An ethereal exploration into vulnerability, atmospheric whimsy and psych pop elements, the brand-new track New Remedy from Newcastle artist Atlas Franklin Alexander wields nostalgic modernity, while also offering glossy insight into what lies in wait at the core of his new EP, Flexible New Replica, and celebrating its release with an east coast tour, set to hit Wollongong, Sydney and Melbourne in March.
Congratulations on the release of New Remedy! Can you tell us a bit more about the inspiration behind this track and how it ties into the themes of vulnerability and confusion you explore in your music?
Thank you so much! “New Remedy” really came from a place of grappling with internal/external struggles. The track speaks to the moments where we feel lost or disconnected, yet there’s this desire to find clarity. Vulnerability is at the core of the song — I wanted to create something that captures that messy feeling of trying to make sense of confusion, but also offering a sense of hope.
Your EP, Flexible New Replica, sounds like a really exciting collection of tracks. How would you describe the overall vibe or journey listeners can expect to experience when they listen to the full EP?
The vibe of Flexible New Replica is a bit of a sonic rollercoaster. It’s introspective, experimental, and sometimes a bit unhinged, but there’s this underlying sense of fluidity. I wanted the EP to feel like a journey through uncertainty, but also through growth as cringe as that sounds. You’ll hear moments of introspection, but there are also bursts of energy and catharsis. It’s a collection of songs that feels like a bit of a workout.
The song “New Remedy” has some really interesting influences like Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, and Tame Impala. How did these artists shape the sound and atmosphere of your track, and did you intentionally draw from these styles?
I absolutely love all those artists, and I think their influence is sorta kinda evident, but it wasn’t something I set out to do intentionally. For me, it’s more about the feeling or the atmosphere they create. Peter Gabriel’s vibe, Radiohead’s atmospheric complexity, and Tame Impala’s ability to mix psychedelic and electronic elements — all of that has seeped into my sound in different ways. It’s a subconscious blend of what I’ve absorbed over the years. I don’t try to mimic anyone, but rather allow those influences to inform the sound I try and capture.
The “New Remedy” video seems to visually capture the ethereal and abstract nature of the song. What was the creative process behind it, and how do you feel the video complements the message of the track?
The video was a collaborative effort, I directed it and my pals harri Gilbert and Dave Fulham helped me bring it to life. The video was really about reflecting the track’s sense of ethereal confusion and inner turbulence. I think the video encapsulates that feeling of being on the edge of clarity — where things are both tangible and intangible at once.
You mentioned in a recent interview that “New Remedy” is about seeking clarity in confusion. Is there a particular moment or personal experience that served as the catalyst for writing this song?
I think the catalyst was a personal struggle with feeling stuck. We all have those moments where everything feels like it’s in flux, and nothing makes sense. Writing New Remedy was a way of processing that feeling and trying to figure out if clarity would ever come. It was less about a specific moment, but more about a phase where I needed to find a way to break through the fog.
You’ve described Flexible New Replica as a deeply DIY project, with everything from the writing to the production happening in your home studio. What are the challenges and rewards of creating an entire EP on your own terms like this?
The DIY aspect of it all is incredibly freeing in many ways, but also quite challenging. The reward is that everything feels personal — I’m making the exact sound I envision, without compromise. But the challenge is doing it all mostly yourself. It’s easy to get lost in your own head and second-guess yourself. I missed the collaborative energy that comes with working with other musicians or producers. But I also really enjoyed the intimacy of creating something entirely from my perspective.
It sounds like Flexible New Replica takes listeners on quite a sonic journey—from the synth wave elements to the atmospheric bliss. How do you feel the different styles and moods within the EP reflect your growth as an artist since your debut EP, ENTER ECHO?
Enter Echo EP was more of an exploration for me. I was figuring out the direction I wanted to take. Flexible New Replica feels more cohesive — it’s like I’ve started to find my footing in terms of sound, but I’ve also given myself the freedom to experiment within that space.
As an artist, you’ve mentioned that writing music serves as a form of self-therapy. How does that therapeutic process feel when you’re performing your songs live, especially in front of an audience?
Live shows are like a weird kind of public therapy. When I’m on stage it’s just a whole different thing — it’s like the songs come full circle. They were written as a way of processing stuff, but when I perform them, it’s almost like I get to release all of that energy in a shared space with other humans.
You’re about to embark on your east coast tour in support of Flexible New Replica. What are you most looking forward to about taking the new music to the stage, and how do you approach transforming the studio version of your songs for live performances?
I’m really looking forward to seeing how the new music comes alive in front of people. The songs from Flexible New Replica feel so expansive and atmospheric on the record, but live, they take on a whole new energy. I like to experiment with rearranging parts, adding new textures, or even stripping things back. Live performances are like a second chance to reimagine the music, it’s the same song, but with new energy and a fresh vibe. The unpredictability of it is what makes it interesting, everyone is the band also brings their own razzmatazz to add into the mix too which is the best.
Your work has always been deeply personal, and it seems like this new EP continues that tradition. What do you hope listeners will take away from Flexible New Replica once it’s out, and how do you want them to connect with your music on a deeper level?
I hope people hear Flexible New Replica and feel like it’s so okay to be messy, to be uncertain, and to be vulnerable. It’s about feeling the tension between self-doubt and self-discovery, and the process of navigating those things. I think it’s cool also with music that everyone has their own interpretation of what a song means to them 🙂 thanks for the interview xo
