Claudia Paine AKA Cloudy is an alternative-pop singer songwriter from Auckland. I’ll Stay is the first single to be released from her upcoming EP, titled Good Grief.
This single fits snug within the alt-pop genre. It begins gently with just the guitar and muted, echoey vocals, setting up an ethereal vibe that remains throughout the song. It picks up at around a minute when the drums drop in to a fun and poppy chorus that increases the danceability of the song tenfold. The sing-songy chorus is repeated throughout the song, maybe a few too many times, but even so it remains nice to listen to.
Cloudy has a really lovely voice and the production of the song does it justice. The tidy drums and sweet guitar make for an all-round catchy song that will linger in your head all day.
If you’re after an easy, atmospheric song for a summer afternoon then I’ll Stay is a winner. I’m sure the rest of the EP will be well worth a listen too.
Cloudy is the musical alias of Claudia Paine, a Kiwi-Austrian singer songwriter hailing from Auckland, New Zealand. With a sound that blends bedroom-pop with nostalgic 90's indie-rock influences, Cloudy's music is a vulnerable exploration of life's ebbs and flows. For Cloudy, music is not just an art form but a therapeutic journey that has helped her navigate life's highs and lows, enabling her to come out of her shell and discover her voice in her teens right through to the present.
With two EPs now under her belt Cloudy has once again embraced new creative territory. Stepping away from her lone wolf solo writing roots, she has ventured into collaborative projects, working with fellow artists and producers to shape her next studio endeavor. This shift represents another significant evolution in her artistic journey, unlocking new dimensions of her sound and creativity.
Her debut EP, Good Grief (2021), earned spots on numerous local and international Spotify playlists, showcasing her talent for crafting honest, relatable lyrics over dynamic indie soundscapes. Her sophomore EP, Raincloud (2023), delved deeper into themes of relationships, loss, and self discovery. Collaborating with a full band and various producers, Cloudy unveiled what she called her “most authentic musical voice yet,” garnering widespread recognition in New Zealand media.