Frequency of the Week No. 5: Cloud D

–Written by Reed Eisenhauer

Traveling to the mile high state of Colorado has always been on my bucket list, and I managed to cross it off this past September. While already well aware of the breathtaking scenery, affable locals and (of course) the legal recreational cannabis,  what really stood out to me during my visit was the oversaturation of the music scene – not only in Denver but throughout the state as a whole. While shuffling through local magazines and newsletters I came across handfuls of jam-packed venue calendars. There were easily 4-5 different musical acts performing in various locations every day of the week. To put it bluntly, Colorado natives are musically spoiled in the best way possible.

During my trip I experienced this phenomenon through my discovery of the DJ and producer Cloud D, a Colorado local and self-proclaimed “Bass scientist, originator, dreamer and truth seeker.” I have always been a fan of glitch subgenre popularized by artists like Tipper, Opiuo, Koan Sound and Spoonbill, but even with a solid reference point I was caught off guard when I first listened to Cloud D’s album Light Fracture. I can say without hesitation that he’s thrown out the script and rewritten the rules of the glitch genre to his own liking. His songs hold no specific format or tempo, and have a tendency of taking the listener on an ominous, mystical journey with no holds barred.

Too often these days DJs and producers find themselves – by choice or by accident – stuck in an aural rut, unable to break the mold of repetitive loops and uneventful choruses. Cloud D hurdles this creative roadblock with ease and crafts a sound that often seems to mimic a stream of consciousness. His dark, melodic tunes shred any notions of monotony and provide an outlet for listeners to explore the cosmos without having to leave the comfort of their homes. Although it’s hard to put a finger on what he’s doing and where he’s headed, his music is both addictive and transformative.

While Cloud D has only been making music under this moniker for a little over a year he’s already produced 4 studio albums, all featured on both Soundcloud and Bandcamp. Although his music is free for the taking, it’s proven to be an excellent marketing strategy; spreading his sound and giving him a leg up when it comes to name recognition and potential bookings. I’ve done my best to describe Cloud D with my grasp on the English language, but the best way to truly understand is to press play and drift away.

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You can connect with Cloud D on Facebook, check out his Bandcamp, and stream a selection of his tunes below.