This article is an instalment of the Songcards Spotlight series where we interview the humans that make it all possible.

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Who is Cloud Blood?

Just one guy, Josh Brill, who plays a 9 string guitar, 5 string bass, keys, and does all the vocals and songwriting.

What is your origin story?

I’ve kinda been playing guitar on and off for about 12 years now, have written a decent amount of songs within that time but wouldn’t be able to finish them, and have quit music a few times due to life circumstances and mental health related situations.

Back in 2019 I moved from New Jersey to California and had to leave my guitars behind, so at the height of the covid pandemic I found a cheap Jackson 7 string from Guitar Center for $200 and I started seeing actual progress in my playing.

By around 2021 I got a new job that overworked me to the bone, this was in the idea for the song Task Manager started brewing. Then I sought after a 9 string after finding out Mick Gordon used one to make the DOOM Eternal soundtrack. I got one in November 2022, then when 2023 just started I was able to take a 3 week vacation from my day job and got Task Manager recorded. I released it in April of that year.

The “Cloud Blood” name itself came to be from a dream my girlfriend had where she said “cloud people” were massacring humans and the only way to defeat them was to ring them out like a rag, causing their “Cloud Blood” to come out. When her story was over I commented “That would be a cool band name” and she said “well you can use it if you want” so I did.

When did you realise you wanted to make music?

When I was a kid, I kind of held “rockstars” in the highest regard out of any other humans, besides maybe game developers. I never thought I would be good enough at an instrument to become one though.

When I was 14, I had a friend who was a huge metalhead, and his dad had Guitar World magazines littered all over their house. I saw most of the musicians in the photo ops had Ibanez brand instruments, and that made me want to pick up the bass. I convinced my parents to buy me an Ibanez starter bass kit soon after.

Who are your long-standing influences?

Steve Vai, Frank Zappa, Cliff Burton, Les Claypool, Horse The Band, Meshuggah, Allen Holdsworth, there’s way too many to name.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a musician?

Never stop learning. Never stop experimenting. Never let outside criticism be what stops you.

What are you working on at the moment?

I have about 5 tracks in the works, with 2 about 80% done. Not sure if it’ll be an album or EP but I’ll be releasing at least 1 more single before then.

What would you tell your younger self?

Failure at the current moment does not mean failure in the future.

Which band or artist are you really excited about at the moment?

This is kind of hard for me to answer because I'm kind of in a rut when it comes to music listening as of late. Of course there’s the classics of my influences that I’ll always love, but I haven’t listened to any of them lately because I can just replay it in my head.

I try to seek out new music, but it doesn’t really hit for me, and most new releases by bands I love I found to just be disappointing. But Kendrick Lamar basically ending Drake’s career overnight has restored some hope in humanity for me.

Where can people find your music?

I’m on Songcards, Bandcamp, just recently Ampwall, as well as Spotify, YouTube, and the rest of the major streaming services.

What’s next for Cloud Blood?

That single I mentioned before my debut album/EP (depends on amount of songs) I’m kinda tight lipped on it for now but just know the track is metalcore mixed with dark synthwave.