A soaring and triumphant return to music, Tim Atlas releases his newest EP, Le Soir, out on all platforms today!

Tim Atlas has been through a LOT in the past few years. His neo-soul sound is already iconic, with a buttery voice and stunning musicality, he has been one to watch. But with a shakeup move to New York City, he returns to us with a grittier, darker electronic sound. His new EP, Le Soir, shows a new side of Atlas, one that allows him to experiment with heavier sounds, creatively creating this collection of six songs that you can truly sink your teeth in.

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Out on all platforms now, Le Soir represents a personal and musical shift in Atlas’s discography. Immensely personal, you can hear this side of Atlas begging for an audience and let me say, it’s worth it. Grungy, more industrial, yet intimate (I know, it’s insane, but trust me), the EP starts with the soaring “Le Soir”, with this huge electronic break that actually left me jaw dropped. As the EP moves through, “Attractive” brings big electronic drums to the forefront yet still allows Atlas to use his groovy side to come through with a nasty funk line and smooth vocals. The blend between sounds is truly one of the best things about Le Soir, forcing the listener to really trust on where the song is going at any given time. It’s the most fun roller coaster I’ve been on in a long time.

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We got to talk to Tim Atlas about this new creative phase of his life, the change in scenery and what his upcoming tour plans are:

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GRRRL Music: Le Soir is a darker departure from your previous ‘California-sunshine-soaked’ releases, and seems to be connected to your move to NYC. Has the city evoked a different creative side of you that you’ve been wanting to explore? How does the city-vibe affect your creative process, if at all?

Photo Credit: Provided By Artist

Tim Atlas: Definitely. I think my environment shapes anything I do creatively, and NYC almost gives people permission to unapologetically be themselves. Going into this record, I let go of what I thought people might expect from me and just let whatever come out come out. And in that process, I think I trusted in the fact that whatever I wrote and produced was 100% a reflection of who I am at this point in my life.

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GM: On ‘Knockin’”, there is that darker underbelly in which you talk about exploring this idea of mistaking attraction for escaping life. Can you share more about your personal experiences or observations that led to this perspective?

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TA: I think I can subconsciously look for distractions. Life is filled with pressure and anxiety at times, so naturally we look for ways to escape that. This song places that escape in the people around us, and I’ve been a prime example of that. But when I think of this song, those avenues of escape just keep us running in circles. I hope that makes sense without getting too personal haha.

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GM: As you prepare for your headlining U.S. tour, how do you plan on translating the experimental nature of "Le Soir" into live performances?

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TA: Yess, I’m so excited to bring this project to the stage. I’m in my NYC chapter, so I’ve created a setlist and a stage design that reflects that while still coming back to the songs that people know and love. So I took a cardboard cutout of a subway train, put an LED screen in the windows, and automated the headlights on the train to reflect the music. I buckled down and learned how to program the lights with video to sync with our performance. I wanted to make sure this felt like an experience, so I’m trying to incorporate as many details as I can to tell this story.

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GM: Apart from late nights, are there any other unique or unconventional moments or settings where you find inspiration for your music?

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TA: I try to live as much life as I can mentally/socially/physically. I’m naturally a homebody, so whenever I’m on the train or walking around the city, I try to soak it in & be in the moment. I like learning and trying new things outside of music. Then when I come back to my studio, the songs feels a little more informed by my life.