ATLAS is a six-member Thai boy group under XOXO Entertainment. Members Junior, Jet, Poom, Nice, Erwin, and Tad have been capturing the hearts of fans worldwide since their debut on December 7, 2021, with their hit single “MAYDAY MAYDAY”. Rising quickly as key ambassadors of the modern T-Pop movement, the group built a massive following across Asia through hit releases such as “Lolay”, “MR. LONELY”, and “I Got That Magic”, along with acclaimed albums like ATLAS: The 1st Journey and Mangosteen. Beyond their chart-topping discography, ATLAS has earned major milestones—including taking home prestigious awards, headlining massive music festivals, and completing successful regional tours across Asia. Fresh off the release of their single “Push”, the group is now preparing for an extraordinary new chapter: their performance at THE A FESTIVAL will mark their very first performance in Europe!
In this interview, the members share their thoughts on international stages, overcoming language barriers, and how they would reimagine iconic music genres into signature ATLAS performances.
Looking back across your growth, what is one profound lesson about stage presence and audience connection that only performing on international stages could teach you?
Junior: At first, I was worried about the language barrier. But playing on international stages showed me that music has no language. We just go up there, put our hearts into it, and enjoy ourselves. When I see the fans smiling and having a great time with us, that means we did a great job. Our only goal is to share our joy.
Jet: One thing I’ve learned across our past Asia tour is that music really doesn’t need a language to connect people. When we perform in front of those who might not even understand our lyrics, but still sing, dance along, and enjoy the moment with us. All this reminds me that sometimes it’s not about how perfectly you perform, it’s more about how you make people feel at that moment and thus, that’s something I’ve come to appreciate more as an artist.
Poom: I think it’s really amazing that people from the other side of the world know us, listen to our music, and even try to sing along in a language they don’t speak. It really means a lot to me. For me, it’s never been about the numbers. Even if there are just a few people out there who love our music, I’m already so happy and thankful for every single one of them. It reminds me how special it is to connect with people through music, no matter where they’re from.
Nice: I think getting to meet our international fans more often has really surprised me, especially when I hear them singing along to our songs. It reminds me of how I can sing along to some Japanese songs that I really love, even though I don’t fully understand the language. So when I see our fans singing our songs, it makes me realize how much they must genuinely love our music. And most importantly, I’ve learned that music has no language barrier. When we’re performing, we can actually share our feelings and emotions with the audience, even if we don’t speak the same language. And honestly, being able to connect with people through our music like that makes me really happy.
Erwin: I think one of the things we got right as a group from the very beginning was our vision of making our music universal. We’ve always tried to create music that can convey emotions and feelings to the audience from the very first listen, even if they don’t necessarily understand the meaning behind the lyrics. Even in the way we sing, we’ve been putting more emotion and attitude into our performances, allowing people to truly feel what we’re trying to express. But I also believe that another important part of connecting with people is understanding the different cultures of each country. This is something we constantly have to learn and prepare for whenever we travel somewhere new. Sometimes, it’s the smallest details that make the biggest difference. When we take the time to understand and appreciate the local culture, we can naturally and beautifully incorporate those elements into our performances on stage. So, beyond just our music, I believe that being open to one another, embracing our differences, and learning from each other is what allows us and our audience to build a deeper connection and truly understand one another.
Tad: I think one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that performing isn’t just about what you give to the audience, but also what you receive from them. I used to focus a lot on getting every detail right, but performing internationally has taught me to be more present and spontaneous on stage. Every audience brings a different energy, and I think learning to embrace that is what makes every performance special.
If you were to take a piece from a completely different musical realm—such as classical opera, vintage jazz, or heavy metal—and completely re-imagine it into a high-energy ATLAS performance track, which piece would you choose, and what element of your own sound would redefine it?
Junior: I’d choose a heavy rock track because it matches our fun energy on stage. I think rock is a genre ATLAS could make really cool and fun, and it’s something you don’t often see from a T-POP boy band.
Jet: I’d love to try something from The Carpenters, maybe a song like “Yesterday Once More” or “Top of the World.” I’ve always liked how their music feels so simple and timeless, yet there’s so much emotion in it. I think it would be interesting to take that soft, warming sound and turn it into something more energetic with ATLAS’s style, adding modern beats, harmonies, and choreography while still keeping the original charm of the song. I really love the idea of bringing something from a completely different generation into another piece of art.
Poom: If I had the choice, I’d love to reimagine Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” by blending Dark Jazz with Modern Pop and Hip-Hop. I feel like this style would suit us perfectly while still preserving the essence of Amy Winehouse. I can picture us wearing oversized suits and performing a routine to this track with Nice from ATLAS as the choreographer (I’m certain he’d come up with something truly brilliant). Since “Back to Black” is already so well-known, I think our own unique interpretation would make for a performance that’s fresh, accessible, and incredibly fun.
Nice: I think I’d choose Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. I’ve always loved how unique their music is, and this song has so many different styles and emotions in it. If I could turn it into an ATLAS performance, I’d probably add some hip-hop, electronic beats, and maybe a really powerful dance break. I think what makes ATLAS special is that we all have different styles and personalities, so it’d be really interesting to see how we could bring all of that into one song. It would definitely be challenging, but I think it could turn into something really cool and unexpected.
Erwin: Personally, I think I’d go with heavy metal. I’ve actually been inspired by bands like Bring Me the Horizon, especially how they’ve managed to blend pop and heavy metal so seamlessly in some of their albums. I think that combination is really interesting. If I were to create something like that, I’d probably start with a T-pop-inspired groove in the verses, then bring in more pop elements during the pre-chorus to build up the energy, before going all out with heavy metal in the chorus. But one thing I definitely wouldn’t leave out is that aggressive guitar sound. I’d want those heavy, down-tuned guitar riffs, with lots of pick attack and a really tight, punchy low end, to keep coming back throughout the entire song. I think that contrast between the catchy T-pop melodies and the raw energy of heavy metal could create something really exciting and unique.
Tad: I’d love to take a classic jazz piece like “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman and turn it into a modern ATLAS performance. We could keep the iconic brass and drum elements while adding hip-hop beats, a funky bassline, and powerful choreography. I can imagine us starting with a vintage jazz-club atmosphere before switching into an energetic dance performance. I think that contrast would be really fun to explore.
Elisa Cutullè
Photo: ATLAS (c) MILQP NATTHAPORN