Interviews: CLOUDY SKIES
1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it, or came out just like that?
The name Cløudy Skies is partly a nod to Ugly Kid Joe, one of the bands that had a huge impact on us when we were younger. They were among the artists who sparked our passion for music and made us want to pick up guitars and start creating our own songs.
Beyond that, we were drawn to the imagery itself. There is something beautiful, poetic, and slightly melancholic about cloudy skies. The sky is constantly changing and never looks the same twice. A clear blue sky can be beautiful, but clouds bring depth, movement, contrast, and emotion. They can completely transform a landscape and create a mood in an instant.
In many ways, the name reflects what we try to express through our music. Clouds can be peaceful or threatening, bright or dark, comforting or unsettling. We are drawn to that same contrast when writing songs, always searching for the balance between beauty, emotion, and intensity.
As for the "Ø", it was simply a way to solve a trademark issue with another band using a similar name. We liked the name too much to let it go, so we replaced the "o" with an "Ø" and carried on.
2. Why did you want to play this genre?
We never really decided to play a specific genre. It was more of a natural evolution.
Before Cløudy Skies, we played in several different projects, and with each new experience we found ourselves exploring further and pushing our musical boundaries. As teenagers, we were mainly looking for energy, catchy riffs and immediate impact. As musicians, and maybe simply as people getting older (laughs), our expectations gradually changed.
Today, what interests us most is emotion. We are constantly searching for those special moments in a song that can give you goosebumps, make you drift away for a few minutes, or stay with you long after the music has stopped. Those are the moments that make you want to press play again and again.
Lio and I have always been drawn to long songs and immersive musical journeys. We love when a song has room to breathe, evolve, and take unexpected directions. With Cløudy Skies, we wanted to give more space to atmosphere, dynamics and emotion, letting the music tell the story as much as the vocals.
This approach also fits perfectly with the cinematic and dreamlike nature of my lyrics. Most of my texts are built around images, emotions, and inner landscapes rather than straightforward storytelling. Music gives those visions room to grow, allowing the listener to drift between reality, memories, and imagination.
In the end, it is less about playing a genre and more about creating a feeling. If a song can transport the listener somewhere else for a few minutes, then we have achieved what we were looking for.
3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?
Yes, we did. In fact, we've known each other since we were about 11 or 12 years old and even grew up on the same street.
We discovered music together, listened to the same bands (Queen, Nirvana, Black Sabbath, GnR…), learned our first riffs, and eventually started playing in different projects over the years.
Cløudy Skies is not the result of a random encounter, but rather the continuation of a friendship and a musical journey that began decades ago.
Having known each other for so long also makes the creative process very natural. We trust each other, understand each other's musical instincts, and often know where a song is heading without having to explain everything.
In many ways, Cløudy Skies is simply the latest chapter of a story that started in the same street when we were kids.
4. Each band member's favorite band?
We are not big fans of the "favorite band" question because none of us really has one. Music is an endless source of emotions, discoveries, and inspiration. Everything that moves us, transports us, challenges us, or even unsettles us somehow becomes part of who we are as musicians. Our influences go far beyond a simple list of favorite bands.
I would rather think about the bands or artists people would never expect to influence Cløudy Skies, as our inspirations extend far beyond the obvious post-metal, blackgaze or shoegaze references.
On a personal level, I would mention artists such as Neil Young, U2, Lana Del Rey, Tame Impala and The War On Drugs. Lio often cites Mark Lanegan, The Strokes, Biffy Clyro, Nev Cottee and Crosses.
At first glance, some of these names may seem far removed from what Cløudy Skies sounds like. Yet they all share something essential: the ability to create emotion, atmosphere and a sense of escape. Whether it's Neil Young's unique blend of beauty and fragility, The Edge's ability to create entire landscapes from just a few notes, Lana Del Rey's melancholic beauty, Mark Lanegan's haunting presence, or Crosses' dark atmospheres, they have all influenced the way we think about music.
More than genres, we are inspired by feelings. Everything that moves us, transports us, or shakes us in some way eventually finds its way into Cløudy Skies.
5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?
Most of the time, it starts with a sound. I spend a lot of time experimenting with guitars, delays, reverbs, and effect pedals. Sometimes I find a sound that immediately creates an atmosphere in my head, and from there everything becomes easier.
I'm also inspired by movies, dreams, books, nature, and travel. My lyrics are often cinematic and dreamlike, so I like when the music creates space for those images and emotions to exist. One of the most inspiring discoveries I've made in recent years was Lodge 49. I watched it while traveling to California, and its strange, dreamy atmosphere ended up finding its way into some of my lyrics.
What a trip!
I'm not someone who plays every day. It has to be the right moment. I usually build songs like scenes in a movie, creating different moods and then putting all the pieces together until they make sense.
Of course, the bands I listen to influence me as well. Sometimes consciously, sometimes not. Every great album leaves something behind. The latest Slowdive and Deafheaven records have had a strong impact on the way I approach songwriting, atmosphere, and dynamics.
I'm simply looking for those special moments that give you goosebumps and make you want to listen to a song again and again.
6. Where was your last gig?
Our last show was in 2024 in a small underground venue in the suburbs of Paris. It was also our first show with a drummer.
To be honest, it had snowed that day; we were still a relatively unknown band, and we probably played in front of ten people. But that's part of the underground scene, and we enjoyed every minute of it.
What I remember most is not the size of the audience, but the people we met. We shared the stage with “Colossus Of Destiny”, a great sludge/post-hardcore band and genuinely nice guys.
Live music is also about discovering new bands, meeting people, and sharing moments together.
