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Ahead of his band coming to Isbourne Arts, Winchcombe, next month (Friday 19th June), I caught up with singer-songwriter and blues musician Thomas Atlas to find out what drives his sound, the tracks he loves performing, and what we can expect from that aforementioned gig.

Hi Thomas, thanks for taking the time to chat. Let’s jump straight in. Being a guitarist, there are many genres you could have been involved with. What are the main things that drew you to Soul/Blues? My father’s record collection was a real driver as well as listening to him play guitar. The environment in and around Birmingham was also filled with cool music. 

 

How did the Thomas Atlas band form and what did you look for in the musicians that you wanted to work with? 
It’s really been an ever evolving thing, but essentially it’s me and my mates getting the chance to play music together. 

 

For those who haven’t heard your music before, how would you describe it to them in 5 words? 
Blues. Guitar. Groove. Songs. Performance 

 

Given the depth of sound on your ‘At the Jamm House’ album, how do you bring this to the live setting and what instrumentation will you be bringing to Isbourne Arts?
We always have rehearsals and try to keep the music fresh and exciting. If this the case for us performing, then it helps put the show across to the audience. For the Isbourne gig, it will be percussion, drums, keys/organ, and bass, with me on guitar and vocals. 

 

Your most recent release ‘Some Things Will Never Change’ has a much more acoustic sound to other tracks, what led to this being the case? 
To be honest, the song had so many different and versions and demos, but the sound of the released one just felt the best. 

 

So did working on that track make you realise anything about your songwriting that you didn’t know before? 
Yes, that maybe sometimes less is more.

 

 

I understand that a while back you had to change the name you release music under due to a ‘name clash’. How has the process affected you?
To be honest, I would rather concentrate on looking forward these days. However, I do feel that new artists are treated unfairly when in this situation. In my case, I also wasn’t given any help or damage pay out.

 

As a seasoned performer, what are the mental and physical differences in preparing for a tour compared to a one off performance? 
Well the main things are making sure the car is in good enough shape and the focus has increased in the build up. Sometimes there isn’t much time to prepare though.
 

I read recently that you particularly love performing ‘Limbo’. What is it about that track which makes you feel this way? 
It’s about feeling stuck in the system and it’s definitely a feeling I get from day to day life working within the boundaries of modern life with the ever growing freedoms taken away. Also the cost of everything gives me a lot of stress like all of us. That aside it’s fun to play! 

How would you like people to feel when they experience your music the live environment?
Hopefully they get some escapism and enjoyment experiencing the energy of the band going through the musical gears. Maybe some lyrics might hit home as well. 

 

With you currently being on tour, has your set list altered at all?
It’s about the most diverse range of styles and feelings we’ve ever had in the set. As a result, I believe it keeps the attention of the audience more than ever before. You can check out the remaining dates here.

 

And finally, how important are independent venues such as Isbourne Arts to the future of UK Blues music? 
Very important. It’s the antidote to the monopoly of the mainstream music industry and gives people a chance to experience something unique. 

Thanks Thomas Atlas for chatting with Listen to Discover