French electronic performer/producer CloZee is a touring powerhouse. In the last year alone, she played a ton of shows and fests: Red Rocks, Coachella, Lightning In A Bottle and Envision in Costa Rica.
Heavily inspired by film and soundtracks—she cites one of her main influences as Hans Zimmer—CloZee brings a cinematic, atmospheric tone to her music, the latest of which was her sophomore effort, Evasion (Gravitas), released last year.
The ponytailed electronic whiz sat down with the Recording Academy for a brief chat at Lollapalooza 2019, where she delved further into the wild year she's had, her myriad influences and what she's up to in 2020 (hint: new music is coming).
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You're about to perform at Lolla—how are you feeling?
I'm feeling, as usual, nervous. Good nervous. Excited. It's the first show of since two months in America. I'm so happy to be back.
What are you most looking forward to about the festival overall?
Just discovering the festival, play for the crowd because I've never been. So, everything is new. Everything is just exciting.
Speaking of performances, you've played Red Rocks, Coachella, Lightning In A Bottle and Envision recently. What's been your favorite moment or experience from the shows you've done this year?
Coachella was definitely a big moment. A lot of stress. I would say Red Rocks was also very stressful because [it was the] first time I was playing at Red Rocks at night and having production [issues]. I played there once before, but it was in the daytime. But I really love everything, every show. I love them all. They're all unique.
Speaking of unique, your style of electronic music is very much that. Who are your biggest musical influences?
I would say Bonobo, The Glitch Mob, I have so many. Hans Zimmer on the movies soundtrack side. Rodrigo y Gabriela, more of the acoustic side. And, yeah. So much more and some other stuff here. Too much.
What sort of music did you grow up listening to?
A lot of different things, but mostly a lot of world music, a lot of movie soundtracks on my own but with my mother was a lot of pop/soul R&B.
Do you have any dream collaborators that you have had your eye on working with in the future?
Yeah. So many. Like, all my biggest influences are definitely on this list of course. I don't know, I feel like a collaboration with FKA Twigs, that would be one of my dreams.
What's your process for starting new music?
For starting new music, it's always different. Usually I just come back from the tour or from my trailers, and I'm so inspired. I'm not very often at home. I have a home studio, and I just... Anytime I'm at home this is what I do. Just go into the studio, and I write music. Thinking with all the memories and the souvenirs that I have from the countries.
What's up next for you this year?
I have more shows this year, but in 2020 a new album. Nothing is set up yet, but I know it's going to come out in 2020 with a tour. And yeah, lots of weird things, I'm sure. [Laughs.]
