Q&A: Cloud House
5-Piece Indie-Pop Rockers Cloud House checked in with us before they kick off their tour at SWG3 this Friday. We discuss their journey, supporting legends Big Country and their latest single “Broken”. Check out their Q&A below.
1. Can you tell us how Cloud House came together and share some highlights from your journey since then?
We formed in a hot tub (not as dodgy as it sounds) in 2019, just before the world went mad! Since then we’ve toured the UK, won an international competition, sold out King Tuts in Glasgow, released two vinyl records and played with some amazing bands - and we’re just getting started!
2. 'Broken' has such a poignant and introspective theme. How did you balance the emotionally deep lyrics with the upbeat, energetic music?
Broken was basically the coming together of a riff that we had been jamming for about two years, and lyrics written by Conor and Patrick at around the same time. We love music that’s uplifting but has surprising depth when you read the lyrics, so we’re just really glad that it’s connected with people and that you’ve picked up on it. It's odd that we don't really explore friendships that much as a society - there's countless articles or videos about love, and break ups, and relationships, but really not much on friendships.
3. You've supported notable acts like Big Country and The Luka State. Any valuable lessons that you picked up from those experiences, and have they influenced your own performances and music?
It's obviously a massive buzz to play with bands who have been doing this for a long time. To be honest, the main lesson is that we’re all just musicians at the end of the day, and we're all in the same boat - we hope that one day we’ll be a band who can give opportunities to others like those artists have for us.
Cloud House’s Artwork for their latest single “Broken”
4. If you had to describe Cloud House’s music using only emojis, which ones would you pick?
☘️🗻🖥️🎷📩
5. John Kennedy played Broken on Radio X, your previous singles Bring You Home and We Are Not (Ordinary Lives) were both BBC's ‘Track of the Week,’ and you’ve been recognised as 'ones to watch in 2024' by Jim Gellatly. How does this recognition feel, and how does it motivate you moving forward?
Any radio play or recognition is incredibly motivating. We love it whenever people connect with our music - it’s the reason we do this. We're also massive fans of John's Tape Notes podcast so to hear kind words from him was really cool.
6. How do you prepare for a double-header weekend like the one coming up at McChuills on September 20th and 21st? Will there be anything unique about each night?
We're very excited for these shows. We decided we wanted to play two slightly more intimate shows back to back this year rather than one big flagship show. It’s a cracking venue - and yeah, we will be mixing up the setlists for each night and the crowd will have a say in what they get on the night!
7. After the tour dates, what’s next for Cloud House? Can you share or hint at any upcoming projects or plans?
Keep your eyes peeled for two more tunes in 2024 that we are incredibly excited about - and we’re headed south of the border soon as well! Follow us on socials @cloudhouseband to keep up to date!
Described as ‘rising, rousing indie rock’ by Clash Magazine, and chosen for BBC Scotland’s ‘Track of the Week’ twice in quick succession, the 5-piece band has also been crowned winners of the International Rootstock Festival, sold out King Tut’s in 2023, and was selected as "ones to watch in 2024” by Jim Gellatly.
Building on these exciting achievements, Cloud House keeps the momentum going with their shimmering new single ‘Broken’. This unconventional break-up song shifts focus from a traditional romantic separation to the dying embers of a long-distance friendship, offering listeners a rare and touching narrative.
Beneath the upbeat rhythm and driving, boisterous guitars lie raw and explorative lyrics, as songwriters Conor and Patrick grapple with the pain of a friend drifting away, feeling powerless to bring them back.
Cloud House possesses the remarkable ability to capture human experiences with unflinching honesty and undeniable emotion. They formed in 2019, but it was a dream in the making for much longer for the five musicians, Conor, Patrick, Jack, Calum and Morgan. Their empowering, relatable songs are the result of an eclectic collection of tastes and personal experiences.
The band has supported significant acts such as Big Country, The Native, The Luka State and Cassia and played the Sound of Iona music festival in June, before dates across Scotland at Beat Generator, SWG3, Sneaky Pete’s, and a McChuill’s weekend double-header.
CLOUD HOUSE’S UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
09/08 - SWG3, GLASGOW
28/08 - VIERLIVE LIVESTREAM
30/08 - SNEAKY PETE’S, EDINBRUGH
13/09 - CHERRY TREE, WISHAW
20/09 - MCHUILLS, GLASGOW
21/09- MCHUILLS, GLASGOW
Get tickets to CLOUDS HOUSE’s upcoming tour here - https://linktr.ee/cloudhouseband