THE TAKE 5 SERIES
In an age when electronic dance music dominates the radio, CloudNone is an inspiring reminder of the genre’s humble beginnings. And, despite the name implying the opposite of “cloud nine,” CloudNone has mastered the capacity to create uplifting tunes that swiftly whisk listeners to another dimension.
But everyone is curious about who is behind all these passionate songs. In this week’s Flashback, we will unearth whatever we can about CloudNone, so get comfortable!
The enigmatic electronic act CloudNone possesses a distinct and dreamy, modern, and timeless sound. CloudNone’s already sizable fan base has risen significantly thanks to his signing with EDM powerhouse Monstercat. The masked crusader made his career debut in 2018 with his single “From Here,” which appeared on Monstercat’s joint album with video gaming staple Rocket League. After unleashing a constant onslaught of ethereal soundscapes since his debut, CloudNone has been a Monstercat mainstay, and he recently released his two-track EP, Elixir/Nectar, in June 2022.
CloudNone’s atmospheric recordings are brimming with hazy vocals, whimsical rhythms, and melancholy melodies. The name “CloudNone” began as escapism, with writing serving as an outlet over a few weeks of depression. The writing process helped him get out of it, and he’s been doing better. His releases have quickly accumulated millions of plays, garnering support from Tiesto, Illenium, and Mr. Suicide Sheep.
CloudNone has already taken the stage and performed at iconic venues such as Red Rocks in Colorado and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, further legitimizing CloudNone as an influencer on the larger electronic music scene and emphasizing that for CloudNone, the sky is the limit.
To know more about CloudNone, including the song that makes him emotional, read the full Take-5 Interview below:
Q: Before we dig in, what's next for you?
I can’t say precisely what’s next, but I’m shifting my emphasis towards making music better suited for live environments.
Q: What does music mean to you?
Music is one of life’s greatest forms of escapism. I’m grateful to be on the creative side of music, but once I create anything, it often becomes the soundtrack to my next few months.
Q: Is there a song that makes you emotional?
My song ‘From Here’ always has a grounding effect on me, regardless of my mood.
Q: What makes a track a hit?
I think fundamentally; a “hit” is anything that hits or makes an impact on a broad group of listeners. I like making music that deeply hits me first, and then I believe those songs will attract people similar to me. I’m currently exploring the idea of broadening the number of people whom my music has the potential to hit and make an impact.
Q: Which musical era would you visit if you could travel back in time?
I love the era of cassettes and dirtier audio quality. However, I strongly feel that once the technology became so accessible, we began sterilizing music to ” make it better.” Still, we lost some of our feelings along the way. I constantly have to remind myself that the engineers and producers who created my favorite childhood records didn’t have access to all the tools I do, so I try to force myself to keep things more on the simple side in an homage to that era.
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Q: Who was your role model while growing up?
I didn’t have a specific role model, but I was emulating my favorite bands and producers as early as I could remember. I wanted to wear my clothes like them or even try making beats as they did as soon as I had access to that sort of kit.
Q: What makes you feel unstoppable?
The simple notion of being able to create anything makes me feel unstoppable.
Q: What would be on the gag reel of your life?
I was in San Francisco, playing at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium with Illenium last year, and there were probably 6000 people in the crowd when I went on. In the 2nd song, I was vibing, and after 20 seconds, I noticed nobody else was. So I pulled my in-ear monitors out to find out that no music was going out to the crowd. The opening DJ turned on the crossfader, which is not common among dance music DJs. I’m running an extensive check on the mixer and only DJing with one in-ear monitor in my ear these days.
Q: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
Definitely only two. I’m biting into that thing asap.
Q: Would you travel to space?
I think a Mars colony would be fascinating, but I wouldn’t be ready to leave life on Earth behind so quickly. Maybe in a few hundred years, but for now, I like it here on Earth.
