Get to know the producer/vocalist known as cloudhighcomeup in an in-depth Q&A.
With the Leeds weather brandishing a chilly 45 degree cloudy forecast, 23 year old cloudhighcomeup dons black jeans and a thick hoodie. He grabs his camera and heads out his front door. As he gets in his car and starts driving, the bustling city reflects back in his rear view mirror. To find lyrical inspiration, cloudhighcomeup prefers the nature-rich outskirts of the otherwise teeming city of Leeds.
UU: Who are you?
I’m a 23 year old vocalist / producer / guitarist from West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. I started learning how to make music about a year ago.
What inspired you to get into making music?
Curiosity more than anything. I don’t really have a musical background, so I always thought that you’d need access to an insane studio and that making music wasn’t realistic, but I got into the underground about 18 months ago and after listening to artists who were just making music in their bedroom, I couldn’t really see any reason why wouldn’t be able to do the same. 1 year later, I’m pretty sure I’ve learned more than anything in my entire life and it’s become a really important outlet for me. I’m so socially awkward and terrible at speaking to people, so to be able to say what I’m feeling in such an effective way is pretty dope.
What did you listen to growing up? How are those sounds incorporated into your own work?
Growing up, I had an uncountable amount of music phases, which ranged from drum and bass to alt rock to post hardcore to spoken word to only listening to Lil Wayne for like 6 months straight. I don’t think I really listened to anything similar to this genre when I was younger and I probably only started listening to sad music in general when I was about 18. I’d say that my style mostly takes influence from the underground music that I listen to.
What is the music scene like in Leeds? Do you think it affects your sound?
For the type of music I’m into, it’s pretty dead out here. There are some pretty cool local Indie bands and that’s about it. 99% of the artists that I listen to are not local to me or even from the same country as me, so I’m pretty positive that where I’m located now doesn’t have too much of an affect my sound.
Although your discography is limited as of now, what is your favorite track that you’ve worked on thus far?
As I’ve been making music for a reasonable short period of time, I still feel like my newest track is always my best track, as I’m learning something new each time. So, I’d say my latest release “I Get Nervous’’ would be my favourite.
If you could work with any artist of your choice, what would your dream collaboration be?
nothing,nowhere. or Yvette Young.
What’s your writing process like?
Usually I’ll just chill out while playing my guitar until I come up with a riff that I really like, produce the track start to finish and then start to write the lyrics. Then I’ll scrap like 10 songs until I’m happy with one. Out of everything, writing lyrics will always take the longest, like a never ending writer’s block, but it’s always worth it.
Who are some of your contemporaries that you look up to?
There are a catalog of underground artists that I look up to. One that definitely deserves a mention is thebreathingbackwards. I’ve listened to that dude for so long and making music with him has been one of the biggest highlights of this journey so far.
Who’s underrated right now?
Plxntkid and Orion Lake for sure, they both make crazy music.
Do you have a preference when it comes to self-producing vs. working with a producer?
My favourite part about making tracks is the production, as I feel like I’m learning something new with every track that I produce and I’m constantly hungry to learn more, so I prefer working alone rather than with producers right now, although I do like working with producers too, especially if they have more experience than me.
Where does the alias “cloudhighcomeup” originate?
I really wish that it had a cool, inspirational meaning behind it, but I just needed a name so that my friends wouldn’t find my music.
Should we be expecting any cohesive solo projects in the near future?
I definitely would like to make an album once I’m happier with the quality of my music, but that will probably be next year. In the meantime, I will most likely release a handful of EP’s.
Any parting words for our readers?
Just thank you to anyone who listens to my music and to the people who reach out to me. I find it hard to explain exactly how grateful I am. I can’t wait to see where this project takes me and this is only the beginning.
With a powerful voice all his own and adept production skills, cloudhighcomeup is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. The British prodigy has all the tools needed for success, and with no sign of slowing his consistent stream of releases, we can wait with baited breath for a full length project.
Stream cloudhighcomeup’s most recent single “I Get Nervous” below.