Exclusive Interview with CLOUD KLAUS

London-born producer, songwriter, and artist Cloud Klaus is characterized as being versatile in his work across genres. As one half of the musical duo PINK MYLK and a producer/writer for numerous artists, Cloud Klaus never fails to dazzle. Check out the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

CLOUD KLAUS: Well I was born and raised in East London and have always been surrounded by music. My dad and uncle collected records and my mum played clarinet so my interest in music started from young. I originally wanted to make music for video games because I really enjoyed the creativity in the songs from the games I played and a few friends have told me they can hear it in my sound.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

CLOUD KLAUS: A bit of both. I did clarinet lessons as my mum played and I took bass lessons when I was a teenager however that was only because it was a requirement for my studies. I taught myself bass first and therefore picked up some bad habits. I taught myself piano by learning final fantasy songs and obsessively practiced till I could play them.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘CLOUD KLAUS?

CLOUD KLAUS: First big musical influence was probably Stevie Wonder as I really liked the musicality and colour of his sound. My main influence is The Neptunes and N*E*R*D because those bridges are insane and the attention to detail really gives me butterflies. The name came from the fact I have family in Germany and have been there many times and I love the country and I wanted something that could roll off the tongue and felt fluid to say. It was originally A Cloud Called Klaus but I shortened it to simplify it.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

CLOUD KLAUS: I would personally describe my sound as a feeling more than anything else. I have always had trouble sticking to a single genre because I want to make it all! I like to call myself “Genre Fluid” for that reason. Also music is just an expression of feeling so I want you to be able to feel what I felt when writing songs when you listen to them and thats not just from the lyrics either. Sure the lyrics contain feeling but so does the instrumentation and thats what I really strive for.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as POP?

CLOUD KLAUS: To be honest, I only categorize my style as pop because it is the widest genre I can think of so I have a bit of freedom to work within it. As I said before, I wanted to make video game music so a lot of my early songs, even the pop ones, sounded a lot like video game music. I was never even that comfortable singing on my songs until my manager heard me sing and scolded me for never doing so because I have a nice voice. So my development has come from me expanding myself and getting over that feeling of self doubt that we all have, through the encouragement of others.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

CLOUD KLAUS: Oh mate, music does not exist if it weren’t for cultural, political, spiritual and social movements so it is so important. Yes those other aspects are important but I see them more as the icing on the cake instead of the cake itself. I am a big anarchist and believe in tearing down our current system and rebuilding for the people and what better way to spread that message than through music. Especially when its in peoples faces and they just can’t ignore it.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

CLOUD KLAUS: I love my songs. I love creating. I listen to my stuff all the time and not just to critique it but because I genuinely enjoy it. That is the most important part to me. I need to want to listen to stuff I create as much as I want to listen to my favourite songs from other people. Being able to do this as a job, that’s just a bonus that will allow me to create forever.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

CLOUD KLAUS: Most of the time I start writing something because something has gotten on my nerves or I’ve felt something strong. From then I usually create a loop and then build multiple elements onto the loop. If you ever see me do this you’ll be thinking, there’s too much going on, but thats because I hear each section as separate parts of the loop and then I just cut and add when arranging till I have a full song. Sometimes a song will appear from just a single lyric and then I’ll write from there. Sometimes I’ve even woken up out of my sleep with a cool lyric in my head and I’ve had to get up, sketch it out on my computer and go back to sleep.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

CLOUD KLAUS: I would say navigating the people aspect of it all. I have Autism and ADHD so talking to people can be so difficult and tiring. This is what I’m extremely thankful for having my manager (Love you Susz!), to do most of that and also the patience she has with me when it comes to always bugging her for help with the personal aspect of things. I have also gone the majority of my life without knowing I was neurodivergent so I was always trying to force myself to exist in a box that was not the correct shape for me.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

CLOUD KLAUS: I would say writing an album in a month. Whilst packing to leave my flat because I got laid off from my job. It was really encouraging each time I finished a song and sent it to my manager and she’d call me 10 mins later asking where have I been hiding all this talent haha. I am very critical of myself so I do find it hard to feel proud of myself, but I am trying to allow myself to have victories as they come.