clide
I instantly fell in love with clide’s music. It’s the kind of music I can listen to on a daily basis. He released his new EP feelings last month and this project will make you feel all kinds of feelings. It will make you dance, it will make you smile but it will also make you cry. feelings is honest and real. clide’s voice is also fucking amazing, so that’s a win :)
clide is one hell of a talent and I’m proud I got to interview him. Thank you so much clide !
feelings is out now :)
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
I’m Claudio, aka clide and I’m a 21 year old artist and songwriter, trying to make music I love and to make my dreams come true!
What did you grow up listening to?
My parents are classical musicians, so when they would come back from rehearsals they would never put music on at home. I always had to fight to turn the radio on when driving somewhere, so I pretty much grew up with whatever music was playing at the moment. Which was pretty much the Top 20, mixed with some classics I guess.
When did you start writing songs? What made you want to write in the first place?
I learned instruments as a kid, but I didn’t really wanna make music or even become a musician before I was 16 and started to produce music. Back then I admired all the big EDM DJs like Martin Garrix, Avicii, The Chainsmokers, etc. and I wanted to create something that could reach and touch as many people as they did. I really fell in love with the process and it made me wanna write and sing songs for a living…
When did you know you could sing? Growing up, what were your favorite records to sing along to?
As a kid I knew I could sing really well. I loved doing it and always used to be the favourite of my music teacher back in primary school. But I kinda stopped it and lost the confidence as a teenager, when my voice changed and it wasn’t cool, but embarrassing. I always used to sing when I was home alone, but never in front of anybody, and it took me to start producing, using a lot of autotune and slowly showing it to my friends, to get my confidence back and get better at singing again…
When did you know you had to be an artist and release your original music?
I think it was when I was at a festival for the first time and saw how many people could be touched or moved all at the same time, and it really made me wanna create something that could do the same. In the beginning, I thought I wanted to be a DJ, until I discovered my voice again and started writing and singing my own songs.
You recently released your new EP feelings - what's the inspiration/story behind this project?
It’s a collection of my favourite songs I’ve written over the past one or two years. I usually write a lot of songs, and in some of them I see a pattern and then I put them together in a project. But it's also really the songs that I’m the proudest of and that I have the strongest personal connection to. I couldn’t release a song on my project, which wouldn’t mean anything to ME, even if the song would be great in itself. On “feelings”, all of the songs talk about feelings, but every one of them from a different angle or perspective. That’s why I put the project together like this.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this project? When did you start working on it? Who helped you create it?
“come over” is the oldest song on it. I wrote that a little over 2 years ago in my bedroom and had it laying around forever. I still loved the song, so I finally wanted to release it. All the other songs were written over the last year, during the pandemic. “flight mode” was even written in a zoom session! But very often, also with this project, I work on songs or ideas up to a certain point, and then bring them to the studio, where I work with my man Pascal Martin, who is a dope producer and has helped me finishing up and nailing the production on all of my songs.
What different topics are you talking about on this EP?
The songs mainly move around heartbreak, loneliness, depression from different perspectives. The moments when I feel like that, are the ones that inspire me the most, that’s why it feels most natural to me, to write about these more introverted or sad topics. The title track “feelings” really is about wanting to feel. Because even though all these feelings can suck, that’s what life ultimately is about. Taking the lows for the highs. Going all in and still putting yourself out there with an open heart.
What did you learn about yourself after finishing this project?
That no matter how many times I’ll tell myself my organisation and preparation will be better the next time, I’ll always end up finishing stuff at the last minute.
How's it like to release an EP in 2021? Any challenges?
I mean, the only comparison I have is 2020, and it doesn’t feel that much different this year… But jokes by side, of course it is challenging with everything that needs to happen around it, like promotion, social media, etc. And the pressure others and especially I put on myself is high, but it’s also the best feeling in the world to put all that music that you’ve been working on for so long, out into the world. And even better if people listen to it of course!
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
For me, it is definitely social media, and really putting and showing myself there. Being constantly obligated to be present to stay relevant and also produce quality content to keep your fans entertained and hopefully gain new ones, while also trying to be creative and write cool songs can be really challenging and draining sometimes. But it’s part of the job I suppose. The best part for me is the feeling, when you wrote a song that you really love and know is great. And when you release it of course. And (I haven’t played a lot of shows yet, but just started again last week) performing can feel amazing as well.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
For me it would be TikTok. Maybe I’m also just butt hurt, cause I’m not famous there yet lol.
But to me it just feels like a lot of pressure and too much pace in the music industry, where there’s a lot of focus on going viral and following trends, and not sustainably growing and developing as an artist. But in the end, the audience decides, so I guess you’re either willing to adapt, or you don’t.
You are now living in Berlin, Germany - how does it affect your creativity?
Berlin is a great city! I’m very lucky I grew up here. It's a very open-minded and multi-cultural city, with a lot of creative people around. I’ve also studied here, at a music school (BIMM) which definitely influenced me, as I was surrounded by many very talented musicians, coming from all different genres, but in general, I don’t think you have to be somewhere specific to be creative and write good songs. You could literally be anywhere. So I’m very happy to live here, but I can definitely imagine living somewhere else sometime.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Probably if people had more empathy and self-reflection and were better listeners, trying to see where someone else really is coming from, and what might cause their actions. If that would be the case, there would probably be way fewer arguments and fights, and much more love and understanding.
What biggest life lessons have you learnt so far?
That my thinking is very powerful and that life is always about perspective. But there’s too much I haven’t figured out yet.
What message do you want to give to anyone struggling with their mental health?
That you’re not alone. I probably will never know what some people are going through, but I can say that we all have things we carry on our shoulders, and it is okay to feel like shit sometimes. Try to remember that it will always get better, and that one day you’ll be looking back with a smile, and it will all be just fine. One step at a time. Our highest aim should always be to feel good, right now. And if that’s not possible, then to at least feel a little bit better.
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