James Atlas has a hit-making ability for crafting songs that are like a conversation with a friend you haven't seen in years, and his latest single, "Purpose," might be giving us the pep talk we didn't know we needed. "Purpose" is intimate and wide open, personal and universal. It draws you into a moment of reflection without ever being moralistic. It's the song you can sing alone in the car with the windows wide open or listen to on repeat through your headphones on a miserable day. With "Purpose," he lets us know that even when we are feeling beaten down, it is possible to get back to what sent us in the first place. And when we do, there's light on the other side.
"Purpose" is Atlas pulling himself up by the heartstrings and noting that even in the darkest stretches, there's a way back to meaning. And he makes that journey not just possible but beautiful. Atlas balances vulnerability and optimism with the skill of a veteran storyteller. His lyrics convey a tranquil sense of resolve, a soft-spoken emotional punch encased in luminous melodies and cinematic textures. You can hear in his voice that growth, the kind of strength that isn't a side effect of shying away from struggle but of walking through it and deciding to keep walking.
"Purpose" breezes in like a sunshiny day: warm, laid-back, and bursting with vitality. The production here has a breathy, rootsy feel, like golden-hour guitars, grooving drums, and the intuitive throb of a live band locked onto one another. It's slight-footed but soulful. But be ye not deceived; beneath that relaxed surface lurks something darker and more resonant. James Atlas hasn't just written a lifeline in the guise of an anthem. If you want something that makes you happy while keeping it real, "Purpose" does it loudly and clearly.
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