Cloudshapes
... is pianist-composer Rien De Keyser and singer songwriter Jim Jagger. Jim and Rien are old friends who met playing Ultimate Frisbee together. As Cloudshapes, they produce a huge inspiring sound inspired by a broad range of musical interests. So prepare to hear classical, rock, metal, rap, hiphop, folk, spoken word and even dubstep elements brought together with intense and thought-provoking lyrics.
Who are "Cloudshapes" and how did you get into music?
Cloud Shapes is pianist-composer Rien De Keyser and singer songwriter Jim Jagger. Jim and Rien are old friends who met playing Ultimate Frisbee together. Jim is from a musical family. His love of vocal melody and guitar started aged 4 when he inherited the family guitar and started writing. He has developed a love for many instruments and a deep love of songwriting and music production. Jim launched a solo artist career just over 20 years ago.
He has launched 2 EPs; Feet in the Water & Way Back, and 3 singles under the artist name Jim Jagger. He is founder of the label and personalised music service Music Wrapped, that has launched 3 singles and created many others un-launched. Jim has an ear for complex and unusual vocal harmonies. His lyrics are deep and meaningful and touch the soul. He writes songs with purpose, to therapeutically highlight people's needs, to reduce anxiety and stress, and to intensify love, joy and compassion in people’s lives.
Rien’s intense creative spark brings boundless energy to the table for Cloudshapes. Rien’s eclectic musical taste and musical talents create rich multi-layered compositions that capture the mind and electrify the senses. He has been experimenting with electronic music production for many years, combining delicate piano melodies with electronic sounds and organic samples as a solo artist.
Rien is involved in several musical projects on top of his solo piano music. He plays keys for Hounds Haul, who have released several big indie tracks, notably ‘Riviera’ and ‘The Roamer’ with radio plays. He also plays keys and electronics for Point7nine. As Cloud Shapes, they produce a huge inspiring sound inspired by a broad range of musical interests. So, classical, rock, metal, rap, hiphop, folk, spoken word and even dubstep elements brought together with intense and thought-provoking lyrics.
"Newborn" sounds great and has a big range of genre influences, what was your inspiration, what's the story behind the song?
Well we’re just so glad you like it. There’s likely a deep love of psychedelic rock, a lot of Pink Floyd but also electronic artists like Jon Hopkins and Rival Consoles in there. Newborn is a love song about loving someone so much that you want to have a child with them and then having a child with them and the dreams and aspirations you have for that child as you hold them for the first time.
The initial guitar part came to Rien whilst he was thinking about a ferry ride home to Belgium. Before him and his wife Jess knew they were pregnant he was sitting on the front of the boat looking at the sea, reflecting on the peace he felt when together with her and in their independence. Jim saw this as a sign of strong love, a love that felt like home. So, the lyrics are inspired by this, and the news of Rien’s new daughter, framed by Jim's love for his wife and kids and experiences of their births.
How would you evaluate the importance of lyrics and music, 50/50 or different?
Rien and Jim both have very different influences and motivations for creating music. For Rien it is more about the music and the structural composition of the instrumental melodies. For Jim it is more about the feeling created by those melodies and how the message is framed. Jim reckons most people don’t listen to the majority of the lyrics in the songs they listen to.
They only really focus on a hook or two, UNTIL / UNLESS they really get to know a band. However, it’s at this point that the message and depth of the lyrics can bring a whole new dimension that can blow people’s minds. Then again, some people, like Jim are more tuned into lyrics in songs. Generally if Jim knows a song, he'll know most of the lyrics. It all depends on what you enjoy.
I guess, it's the musical synergy of you both that makes your creative process special or am I completely wrong?
Jim and Rien mostly record and create independently, describing their creative process as building layer upon layer of excitement. Every time Jim gets a song from Rien, he adds something which takes the song in a direction Rien hadn't anticipated. Which then inspires Rien to go in a different direction, which Jim didn't see coming... Etc until the sound is really big and unique.
If you could select an extraordinary location to play live, where would it take place?
From two different universes at different points in time and space… joke. The ancient Roman amphitheatre of Pompeii would be pretty sick.
What's in your opinion one of the most underrated songs?
Lots of songs are underrated. There are artists everywhere creating incredible songs, that barely anyone listens to. I'd highly recommend everyone to give those songs a bit of love, because their creators really appreciate every single listener!
But to give one song that I think deserves more love: coconoe - Universal Beings on Parade. Jim wants you to pick one for him as he cannot find anything new. But to help out another artist, he wanted to put forward Karma Brigade - Alive
The Indie scene in Cambridge is ...?
...really really underground. Buried so deep. Like a mirage it fades and reappears.
...and of course what’s next for you?
We’ll just keep bringing new tracks, hopefully we can bring a bit of energy to people’s lives. We’ve got another track in the pipeline which is almost like a deep house track. But who knows when we’ll get round to finishing it.
