With soaring melodies and impressive instrumentation, the Brisbane-based progressive-rock quartet delves into the transformative coexistence of trauma therapy and hallucinogens, all while staying true to their progressive roots.
Released to the world on March 30, The Atomic Beau Project’s latest single IN THE STORM is one of those rare tracks that takes its listeners on a sonic journey through the depths of trauma and mental health struggles. In the week following the release of their latest track, we sat down to chat with vocalist Emma Beau and guitarist Andy James about the impact of IN THE STORM.
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“We’ve been getting some really nice feedback, which is really cool to see because when we release our music,” says Andy. “We do everything in-house; we write, we record, we produce it all ourselves. When we release it, no one’s actually listened to it other than us. So it’s nice to get good feedback this past week.”
Front-woman Emma Beau draws on her experience as a mental health ambassador within her poignant lyrics that will resonate with listeners long after the song has ended. “When I write these songs, I kind of use like monsters or ghosts,” says Beau, “these metaphors for anxiety, depression, different things that I’ve experienced. We both work in mental health, Andy is a psychologist and I’m a counsellor.
“Mostly, it was about the research we were doing and our experiences. Why not write a song about these experiences that that people have had and put it all together into something?”
“We get we work in mental health and psilocybin benefits have been around for a while, but it’s only recently that we’re catching on to it and medicine,” continues Andy. “It actually got approved for use in … I think it’s June or July of this year, so you can actually start using it therapeutically.”
Recorded in-house by guitarist Andy James and mastered by Lance Prenc, IN THE STORM showcases The Atomic Beau Project’s fresh and multi-influenced take on modern rock.
“It’s a bit different to say – your normal screamer metal song. We both were classical musicians before we got into metal,” says Beau.
“Andy went to the Queensland Con for drums and I’m a violinist – in my other life. Singing was kind of a secondary thing. That’s how all those darker melody lines and the things that we make up are not what people sometimes think they’re going to expect from a metal song. I guess that’s because we have so many different influences, like folk music, classical music – there’s all sorts of things going in there.”
With the band’s previous work having earned them high praise – including a commendation at the Queensland Music Awards for their album Cellar Door in 2021 and a nomination in the heavy category for their single GHOSTS in 2023 – The Atomic Beau Project have heaps of exciting things on the horizon.
“We’re doing a festival on the Sunshine Coast called Nurture Festival. It’s actually a mental health kind of based festival. Then we’re supporting a Melbourne band called Ghostseeker, they’re coming up to Brisbane next month. So we’re looking forward to that, too.
“We’re very fortunate because everything we do is in-house – we produce and we mix at home. So we’re just going to be releasing tracks.”
Originally written on the harp by Beau, IN THE STORM blends metal, indie pop, and electronica, drawing inspiration from sci-fi, horror, and fiction. “I want you to get out of it what you want. I want everyone to be able to put their own experience into the song and see what it means for them,” says Beau.
“I think that’s very anti-pop,” says Andy.
The single is available to stream now, and it’s definitely worth a listen for fans of progressive rock and anyone who appreciates honest and emotionally resonant music.
Check out IN THE STORM by heading here.
