Getting to know Atlas Franklin Alexander
Following the release of his debut EP ‘Enter Echo’, Atlas Franklin Alexander has returned with his first new music of the year. We asked him to tell us about himself:
I am.. a disability support and youth worker as my day job, as well as a muso. I absolutely love it, I reckon the lovely people I support often support me, as much as I do them. It’s cool having a job where it’s not like a 9-5 drag of just doing it to pay the bills. This kind of job allows you to be a part of different families and connect with them in a really special way. It has taught me so much about personal strength in difficult situations. Reality is blurry to say the least.
Crave is… a song I’ve been working on for about 12 months. Its underlying theme is trying to obtain the unobtainable, whether it be a relationship or some ‘thing’. I directed the video, and the concept is also along the same lines as the track.
I did… a two-year sober stint. It was the best but also hardest thing I’ve ever done. I was originally going to go sober for one year to just see what would happen. Couple of things, you get used to zero alcohol quickly, you save heaps of money, you don’t do anything stupid, and you get super fit and healthy. I highly recommend doing it if anyone is thinking about taking the challenge, never having a hangover is a treat! I exercise like a motherfucker for my physical and mental health. I run like 6 kms per day to burn off all the anxieties of life. I also meditate on a regular basis and practice yoga every second day. Self-care is such an important part of life in this insane reality we all find ourselves living in currently. Exercising heaps and heaps keeps me sane.
I lived… in my car for a couple of years up and down the east coast of Australia. My car’s name is ‘Vikki’. I’d have to say looking back on that time, it probably wasn’t the best idea. But still, cooking on a little gas fire stove in parks for all meals, showering in the ocean and brushing your teeth in public toilets is very interesting. I’d recommend doing it for a couple of weeks, def not a long-term vibe.
I just… recently sold all my belongings on marketplace and broke the lease on my rental with no real plans of what I’m going to do. It sounds slightly insane, but I prefer the idea of not knowing what’s next as opposed to staying in the same place I’ve been in for the past year.
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ATLAS FRANKLIN ALEXANDER – CRAVE’ TOUR DATES
SAT 29 APR | OXFORD ART FACTORY, EORA/SYDNEY NSW
SAT 6 MAY | BAND AID FESTIVAL, MULUBINBA/NEWCASTLE NSW
Photo credit: Jacqueline Mitchel.
