Cloudzee is the professional name of singer/songwriter Zach Shields. The Northern California musician made his professional solo recording debut this year with a series of monthly single releases. With three tracks under his belt so far, the prolific artist has already caught the attention of fans around the globe with his unique genre-bending style.
“Starfire” is a recent single from Cloudzee, released worldwide to all major streaming services on August 12, 2021. The song opens on a progression of percussive electronic arpeggios. Soon the beat drops and the track kicks into an 80’s inspired Synth-Pop vibe. The song matches those classic synth and drum machine sounds with a very modern production.
Zach enters the mix, riding that feel-good retro track with a catchy melodic rap. In a clever narrative he sings to the object of his affection, using comic book superhero imagery as metaphor for the uncertainty and excitement of new love. It is a touching sentiment set to a great Pop groove.
Check out “Starfire” below. You can also hear the song on the Deep Indie Dive playlist, or listen on your favorite streaming service. We had the chance to chat with Cloudzee about his new music and plans for the future. Check out his answers to our 8 questions below. Follow the links at the end of this article to connect with the artist. Get on his profiles and get in the loop on all of the music to come from this exciting young artist.
8 Questions with Cloudzee
Where are you from?
I’m from Sacramento, California.
How long have you been making music?
I’ve been pursing music since I was 11, but I’ve only been experimenting with recording in the last two years.
Who are the musicians involved in your project?
The duo that made the instrumental go by the producer title “BigBadBeats”. My recording and mixing engineer is Micheal Cox, who runs a studio here in Sacramento called “UpriseRecording”. Awesome guy and amazing creative, super appreciative for all his done with my music.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
My musical influences would probably be J.Cole for his penmanship and lyrical expertise. Seconded by Kanye for is constant innovation and evolving sound. Finally I would say Tyler The Creator, because in my personally opinion he has been the most revolutionary sound in music in the last decade. Also his energy/style is unmatched, there’s no doubt.
What is your greatest non-musical influence?
My biggest influence outside of music would be Shia LaBeouf. I believe his transformation has been something quite beyond what the eye can see. But all Transformer’s jokes aside, I think his hunger to better himself and channel his energy into uplift others is nothing less than inspiring.
What inspired you to create this project?
During the writing process of this song, I lost two people very close to me and I was at an all time low mentally. I think this song helped me to find my light again and seeing how it’s affected others, makes me glad I didn’t give up and put the pen down.
What are your plans for the future (musically)?
I’m planning to release an album around my birthday in February. I think it’s going catch a lot of people off guard, especially with the different sound scapes and story I’m telling.
Is there anything else you would like to say?
Not everyone is going to see your vision but continue treading down your path. You’re on your way!
