We had the good fortune of connecting with Sasha Atlas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sasha, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I have found that slowing down and taking my time has been the best thing for my long term success. Today there’s so much pressure to “go, go, go” all the time. I used to feel a lot of guilt when taking downtime or slowing down. I constantly felt like I was not productive enough if I didn’t get every single thing on my to-do list done. It took a lot of growth to realize that I was overburdening myself and setting unrealistic expectations for what I could accomplish on a daily basis. I’d try to do it all and inevitably burn out, and feel even worse. My moves now are slower, but considerably more deliberate. And by putting fewer things on the docket, I actually do manage to get through all of them every day, which leads to huge progress over time.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Growing up in Brooklyn as a first generation American, I was always caught between two rivaling ideologies on how to build a life. On the one hand, an fixation on hard work, sensibility, and security, bound by a memory of hardship and strife brought overseas by my immigrant family. On the other, the American dream they left that life to chase. The balancing act between my creative aspirations and scarcity mentality meant I was plagued with mixed signals my whole life. I was encouraged to pursue music and art on the highest level, but not if I didn’t also get an A in AP Calculus. I could double major in theatre at NYU if I maintained a 3.9 GPA in my pre-law degree. When I went to work as a bond trader on Wall Street, everyone was undoubtedly proud of me, but there was never a dinner party when I wasn’t asked about why I de-prioritized music and songwriting, and other bittersweet remarks about my sidelined talents. Which is why it was so surprising, when my company was sold and my entire floor was laid off, that my family breathed a sigh of eager relief and exclaimed “finally you can focus on music again!”

Starting a music career in my mid twenties was not easy, but my life and mindset until that point had prepared me for the ups and downs of this industry in a way I probably wouldn’t survive without. My experience in business and finance hustle culture instilled a work ethic that drives me at lows and accelerates momentum at highs, and my cynical, post-immigration mentality keeps me from getting complacent. The music industry is brutal and full of rejection, the wins are short lived, and nothing pays, but when it’s good, it’s the best feeling on Earth. I went in without knowing anyone and fight every day to prove I belong in this business; over time, all that effort and experience adds up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As cliche as it is, I always start in South Beach. I think that the beach is iconic and gets a bad rap. I love taking people to Yuca 105; Ceviche 105’s classier sister. For cocktails nothing beats Sweet Liberty, except maybe Swizzle, if you’re feeling introverted. As far as music and shows go, the North Miami Beach Bandshell is a criminally underrated venue; I saw Lettuce totally rock out there before Jam Cruise. But nothing beats Factory Town- skip Space, especially if you really want to rave. It’s by far the best venue in the country (sorry Brooklyn Mirage); some of the best nights of my life have been spent dancing under the stars at Factory Town, including the night that started this whole dance music journey for me, where I saw someone singing and DJing for the first time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shout out my parents, who have been my biggest fans and supporters. I’ve taken on a lot of risk in leaving behind my old corporate life to chase my dream of being a successful artist and creative entrepreneur, and they have been behind me 150% on every step of the journey. I am very lucky to have a family that values not only hard work and dedication, but also creativity, the arts, and the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment.

Website: https://www.sashaatlas.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlassasha

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sasha_atlas

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@atlassasha

Image Credits
Sam Rayward
Grant Pilarz
Fred Maker

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