WHEN CLOUD 9 IS OUT OF REACH, LISTEN TO NOAH STIES’ NEW SINGLE “CLOUD 8”
In life, whether it’s after a heartbreak or just another day in the dating scene as a twenty-something-year-old, we all experience the uncomfortable emotional state in which we’re ready to find love but can’t quite reach that feeling. Noah Sties bravely steps into this state with his newest song “cloud 8.” With his addition of funky guitar work and infectious energy, Sties ensures listeners not only feel seen with his lyrics but also gets lost in the fun of the beat.
Graphic by Rosi Martens
Image via Noah Sties
Photography, graphic design and video editing — Sties has proven himself to be a creative powerhouse, with music now being at the forefront of his artistic endeavors. This eclectic trait is one of the many reasons why Sties is such a promising new voice in the music scene. From his beginnings in an Amish town in Indiana to soon releasing his debut EP giant! — set for November 21 — Sties continues to grow and explore his sound. The spirit of 2010s indie-rock greats such as Vampire Weekend and Foster the People is alive within Sties’ discography, but he twists it to make it his own. “cloud 8” is a picture-perfect example of how Sties intertwines nostalgia with modernity.
The track resonates easily, allowing the listener to apply it to their own lives even if their situation isn’t exactly the same. At its core, “cloud 8” revolves around the complexities that arise from the simple craving for love. Furthermore, it’s about the longing for romance and companionship, but something, whether internal or external, is blocking the path to it. The feeling of love is just out of reach. The isolating cycle of yearning for love again but being unable to really feel it is conveyed in the chorus, “Stuck in the first eight clouds / There’s no feeling and so much doubt.” Sties creates this clever, yet still relatable metaphor for falling short of the “cloud 9” elation.
Vocally, Sties’ voice is full of personality and authenticity, something that makes his songs instantly recognizable and creates a warm familiarity. The use of a subtle vocal filter pairs beautifully with the track’s deep, textured guitar tones and it wraps the song up in a somewhat hazy overlay. These guitar tones have their time to shine in the solo right before the bridge, a guitar solo that can only be described as utterly groovy. The production complements the grounded, shakingly real lyrics that make the listener want to keep it on repeat.
The soundscape in “cloud 8” is fresh for this song’s topic of desire wrapped in wariness. The instrumentals and production choices are, simply stated, cool and fun with a hint of edge. It holds the dual ability to get the listener on their feet and dance around one day, and to get them to sink into the lyrics on another. The bridge is a gutting example of these types of lyrics. As Sties shows off his charming falsetto, he combines vulnerability with rhythm as he sings, “I’m tired of the ins and outs / I wanna find another body who can figure me out.” It’s a blunt confession that holds such emotional weight, a weight that everyone has held at least once before and can now find validation from this song.
Noah Sties showcases peak indie-pop, along with a touch of rock edge, with his standout single “cloud 8.” It’s refreshing, lively, yet emotionally resonant. This track adds to the expanding proof that Sties has a noticeable talent for transforming universal feelings into something joyful and alive. This talent glimmers in “cloud 8”, and will only burn brighter with his upcoming EP giant!.
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