Unfortunately, things didn't work out with the drummer in the long run. Sometimes it's not about musicianship but about vision, influences, and expectations. We eventually realized that we weren't looking in the same direction and decided to part ways.
We are currently looking for a drummer who genuinely connects with our musical identity and understands what Cløudy Skies is all about: emotion, atmosphere and intensity.
So, if you're reading this and think that sounds like you, don't hesitate to get in touch. We're pretty sure you're out there somewhere.
7. Where would you like to act?
Roadburn has always felt like much more than just a festival to me. I've been there twice and loved everything about it, from the atmosphere and the location to the incredible diversity of the lineup. It's a place where emotion, creativity, and artistic freedom matter more than labels or trends. You can find post-metal, doom, shoegaze, experimental music, and many other influences living side by side, which perfectly reflects how we approach music.
Cløudy Skies has never been about fitting into a specific genre. We are more interested in creating atmospheres, emotions, and immersive journeys. In that sense, Roadburn represents exactly the kind of audience and artistic spirit we connect with. Playing there one day would definitely be a dream come true for us.
8. Whom would you like to feature with?
Deafheaven, without a doubt.
Their music has been a major influence on Cløudy Skies. We love the way they blend intensity, emotion, and atmosphere into something unique.
And let's be honest... if Deafheaven called tomorrow, we'd probably answer before the phone stopped ringing. Kerry McCoy, if you're reading this... we're in! ��
9. Whom not?
Honestly, I don't know. Music is full of great surprises. Sometimes the artists you least expect end up creating something special together. As long as there is respect, passion, and a genuine desire to create, I'd rather keep an open mind than make a list of people I'd never work with.
10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?
When I was a kid, I played the piano, and every year there was this competition in Paris where you had to perform in front of three expert judges. A camera was focused on my hands, and the audience was sitting right behind me. It was incredibly stressful, and honestly, I hated it. My hands would shake, I would turn red like a tomato, and I couldn't wait for it to be over.
Later, when Lio and I started our first band with two friends, everything changed. We were all in the same situation, sharing the same excitement and the same fears. Being together on stage made a huge difference, and from that point on, I don't think I ever really suffered from stage fright again.
That said, I'm still not the guy who talks to the crowd. I'm neither a singer nor a natural speaker. I feel much more comfortable behind a guitar.
My advice would be simple: trust yourself, trust your bandmates, and dare to go for it, especially if you genuinely love what you do. Most people in the audience want you to succeed, not fail. Play every show as if it were your last, give it everything you have, and enjoy the moment. That's what people will remember.
11. What bands have inspired you the most?
The list is constantly evolving. I'm always discovering new bands, albums or even completely different genres that open new doors.
Some of the artists that have had the biggest impact on me are Cult of Luna, Swallow the Sun, Slowdive, Deafheaven, Holy Fawn, True Widow, Ulver, Wolves in the Throne Room, Grails, Deserta and Alice in Chains.
But what excites me the most is discovering something I wasn't expecting. Recently, for example, I stumbled upon an incredible ambient project called Bedroom and thought: "Wow, this is pure sonic escapism." That's one of the things I love about music. Just when you think you've heard everything, something new comes along and completely changes your perspective.
I love how music is connected through this huge spiderweb of bands, musicians, and side projects. You discover a side project, then another one, and suddenly you realize that everything is somehow linked. One discovery leads to another, and before you know it, you've spent the whole evening exploring music you had never heard before. I never get tired of that. The next morning at the office is usually a different story. (laughs).
More than genres, I'm inspired by artists who create worlds you can get lost in. That's probably what I try to achieve with Cløudy Skies.
12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?
Honestly, I don't think we've reached that level yet!
The way musicians connect with people has changed a lot. Most of the time, you don't really know who is listening to your music. Sometimes someone sends a message saying, "I really dig your sound," and we end up having a nice conversation. That's usually as far as it goes.
As for weird requests... nothing comes to mind. Maybe we're not famous enough yet! Ask me again after Roadburn! (Laughs)
13. What do you think of your fans?
Honestly, we don't really know them... they're incredibly quiet! (laughs)
I'd love to know who they are and how they ended up discovering Cløudy Skies. If they found us, they probably had to dig pretty deep because we're definitely not the kind of band that algorithms push to everyone. So if you're reading this, congratulations... you're officially a music detective.
That's one of the strange things about being a musician today. People can connect deeply with your music, yet you may never know who they are.
So my opinion of our fans? They must be curious people, passionate music lovers, and probably much better detectives than I am.
14. What do you think of our site?
To be honest, I wasn't very familiar with your site before this interview. But I spent some time exploring it beforehand and could immediately see its dedication to niche and underground music, which is something I really appreciate.
As a listener, I've always admired people who take the time to dig beneath the surface and support artists outside the mainstream. We probably share that same curiosity.
In a world driven by algorithms and endless content, I think it's important that there are still places dedicated to passionate music fans and underground discoveries. We definitely need more of that, don't we?
15. Something to add?
Just a final thank you for this interview. It's always a pleasure to talk about what's hidden behind a project, a name, and the Clouds.
Thank you to everyone who takes the time to listen to our music, support underground artists, and keep exploring beyond what algorithms put in front of us.
As I've grown older, I've come to believe that one of the most important things in life is to keep dreaming and keep looking for the light. The world can be confusing, chaotic, and sometimes dark, but there is always something beautiful worth holding on to.
Music has always helped me find that light. It allows us to escape, reflect, heal, and reconnect with something deeper. That's probably what Cløudy Skies is really about.
So stay curious, keep exploring, keep dreaming, and keep looking for the light.
Thank you for listening.
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