Interview with Cloud Control

Despite preparing for their tour as support of The Drums, Cloud Control's bassist Jeremy Kelshaw took the time to answer our Soundcheck questions. We found out what kind of music inspires him, how the band develops their songs and what we can expect of Cloud Control in the future.

Foto: Copyright: Eva Vermandel 2010
© Eva Vermandel 2010
Note: © myFanbase 2011 - The interview is exclusive to myFanbase and may not be published on other websites or the like. You may share the first 2 questions or up to 160 characters if you link back to this site. Translations other than English and German may be posted with full credit including the writer's name and link to this site.

1. How would you describe your music in one sentence?

Like a post-apocalyptic rain dance in Middle Earth.

2. Was there something like a light bulb moment when you were young, maybe a concert, a certain song or a record that made you dream about a career as a musician?

Whenever I listened to music I liked when I was young, I got goose bumps and wanted to make music myself. My first festival included Bush, Varuca Salt, Grinspoon (Aus) and The Blood Hound Gang. I got the bug early and couldn't get rid of it.

3. Are there any artists that might have influenced you or inspired you some time?

But of course there are! Off the top of my head, but most definitely not limited to: Portishead, Broken Social Scene, Simon & Garfunkel, Rage Against The Machine, Spoon, Belle and Sebastian, Air.

4. How do you develop your songs? What part comes first, music or lyrics?

It changes from song to song. Could be a demo written by Al, could be a riff Ulrich and I develop, could be some chords and a melody Heidi comes up with. Al does the Lion's share but we all chip in.

5. What song is most important to you? Why and how did it develop?

"There's Nothing In The Water" holds a special place, cause it's bass heavy and is a riff I was involved in writing. It is the last song we wrote for the album too and was finished under a lot of pressure. It's nice when you can create something beautiful under pressure.

6. In what aspects did your music change compared to when you started to make music?

I think we respect and aim for 'space' a lot more than when we started. We try and play less, that sounds weird I know, but often you can say a lot more by not playing than playing, at certain times. We try and add parts that add to the song as a whole.

7. What has been the best experience so far, together as a band?

It's hard to say. Moving to London to put our album out in the UK has been the biggest life-changing thing we have done. It is a huge thing for any band to get to a point where what they are doing is important enough to demand everyone's time, full time.

8. What can you tell us about your current projects?

Well, we have started writing our second album, just... We have a couple of songs that are quite different to our first album as well as from each other. We are all excited to see what direction our sound will take.

9. And what are you aspiring to in the future, what do you want to achieve?

I don't want to be the biggest band in the world; that can turn people into monsters and can stop you enjoying what you do. I want to make music that I love, that other people love and that constantly challenges me. This is a lot to ask, but you have to aspire to something that could be out of reach.

10. With whom would you like to go on tour?

I'd love to play with Spoon, Belle and Sebastian, great melody bands like that. Or bands like Tamaryn who have such an amazing sound, or bands like Grinderman or The Drones who are much more in your face and aggressive.

11. What record would we find in your CD-player right now?

Clams Casino's EP ["Rainforest", editor's note]

12. What do you think, as artists, about platforms like Facebook, Twitter and mySpace?

It's an interesting time where artists can talk direct to their fans and vice versa. I think this is a great thing and I had hoped it might quash society's immense interest in fame by re-humanizing artists. But it's kind of done the opposite, as now everything is so instantaneous, including one's ability to become famous that talent counts for less than one's style or brand. OK, I'm a little off topic I'll admit, but I just watched Matt Damin talk about how fame is now the end goal for a lot of 'artists' rather than honing one's craft. I couldn't agree more.

13. myFanbase is a website that is devoted to American television shows. Do you have a favorite show?

"Breaking Bad" – so INTENSE!

Maria Gruber - myFanbase