A folk-rock band who also add psychedelic flourishes, South Atlas have been building a loyal local following the past few years from their base in Victoria's surf coast.
After releasing two singles in 2019 'Only Human' and 'Home', the quartet withdrew from the spotlight – due in part to the madness of the couple of years.Now they're back, having honed their sound and working on their songwriting craft from an old beach shack. 'Yesterdays Tomorrow' is their new single, a song that explores the connection between self, change and the natural environment.
They recorded 'Yesterdays Tomorrow' at New Market Studios in North Melbourne with Guus Hoevenaars (Vance Joy, Tones and I, Kingswood) who also mixed the song.
Who is... South Atlas was born out of Wadawurrung Country on the surf coast of Victoria. After Years of travelling and living a transient lifestyle, Lachlan Hurrell settled and met Ben Gibson. From these initial jams the band grew to include Jesse and Beau.
For the past four years South Atlas have been refining their sound in an old beach shack on Victoria's surf coast. Since then they have gained a dedicated local following, playing to packed venues of salty-eyed coastal folk.
These multi-instrumentalists combine beautiful melodic harmonies, with swells of folk-rock psychedelia for a unique and rhythmic foot-tapping live show not to be missed.
We sound like... Ben Harper and Ben Howard with folk-rock psychedelia.
Our first gig was... Bird Rock Bar in Jan Juc.
When did you settle on the group's name, and was it a unanimous decision... We settled after discussing for ages and then realised that so much of life is about direction and finding a path, place or meaning and South Atlas to us is about that place, path and meaning.
In the studio we usually... Laugh a lot and have fun.
If we could tour with anyone... The War On Drugs.
Social media is... Helping us communicate and share our story and changing society in ways we are only beginning to understand.
My favourite app at the moment is... Ultimate Guitar because I can search chords in guitars, banjos, ukuleles and all these different tunings.
To date, our most embarrassing moment was the time... When Beau broke a drum stick on a cymbal; and then at the end of the set, it snapped off and flew across the room and nearly impaled the bar staff.
Life on the road can be... Full of possibility and wonder.
If you'll have us on your bill, all we ask is that our rider contains... Something local and healthy.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... Travelling in India, getting very sick and losing eight kilos in five days.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... David Attenborough as he is a wonderful speaker with words that need to be listened to by as many ears as possible.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? New Orleans. Melting pot of music.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Dalai Lama, Truganini and whoever is wielding the most global power at the moment. I hope this mix would provide a conversation which reflects, philosophises and makes global change.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Something from the garden, fresh and healthy.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? I love them but don't have any.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Never, the outside world is my gym.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Putting dishes away.
Do you have any phobias... Getting blood taken out; can make me faint.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? I would, there is a Swedish one called 'Alone'. Time in the wilderness.
Best local takeaway joint for a 2am feed that will leave you with a food coma? Don't have one down the coast. There is a big chain place that will leave you sufficiently comatose.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? 'School Of Rock' as I'm a primary school performing arts teacher.
Last show you binge-watched? 'Woodley'. Melbourne comedian; amazingly silly and clever.
