Exclusive: Listen to Tim Atlas’ Openhearted New Single, “Crime of Passion”

Oakland-born, Los Angeles-based indie-pop artist Tim Atlas releases his latest EP Together Lonely, tomorrow, Nov. 8, but you can hear a new song from the seven-track collection right now, premiering here at Paste: “Crime of Passion,” a slick and synthy serenade that the artist calls “a song of assurance.”

Self-produced and penned by Atlas alongside Grant Averill, “Crime of Passion” fades in with a swirl of stuttering synths, layered vocalizations and propulsive drum machine beat. Atlas adds syrupy vocals, abandoning insecurity as he swears, “Worries melt like chocolate / in my hand for you / And you should know by now / that I don’t do this often / but I know that I can for you,” placing his beloved on a pedestal in irresistibly catchy fashion. The up-and-coming Atlas has been compared to neo-soul acts like Rex Orange County and Toro y Moi—it’s easy to see why.

“This one is a song of assurance,” Atlas tells Paste. “From a relationship standpoint, I’ve thrown away all the doubts and inhibitions that may have existed in the past. This confidence I have in this specific relationship isn’t something I’d normally possess, but a crime of passion is the notion that I’d do whatever it took to be in that person’s life.”

Atlas will tour the U.S. in support of Goldroom in the coming weeks, starting with a hometown show at L.A.’s El Rey Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 9, and comprising shows on both coasts. He’s adding U.K./Europe dates in early 2020, as well, so if you miss Atlas this month, you’ll soon get another shot.

Watch the “Crime of Passion” visualizer below and find Atlas’ tour dates further down.

Tim Atlas Tour Dates:

November
07 – Santa Barbara, Calif. @ Soho Music Club (w/ Goldroom)
08 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Mezzanine (w/ Goldroom)
09 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ El Rey Theatre (w/ Goldroom)
13 – Washington, D.C. @ Union Stage (w/ Goldroom)
14 – Cambridge, Mass. @ Sonia’s (w/ Goldroom)
16 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Elsewhere: Hall (w/ Goldroom)