UNCVRD: Crashing Atlas

After a brief hiatus, Crashing Atlas have returned with a new sound and identity with new single, "Who's Sorry Now?"

Crashing Atlas has always been a band that has transcended the challenges posed by changes in its lineup throughout its career, which began in 2017. From the start, the focus has remained on their distinctive sound, navigating various transitions to ensure that their musical vision continued to thrive, regardless of the obstacles. After a brief hiatus, the band confronted the ongoing dilemma of maintaining a full lineup to preserve the essence of what made Crashing Atlas unique.

Faced with a pivotal choice—whether to continue with only two of the founding members or to step away entirely—Doug and Marina opted for a bold path forward. They embarked on the daunting task of redefining Crashing Atlas while relocating to Nashville, a move that promised to be both exciting and overwhelming. Crafting a new musical identity for the band posed a different set of challenges, but they were determined to honor their roots while exploring new creative avenues.

Drawing inspiration from the core values that defined their sound at the band’s inception, Crashing Atlas has unveiled a fresh soundscape with their new single, "Who's Sorry Now." A track delves into the intricacies of self-doubt and the emotional turbulence of relinquishing false narratives, ultimately leading to a profound reawakening of self-identity, this new direction showcases Crashing Atlas embracing the philosophy of allowing their music to guide them through this transformative chapter. As they embark on this journey, listeners can expect a deep exploration of both personal and universal themes, reinforcing that their story—and their sound—continues to evolve.

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Thank you all for returning to Into The Void. Let's address the elephant in the room: you took a brief hiatus. A lot has changed and evolved since you started in 2017. What do you feel has transformed within this recent period that has shaped the band into what it is today? What inspired you to continue despite these changes?

Crashing Atlas: The band as a collective has always had so many moving parts in regard to the personnel. We almost wear it with a badge of honor because no matter who is within the unit, we always find a way to bring the Crashing Atlas sound to the forefront. From the beginning, it was about writing songs that inspired us to want to play them live. We feel like this recent transition into becoming a duo has been one of the most challenging undertakings because of the new duties that Marina and I have had to take on. We ended up embracing them and trusting one another more than we ever have. The biggest thing that has changed for us during this period has been our positivity with how we approach being in this band. Working side by side as songwriters is something that Marina and I have always embraced, and we wanted to showcase who were this time around through the new music.  The changes within the band were extremely difficult for both of us. There were times when we didn’t know if we were making the right decision by carrying on, but we kept pushing each other knowing that we have always carried the fire in Crashing Atlas. We knew that we had so much more to give musically. We decided that it was time to put up or shut up. Let the songs we write from here on out decide who we are as a band. 

You recently moved to Nashville this year. How has relocating to Nashville this year impacted and transformed your music, and how has it influenced the new direction your music has taken?

Crashing Atlas: Moving to Nashville was one of the best decisions we have made as a band. The move opened our eyes to so many new amazing players, producers, and artists that we never experienced before. Being here in the thick of it all really inspires you to become a better version of yourself. We are constantly inspired by everyone around us. It’s truly wild being in this city as a musician and developing relationships with people you were once just a fan of. That in itself has pushed us to a new heightened sense of where we can go with our music in Crashing Atlas.

Your new single, "Who's Sorry Now" explores the complex emotions of self-doubt and the internal conflict of breaking free from illusions, ultimately leading to the creation of a new sense of self. As you both embarked on this exciting new chapter as a musical duo, did you ever grapple with feelings of uncertainty or engage in deep self-reflection? Perhaps there were moments when you questioned your artistic choices, the direction of your music, or even your individual roles within the partnership. Could you share any personal experiences or insights into how you navigated these challenges and emerged stronger as a collaborative force?

Dougie Atlas: In many ways, self-doubt has never been more prevalent in my mind. However, the confidence we came into this new project with is unmatched. I suppose the fear comes from the gravity of our career adjustments. Moving away for the first time (at least for me), signing with our first label, and being surrounded by extraordinary talent has definitely been a wake-up call to how important this is to us. 

In many ways, Who’s Sorry Now is a send-off to our old lives. Not many people get a chance to start over. With how long we’ve been at this, Doug and I have both contemplated how easy our lives would be if we didn’t feel such a pull to continue this calling. Everything about what we’re doing feels new and scary. But in the writer's room, we both feel stronger than ever. 

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How did this creative process differ from past ones in terms of your approach, the challenges you faced, your interactions with collaborators, and the overall experience? What specific aspects stood out as being unique or particularly noteworthy?

Marina Heath: Like Doug said, embracing this new status quo of being a smaller team has made the creative process become such a streamlined machine. I’ve always been the type to not know what I want to write about until I hear the music. When we have the right producer in the room, he and Doug cook up something incredible and I just get to go to town. It’s the most freeing creative experience I’ve ever had. Because not only is it what I want, but it fucking rocks. No overthinking, no cutting corners, no arguments. We’ve never had a better flow. 

Is this new single part of a larger component, if so what else can we look forward to in terms of the overall scope of what you guys will be doing this year?

Crashing Atlas: We have a ton of songs in the canon. We’ve been working with our incredibly talented friend, Kile Odell, who’s really brought out the best in us. We have an amazing blend of pop hooks, insane riffs, and everything you’d want from Crashing Atlas and more. Who’s Sorry Now is just the intro to the amazing year we have planned for our fans. In fact, we have an entire record planned that we know is going to satisfy everyone who’s been waiting. 

Our ultimate goal is to get back out there and see everyone again. It’s been too long since we’ve gotten to experience a real show with our friends and fans. We miss it so much and we’ve been doing everything we can to make it happen. 

Thank you so much, Sammie!