Pulling off a monumental feat that reshapes the standard pacing of global touring, South Korean cinematic rock outfit CLOUDIAN has firmly planted its roots in European soil. In just ten short months, the band has remarkably embarked on their third European tour, treating the German capital to its third explosive live stop on July 1st, 2026, at the packed Brickhouse Berlin. This relentless work ethic comes alongside a fascinating, sleek artistic reinvention. Following a structural evolution into a core trio—led by the visionary frontman and mastermind Brighten, alongside multi-instrumentalist OM (violin/keyboards) and powerhouse drummer Logan—the band has entered a bold, highly conceptual chapter.

Their live shows have transformed into a living, dark-fantasy canvas, complete with intricate costumes and stylized masks carefully developed by Brighten to anchor an expanding narrative universe. For their current tour, this enigmatic aura was heightened by the addition of two young, exceptionally talented touring musicians whose names remain entirely undisclosed to keep the crowd’s focus purely on the collective audio-visual experience. Far from being a clinical studio reproduction, their live set balances complex, technical progressive rock—such as the tricky 7/8 time signatures of tracks like LUCE—with an immediate, raw energy that relies on the passionate, roaring feedback of their dedicated European fanbase.

Backstage at their Berlin tour stop, frontman Brighten sat down to dive deep into the technical blueprints of their latest music, the reality of their grueling but rewarding digital landscape, and what it truly means to maintain the uncompromising core of CLOUDIAN.

Now that CLOUDIAN has firmly established a new chapter in identity and sound, how would the current musical direction being explored in the studio be described? Are there any specific new genres, instruments, or production styles being experimented with right now?

Brighten: From the beginning, CLOUDIAN was a very experimental band. We are not conservative about trying new things at all. We are basically expanding our field in a musical way. This time, in the song The Search, we put, like, hmm… four or five different genres in one arrangement (drill beat, Jersey club, POP, emo-core, instrumental).

We’re really enjoying using different styles in CLOUDIAN’s sound. The song CLAWS is simpler; it’s like a disco rhythm and hard rock. A very special part of this song is an electric violin-oriented rock sound. So both songs are very experimental yet easy to sing along, which was our intention.

Looking at the current discography and preparing for future live performances, which song from recent releases has evolved the most when played live, and how has the energy of the crowd shifted the band’s relationship with that track?

Brighten: Well, I don’t see much difference, because since the pre-production of every single song, I think a few steps forward into the whole presentation of the tracks—from the sound, energy, MV, visual effects, looks, and stage performance, to what interactions I wish to have with the audience. The songs don’t really shift, but they are becoming whole when we can finally perform them in front of our fans.

When a band moves forward into a new chapter, there is always a balance between honoring the sound early fans fell in love with and following instincts to grow. Looking back at the band’s beginnings versus the current lineup and system, how has the personal definition of “CLOUDIAN’s core sound” matured?

Brighten: We’re definitely going exactly where we wanted to go. Because we’ve been writing lots of songs, now we know what we want, what we do best, and what is suitable for us. I think I can say we are now a lot more organized than our earlier era, music-wise. At this point, what we are trying to pursue is approaching as many people as possible while still maintaining our unique colors.

CLOUDIAN’s music is visually and narratively incredibly rich. What does a typical day in the studio look like for the group right now? How is the technical side of recording balanced with the collaborative, spontaneous jamming that brings a new track to life?

Brighten: So, I think CLOUDIAN is not a traditional style of a band—even though we do like traditional sounds and traditional styles. We don’t write songs during jamming in the studio or spend thousands of hours in the practice room to find our sound. We are more focused on modern production. Basically, we are sitting in front of the computers and instruments, setting up concepts, focusing on the atmosphere of the music and the story, and trying to make it convincing in a musical and visual way. Working our asses off, basically.

In today’s industry, artists are frequently expected to be online personalities, content creators, and musicians all at once. How does the group protect its raw creative energy and keep the focus on the actual music when the modern market pushes so hard for constant digital engagement?

Brighten: I truly think we should do that as well, but the thing is, I don’t have much talent for social media—even from the times before Facebook. Even these days, our fans are telling me that I have the social media skills of a bummer.

I think I have to figure out my own style of content that does not ruin the mood of my creations. My story is pretty dark and serious; I don’t want to make people think we’re just funny. I think where we are kind of lacking in our social presence is because I value improving the perfection of my creation more than making funny videos to get attention. I do know it’s necessary, and together with management, we are struggling in that area. Unfortunately, for now, we don’t have anyone with us who is talented in this. We are looking for new staff who will help us and do it with us.

Elisa Cutullè