulnerable and showing more of yourself. We show so much of ourselves on social media, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about what I’ve been going through.
**What songs mean the most to you and why?**
“Water” is a big one for me. There are a good amount of love songs on the record, but that one is more about mental health and the difficulty that comes with reaching out when you’re struggling. That one hit home the most for me, although I love all of the songs. It really depends on how they feel when I play them live, that’s when I get to decide which ones are my favorite.
**What inspired your song “Courtside”?**
“Courtside” was the first song that was written on the record. It was pre-pandemic, then I finished it throughout the year. That one was the most positive one because we weren’t going through a bunch of shit in the world. \[laughs\] It’s definitely the classic Tim Atlas sound, I wanted to make a song that made you feel good.
**What was your creative vision with the video? The kid dancing is so cute!**
We worked with Jessamine Fok, she was out of Toronto. We were connected through my label. Honestly, I felt we aligned in terms of aesthetic and vision. She consulted with me through the process. She really wanted to be an extension of the world that I created visually. We wanted the video to be as fun as the song, while being visually interesting. We decided to get this kid Roman, make him look like me. He curled his hair and kept them in for 2 weeks. He’s a star. When I first saw him, I said “is there any way you can dance less good?” \[laughs\] I put out a dance video for “Tangerine,” I’m just not a good dancer by any means and he’s amazing. If he’s going to be a little me, I wanted it to translate a little better. He killed it, they really nailed that one.
**Talk about “Cold Shoulder,” you wrote, edited, and directed the whole video. How does it feel to have your hands in all aspects of the process?**
It’s something I do take pride in. Because I have a background in photography and design, it was fun for me to lock myself in my studio and hack away at that video. I was literally cutting images and animating them from Photoshop to Final Cut. It was 8 hours a day for 9 days, a lot of work. \[laughs\] It’s an extension of my artistry, I’m happy I have the means to express that.
**3 things you need in the studio?**
I need a guitar, some sort of percussion instrument, and my bass. Also palo santo, it clears the space.
**How would you describe your fashion sense?**
Minimalist. Just like everything else visually, fashion’s another extension of my artistry. I like flashy shoes a lot of the time, while contrasting with really basic everything else. I’m still refining that department. I think that’s where I’m at right now.
**Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?**
I want to put out a full-length album. I want to tour more, I want to do what I’m doing for as long as possible.
**What’re you most excited for as the world opens back up?**
I'm excited to travel and tour these songs. Throughout the last year, you see your monthly listeners on Spotify and all the data, but none of it feels real until you see people singing the songs in the crowd. Until I get to see those moments, it doesn’t feel super real to me yet.
