Exclusive Interview with CLOUD RAY

The summer hit “Burn It Down” is perfect for music at the beach, backyard gatherings, and barbecues! The simple yet catchy melodies of the lyrics, which seamlessly blend with the production, give the song a feeling of dancing. The artist’s previous release, “Urban City Elegance,” received over 1,000,000 streams on all digital streaming platforms, and with “Burn It Down,” he is predicted to significantly surpass those numbers. 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 RAY: Hi Illustrate Magazine, I am a New Jersey native and I started my musical journey as Cloud Ray in 2021. I set my intention to redefine the industry-built walls of genres with the music I was creating. The first song I created, “Can’t Blame U,” contained EDM influences with the punchy cadence of Hip-Hop through the Rap verses. After seeing a great reception of the music online and through live performances, I knew I am aligned with my life purpose.

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

CLOUD RAY: As a vocalist, I have been and continue to be heavily trained by my phenomenal Artist Development Coach, Natalie Kaye Robertson. Through Natalie, I have developed the vocal stamina and ability to power through stanzas of music as well as fill stages with a superstar presence. Through tireless dedication and work, I can confidently say this about myself. On the production side, I attended Itec Audio in Clifton, NJ, where my mentor, Wilkis Figuereo, educated me on the importance of understanding everything from music technology to sound design and the business side of the music industry. I was highly motivated to attend Itec Audio because I wanted to be an artist aware of my surroundings in the industry and know how to communicate what I want in any musical environment.

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

CLOUD RAY: My first and most vital musical inspirations derive from my childhood listening to artists like Kanye West, The Black Eyed Peas, Nicki Minaj, and J. Cole. The musical adventure that these artists embarked on inspired me to understand who I am and what I can contribute to the world through music. Cloud Ray, the name, came about because I wanted a moniker for myself that represented a push and pull on everything I do. Combining Hip Hop with Pop, meshing meaningful lyrics with uptempo music, and allowing masculine and feminine energy to co-exist simultaneously within the music are some examples of how things that naturally are in their own lanes can come together and still work. This is what Cloud Ray represents. I am also a Libra, so the scales are something I balance in my daily life.

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 RAY: Some of the ‘key elements’ in my music that should resonate with listeners are the depth of my lyrics and the feeling of the music. I’m always pulling from either personal experiences or the experiences of those around me. I hope that through the lyrics to my songs, people can find unity, comfort, or even closure. In all my productions, I fine-tune specific frequencies to give listeners a subconscious reaction to what they hear. I would personally describe my sound as a balance of genres that generally don’t find a balance with each other. Somehow, I can combine two worlds in a way that works and still delivers an experience.

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

CLOUD RAY: One of the successful milestones in my music career that has taken place is with my first EP, “Urban City Elegance.” It took me less than a year to accomplish over one million streams across different streaming platforms on that project. Multiple noteworthy publications, such as PopHits.co, TJPL News, Plastic Magazine, and Indie Music Flix have left raving reviews on my music, and I am very excited about being featured in Illustrate Magazine! “Burn It Down,” with already twenty-five thousand streams, is on its way to becoming another staple in the growing list of my successes. With this foresight, I cannot wait to share what is coming from my catalog next! For the latest updates and most exclusive content, please visit and subscribe to my website, www.cloudraymusic.com.

6. 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 RAY:

Whether artists say it or not, subconsciously, we are all influenced by the artists we enjoy listening to. I prefer to look at the artists I listen to as regular people who have presented their interpolation of who THEY were influenced by. Because I have this perspective, I seek to travel a road less walked down and format my music in a way that is isolated from the music I listen to. I constantly challenge myself to create something that does not feel influenced by another artist, but at the same time, I like to pay homage to the pioneers who opened doors that make it possible to do what I do. My desire to blend different genres of music stems heavily from my personal experiences of listening to other genres. Many times, I felt consoled or unified with people based on what I was listening to. These experiences led me to want to package it all together for my listeners instead of being exclusive to one genre. My artistry is a growing tree. I have taken the time to find suitable soil (a solid team) to give me the nutrients (the assistance with my career) that my roots (the foundation I built) need to grow strong and tall. Working with an artist development coach is crucial to building what is required for me or any artist to succeed in this industry. I advise all artists looking to pursue their careers seriously to invest their time into artist development.

7. Could you describe your creative processes? How do you 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 RAY: My creative process always starts with a melody. I then produce the melody with my voice in Logic Pro or with virtual instruments. After doing this, I layer on other elements that feel delicately balanced with the original idea. Once I feel satisfied with all my layers, I start arranging the layers into sections of the song, such as the Intro, Verse, Chorus, etc. There often are times when my music needs another ear to it, so I reach out to my team and allow them to offer their input.

8. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try to 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 RAY: That’s a great question! I truly feel that music is a catalyst for creating, changing, and driving social topics or ideas. Music is so influential in many ways, and at one point or another, we have all had a song stuck in our heads. Being that I know this, I create music that will get stuck in your head, but it’s something that you can celebrate or cry about. My mission is to evoke emotional release and strengthen the narrative that it is okay to be in touch with your emotional side; I want to break down the stigma around men having to be tough all the time through my vulnerability. While I love entertaining with my music, the great thing about being Cloud Ray is that listeners can also find an emotional release in my artwork.

9. 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 RAY: I am in the earliest stage of my artistic career, but I am so blessed to see the fruits of my labor already. People approached me after shows to express how much they loved the songs and how those songs even spoke to their personal situations. This is the most fulfilling aspect of my career so far. I look forward to connecting with more people and eventually hearing stories of how my music played a part in their lives.

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

CLOUD RAY: In both my life and music career, the most difficult thing I’ve had to endure is my mom passing away. She passed at the end of June 2022, and learning how to navigate situations without her has been scary and difficult. My mom was the biggest supporter of my music and all the opportunities involved with my music. More often than not, without her here, I find myself unsure of things and hesitant. Outside of being my biggest supporter, she was a voice of reason in my life, and now I am trying to find that within myself.