Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Bennett & Taylor Sharpe.
Hi Brenda Bennett , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The band originally started with Adam on drums and Mitch on guitar, working on songs for what would become our first EP. During that time, Adam reached out to me (Brenda) about joining as the bassist. Adam had seen me perform with a previous rock band. Shortly after, we brought Bryce into the mix on lead guitar and began recording.
For a while, we played our set instrumentally while searching for the right vocalist. We didn’t want to compromise on our sound so we took our time, about a year, until we found the perfect fit. That’s when Taylor came on board, bringing his distinct Norwegian-style vocals, completing our lineup and solidifying our sound.
Brenda (personal story) – I had a background of music and dance before ever joining a band. I learned Alto sax on the treble clef and took dance classes, including Middle Eastern style dance, which has different rhythms than what the Western World is used to. This core knowledge of music theory as well as rhythmic theory and choreography helped in my development within various genres – rock, thrash, metal, and now death-doom – bands. I hit the mid-Michigan music scene playing in bands such as VIS, Persecution, Torn Within, LIFTED, Five Hundredth Year, and now Black Cloud. I have had the experience of performing at large festivals such as Rocklahoma in Oklahoma and Chill on the Hill in Michigan as well as being part of a handful of music videos. One cover song I was part of has over five million streams on Spotify. I hope to surpass this with our current lineup in Black Cloud!
Taylor (personal story)- I always loved rock n roll and played trombone in middle school band but then I quit that to smoke dope and play sick riffs, I was always the kid trying to get everyone together to jam. We would just improv jam nonsense for hours and then come up with super sick band names that made little to no sense but definitely, “kicked ass.” I practiced guitar bass drums and vocals for a decade before I met a guy who was in an established local metal band, Lee Roach of Pestilent Age, at work and we quickly decided to collaborate and I ended up joining that band in my mid 20s where I did vocals and later played bass and did vocals. Few years later that project had winded down and Adam from Blackcloud had invited ALL MY VOCALIST FRIENDS BUT ME to audition for his band and I was personally spited so when none of them were a good fit I showed up at his door with a can of kerosene and a bone to pick and long story short I got the job making toilet bowl noises for blackcloud.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of our biggest challenges was finding the perfect vocalist. We went through numerous auditions, both in person and through video submissions, because we didn’t want to settle. We were looking for someone who truly fit our sound.
Another challenge has been the distance between band members, as we all come from different areas of the state. This has made it crucial for each of us to stay disciplined, keeping up with the set on our own time while also collaborating on new material. Despite these hurdles, our commitment to the music has kept us moving forward.
Brenda – It takes a lot of time and dedication to keep up with the craft of musicianship. I’ve had highs and lows within the music industry. Things have changed quite a bit, so it requires a lot of transitioning and adapting. You just try to figure it out as you go. It’s also tough when you put something out that you worked really hard on and receive criticism. Sometimes this can further your growth as a musician, though some comments are non-productive and just hurt the ego. You have to have thick skin to be in the music industry. It’s not for the weak!
Taylor – It has not been a smooth road but it has been very interesting to say the least. I’ve always struggled with alcoholism and we all know that goes hand in hand with being in a local metal band. I’m over a year sober now and it has definitely had a massively positive impact on my entire life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are a death-doom metal band from Michigan, known for keeping it real. Both in our music and our approach. One thing we take pride in is making sure that everything we incorporate into our recordings can be replicated live if we choose to do so. If we can’t feasibly perform it on stage, we don’t include it in the studio.
Another thing that sets us apart is that our following is completely organic. We’ve built our audience through genuine connections, playing shows with like-minded bands, and actively supporting the scene. So far, we’ve released one EP, and we’re excited to be finishing up our second one this summer.
Brenda (personal)- I think some things that set me apart as a bassist is the fact that I play with my fingers. Always have. I also enjoy nontraditional rhythmic patterns, they come natural to me. Where some might struggle with patterns, I have no trouble. Performing live on stage is also one of my favorite parts of being in a band. So I tend the thrive on stage when some might shy away.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Brenda – Growing up, I had a wide range of interests, but at my core, I’ve always been a performing artist. I love being on stage and expressing myself through music and dance. I’ve danced in recitals since the age of 12 and now teach dance to others. I played alto saxophone throughout high school but transitioned to bass after a friend sold me my first one during my senior year.
Personality wise, I’d describe myself as an extroverted introvert. While I thrive on performing and connecting with an audience, I also deeply value my downtime. I didn’t really fit in with any one clique in school. I guess that’s why I feel at home expressing myself through art.
Taylor – I was always the goofy cringey rocker kid growing up, just like you! Heavy metal, video games, and partying were all we had to do growing up out in the sticks so we would set up the gear and play garage metal for the cows.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackcloud_mi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLACKCLOUDmichigan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackcloudmichigan
