Austin artist Claude9 shares groovy synth-laced single 'Clouds So Low', teasing 'Clouds of Love' album

Austin artist Claude9 shares groovy synth-laced single 'Clouds So Low', teasing 'Clouds of Love' album

FOR FANS OF:  Enigma, Jean-Michel Jarre, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Boards of Canada, The Orb, Tangerine Dream, Air, Eno & Cluster, Massive Attack
INFLUENCED BY:  Massive Attack, Augustus Pablo, Leftfield, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Brian Eno, Jean-Michel Jarre, Cluster, Kruder & Dorfmeister, The Orb
ISRC code QMEU32029469
FCC clean

'Clouds So Low'  https://youtu.be/u4dFIMq8KpM
Bandcamp  https://newhumanmusic.bandcamp.com/track/clouds-so-low
Spotify   https://open.spotify.com/track/4uCWmUUmpjToXUmg3Ldgy2
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/claude-9/281501988
Soundcloud  https://soundcloud.com/claude9/04-claude-9-clouds-so-low-3 
'Chords of Love' album order  https://newhumanmusic.bandcamp.com/album/chords-of-love-2
'Chords of Love' mini-live set  https://youtu.be/imkgQPYYj8A


Austin-based electronic-synthpop artist Claude9 presents 'Clouds So Low', the soulful first single from his forthcoming 'Chords of Love' album, slated for release on March 28 via indie imprint New Human Music. This chill feel-good offering tastefully blends Enoesque ambient music and downtempo trip-hop.

Encapsulating the dreamy, rhythmic energy that defines much of the album, 'Clouds So Low' serves as a perfect introduction to this relaxing 9-track sonic journey. Claude9 also offers a newly-recorded mini-live set a sneak-peak of 'Chords of Love'.

"'Clouds So Low' is a funky, breakbeat-driven downtempo track that was inspired by the surreal low-hanging clouds I encountered during a drive to the studio for the song’s first session. Combining vocoder effects with soulful live vocals and melodic lines from my electric melodica, the track offers a playful and atmospheric vibe. With its lighthearted energy, it evokes a sense of wonder, reminiscent of The Orb’s iconic 'Little Fluffy Clouds'," says Claude9.

"This was the first track I began for this album, originally envisioned as a collaborative project with my friend Alec Ash. However, shortly after the first session, COVID hit, and the album evolved into a solo endeavor. The inspiration for this track came from my deep love of downtempo trip-hop acts like Massive Attack and The Orb."

Claude9 has been involved in the Austin music scene for several decades, both as a live performer and recording artist. As a keyboard player and singer, he has worked with Reggae acts Pressure, the Killer Bees, and Raggamassive, cutting his teeth to become a sought-after keyboard player. From there, he joined forces with hiphop-funk act Afrofreque, Supercreeps and Hail Marley.

Emerging in the late 90s as one of Austin's first electronic producers, Claude9 was involved in several well-received House music collaborations in the early 2000s. His background as a live musician brought authenticity to the dub and funk elements in his electronic compositions and, more recently, to his
collaboration with Noëlle Hampton (the Belle Sounds) and Ken Christensen (East Coast Boogiemen) in synth pop band XANIMAL.

"The lyrics for 'Clouds So Low' were sparked by a vivid moment on my drive to Lockhart, TX, for that initial session. The clouds that day hung incredibly low in the sky, and as I crossed a high overpass, it felt as though they were close enough to touch. I found myself imagining stepping out of the car and walking on them—a whimsical thought that became the core idea for the song," says Claude9.

"I already had the breakbeats I wanted to use, and once I arrived at the studio, the rest of the track came together surprisingly quickly. It turned out almost exactly as I had envisioned, which is a rare occurrence for any artist. The track brings together many of my favorite elements: crisp breakbeats, lush pads, a heavy bass synth, melodica melodies, and a blend of vocoder and “real” vocals."

As a producer at Claude9 Studios, Claude continues to produce and record internationally recognized music in the House and Downtempo genres, while still pushing limits and being an influential member of the ever changing Austin music community.

'Clouds So Low' is out everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. Now available for pre-order, the 'Chords of Love' album will be released - on vinyl and digitally - on March 28.

ALBUM TRACK LIST
1. Entrance   6:38
2. Chords of Love  7:07
3. Cicada Soul  2:47
4. Clouds so Low  5:08
5. Can You Hear Me  1:57
6. The Shadow  4:45
7. Down to the Underground  5:42
8. Echolalia  2:22
9. Enough is Enough  7:22

CREDITS
Claude9 - Keyboards, real and synthesized vocals, melodica, harmonica
Jorja Chalmers - saxophone on tracks 1 and 9
Recorded at Claude9 Studios (Austin, TX)
Initial session for track 4 at ESH INSTITUTE, Lockhart Tx.
Production assistance by Alec ESH
Mixed and mastered by Charles “Chicky” Reeves at Sublime
Studios London, UK
Album cover design by Fumihito Sugawara / Fumanstudios
Released by New Human Music
Distributed by Xelon Distribution
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


Keep up with Claude9
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Studio | Instagram | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify

Keep up with New Human Music
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Soundcloud