Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Shelby Celine- Vocals
Dougie Chi-Town-Guitar/Vocals
Felix Nieto-Guitar/Vocals
Chris "Blosk" Bloskey-Drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Crashing Atlas?
How long has the band been around?
Dougie, Felix, and Blosk met playing in a band called Staunton. After playing with them for a year we all made the decision to start our own band and make a new sound that no one was currently doing. We found Shelby shortly thereafter and the rest is history. We have been a complete band for 8 months now.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
Crashing Atlas came from different conversations between members. We originally had the name Crashing Drama slotted for the new project. Blosk came to us with the idea of Crashing Atlas. The name really came from a play on the mythology of Atlas coupled with the idea that we can only be accountable for ourselves. If we condemn ourselves to prop up our entire
world; worrying about everyone else and not ourselves, Our (Atlas) legs will eventually give out and come crashing down.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your
songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Shelby and Dougie take the writing helm for us. The songs off of our debut EP ASCEND
deal with being in a place you don't want to be and knowing that there is a utopian place that you can go if you just fight for it. Our lead single entitled 'Savages" deals with the world as it is in the present where everyone looks out for themselves and in the end we will all revert back to our primal instincts. We try to tackle new topics any chance we get. We live in a diverse world and people feel different things at different times. We try to accommodate that.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
We are currently listening to Bring me the Horizon, Of Mice & Men, Conditions, Sleeping with Sirens, Royal Blood, Palisades, State Champs, and Megosh.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a
band?
I think we were all inspired by different artists at different times, but I do know that the whole band shares a love for two bands: Paramore and Palisades.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc …
We all have different rituals. I (Dougie) usually like to take a moment alone to reflect on why I am there and that is to play for the people that came to see us. I usually do a bit of yoga prior to keep me limber. We all gather together a few minutes prior to say our show chant of that evening.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
I think we all agree that working with Billy Decker ( Sam Hunt, Montgomery Gentry) who mixed our record. For all of the accolades and prestige surrounding him, he is one of the most down to earth people we have ever met. Also working with Spencer Sotelo from Periphery on the vocal production. Having that range of styles from a metal world to a country world really speaks to the diversity we are trying to bring to our sound, so it's fresh and original.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and
why?
I think a lineup of Paramore, Palisades, and Crashing Atlas would be a dream tour for us. Those bands are work horses and they both write great music. We would pride ourselves being the "crazy" band in that lineup!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
You can catch us on tour this October with Austin Winkler (Former Hinder Lead Singer). Stay tuned for tour updates! Thank you so much! Much Love!