20 Questions With CloZee: Ahead of Her Tour Launch, Producer Talks Denver & The Best Feedback She’s Gotten From a Fan

Two months after the release of her third album, Microworlds, French producer CloZee kicks off the tour behind the LP today (Sept. 28) in Minneapolis, Minn.

She’ll tour the U.S. until mid-December on the ambition 43-date run, which picks back up at the end of the year with two New Year’s Eve sets at Mission Ballroom in Denver, arguably the U.S.’s pre-eminent city for bass music and the place CloZee and her girlfriend moved during the pandemic.

Out via her own Odyzey Music label, the transportive, deep, hard and often sublime Microworlds will take on a new life during this live run, with CloZee bringing the hard-hitting sounds that have made her a favorite in the live electronic space since she entered the scene more than a decade ago with her now signature heavy/cerebral style.

Ahead of the tour, the artist born Chloé Herry talks about the album, her fans and why Denver feels like home.

1. Where are you in the world right now, and what’s the setting like?

I was on tour in Europe the past few weeks, so right now I’m working on the interview during my flight from Romania back to the U.S.A.

2. What is the first album or piece of music you bought for yourself, and what was the medium?

I think it was the CD of Justin Timberlake, Justified, [from 2002]. I was about 10. The “Cry Me A River” song on the radio sounded so unique to me, with all the layered beatbox parts. Since then I have become obsessed with the music production works of Timbaland. 

3. What did your parents do for a living when you were a kid, and what do or did they think of what you do for a living now?

My father is an engineer at Airbus. My mother is taking care of young children. I think they are both proud of what i do for a living, because music is my passion and they know that I’m mostly happy doing creative work, versus having a job related to my diploma. 

4. What’s the first non-gear thing you bought for yourself when you started making money as an artist?

Early career: plants and small art pieces. Later: my first car.

5. If you had to recommend one album for someone looking to get into dance/electronic music, what would you give them?

Oh tough question… I would ask them what they usually like, first, because there are so many amazing EDM albums that all sound so different. But if they like melodic and journey music, I’d recommend Flume’s debut album, ODESZA’s In Return and Bonobo’s Migration.

6. What’s the last song you listened to?

According to my Spotify, it was “Right Now” By Joachim Pastor.

7. I understand you experienced a long period of writer’s block while making music for this new album. What was that like for you, and how did you eventually break through it?

It was really tough, because making music is what usually makes me feel better, my way of meditating, expressing myself. It was mostly during the pandemic, lots of people were obviously depressed and going through a hard time. I think moving to my house in the U.S., starting to see the world opening back on and reconnecting with the fans in real life is what eventually made me slowly overcome it.

8. You live in Denver, which has a thriving scene that artists like Eprom and John Summit have both recently raved to Billboard about. How’d you decide to settle there, and what’s going on there that makes the right place for you to live and work?

I decided to move to the U.S. during the pandemic. First, I moved in with my girlfriend in Atlanta, as I couldn’t get out of the country because of my visa. Then we decided to move to Denver because that’s where we knew the most people, friends- and work-related, and I personally always loved the energy of the city and the dynamism of our industry.

9. Microworlds is being described as your most personal album. How do you insert yourself into music that’s largely without lyrics?

Telling a story or experience just with music and no words is very powerful to me. I always have the listeners in mind, who will have the opportunity to make their own interpretation, associate a song with their own emotions, feelings, and create their own memories. This aspect is very important to me, and that’s what can make a song very personal to them as well.

10. What are the best cities for bass music in the world right now, and why?

It depends on the genre, and I haven’t been to all the places. But after traveling all around the U.S., I can definitely say that Denver is up there. London and Toulouse have some really cool underground parties going on too, especially in drum ‘n’ bass.

11. I know nature was influential to you in the making of this album. What are the most special places that you traveled to while making with music, and how did you feel while you were in them?

During the period of creation of this album, I actually didn’t get the chance to travel much, compared to the previous albums. I mostly tapped into my past memories and experiences for inspiration.

12. You’ve been doing this for a decade or so now. Have you seen meaningful changes happen in terms of representation, diversity and inclusion in the scene and on lineups specifically?

I definitely noticed a small change after the pandemic. I think a lot of people had time to notice and talk about the issues of this industry on the internet, and call out the people making decisions and responsible for booking artists. Representation is so important in the music industry, because of how an artist’s story and music can have such big impacts on people’s life. We need artists that all have different backgrounds, stories, visions, so it can open doors, and touch anyone. The more diversity in this industry, the more people’s lives are going to be changed because they will feel inspired and “not alone”.

13. Most meaningful piece of feedback you’ve ever gotten from a fan?

Simple but efficient: “Please never stop making music.”

14. Do you have guilty pleasure music? What is it?

Mariah Carey‘s albums from the ’90s.

15. The most exciting thing happening in dance music currently is _____?

The evolution and progress of technology which make electronic music production accessible to everyone.  

16. The most annoying thing happening in dance music currently is _____?

Also the evolution and progress of technology. For example, AI-powered music production.

17. The proudest moment of your career thus far?

Just in general, being able to live of my passion.

18. What’s the best business decision you’ve ever made?

To create my own label: to have a constant home for my music and musicians we’d like to support.

19. Who was your greatest mentor, and what was the best advice they gave you?

My parents were great mentors for life in general, always reminding me that “we only have one life” and to embrace the moment. For music specifically, it was my guitar teacher who taught me that it was okay to be different and to not sound like everybody else.

20. One piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?

Believe in yourself, don’t be so hard on yourself.

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