behind keyboards & switches — getting to know @rice.cloud
posted on 08.20.25
for the month of august, we’re excited to feature rice—also known as @rice.cloud. known for her cozy builds and satisfying sound tests, rice has built a dedicated following in the keyboard community. in this interview, join us as we get to know rice, her passion for keyboards, and what keeps her inspired in a space where every detail matters. welcome, rice!
into their cozy nook
the setup for your videos is such a cozy little space with fun little decorations. how did you decide on what to include?
to be honest, i've always had such a hard time finding a good balance between a cozy yet clean setup.
i used to have the bare minimum on my desk, but as i grew older and started to heal my inner child, i incorporated more and more of my personality into my setup.
so you could say, my setup as a whole is very meaningful to me! and yes, some of the small little items i've added to my setup over the time definitely carry meaningful memories, joyful moments and remind me of how far I've come. i feel like my setup is a reflection of myself, cozy, but also a little bit chaotic!
starting the journey
as someone who has built their page on mechanical keyboards, how did you get into the hobby and what sparked your content creation journey?
back in 2019, i had this old, crusty gaming keyboard - super ping-y, hollow, and with awfully rattly stabs. while looking for a replacement, i stumbled across silent switches and that discovery kind of kickstarted everything. in a way, i have to thank my old keyboard for all of this!
not long after, i got sucked into the world of customization. i binge watched one video after another and discovered :3ildcat, one of my favorite mech keyboard youtubers! most of the content i watched back then had clean b-roll, smooth transitions, and amazing shots, and although i love the professionalism, I also found myself craving something different. something more cozy. more cute. more personal. like watching a close friend tinker away while you’re curled up in bed.
i also wanted a creative outlet, i’d always regretted not spending more time making things. so basically, my old crusty keyboard and my desire to be more creative sparked my whole content creation journey!
do you remember your very first keyboard build? if so, how does it compare to your most recent build? we’d love to hear how your preferences and tastes have evolved over the years!
oh yes! my very first build was the tm680! it's so dated now! i absolutely modded the heck out of it! every now and then, i rewatch the modding video and end up laughing at how awfully mid the sound was, even after all those mods, but i still remember how proud i was at the time!
honestly, my taste in sound hasn’t changed much, thocky builds are still my favorite! that said, i do appreciate other sound profiles too. where my preferences have really evolved is in aesthetics. i used to dislike novelty keys and artisans, but osume’s novelties were the first one i liked! they have the perfect balance of cute and simple, which i love. now i even have a huge artisan collection, something i never would’ve imagined a few years ago!
a deep dive into keyboards
when building a keyboard, for personal use or for content, do you prioritize sound, feel, or aesthetics? or is it a careful mix of all three?
when building a keyboard, whether for personal use or content, i think i prioritize sound and feel over aesthetics - though i have bought keyboards purely for their look before. i mainly use my keyboards for gaming, so feel is definitely the most important, with sound close behind. but i also like my keyboards to be cute and pretty, so really, it’s a careful mix of all three!
what recommendations do you have for newcomers looking to build their first keyboard but don’t know where to start?
watching videos and reading reviews online - like on reddit and discord - helped me a lot! i learned new things and terms i never heard of, and used that knowledge to refine my search for the things i wanted for my first build!
i do have to admit, though, nowadays there are way more options than a few years ago, so it definitely can be overwhelming to dive into the mech keyboard rabbit hole. but the community has also grown a lot too, so there are tons of helpful videos and friendly people who'll try their best to help you out!
one last thing - always take sound test you hear online with a grain of salt, many factors affect how a keyboard sound, like your desk setup, microphone quality, and placement! so even if you build the exact same keyboard, the sound might still be different!
you specialize in keeb building and asmr-style typing content, so we’ve been dying to ask! are you team creamy or thocky?
that's such a tough question! but i think thocky will always have my heart, which is why one of my favorite builds is the rainy75 with osume sakura switches and night market keycaps! it sounds so deep and marbly! it also looks gorgeous with the purple and navy colors, giving such a nice contrast - paired with the coal and yellow accents and the cute novelties! it’s also one of my viewers’ favorite asmr keyboards!
the cozy community
the cozy keyboard hobbyists have built quite the community on social media. what’s it like being part of this circle?
it’s amazing, since everyone is so warm and lovely! it’s just so nice to talk with others who share the same passion - chatting about the things you love, preferences, customizations, and upcoming launches. i’ve even made friends and learned so many new things!
what really makes me teary sometimes is hearing how my content has inspired others to start making their own! it just makes me endlessly happy and so glad i had the courage to begin my creative journey. this whole chapter has played such a big role in shaping who i am today, and it’s brought me so much joy. i’ll be forever grateful for that!
connect with the creator
you can find more of rice's satisfying clicks and clacks on her instagram @rice.cloud
looking to integrate osume products into your setup? get inspired with rice's "night market reel" on how she uses osume products in her daily routines!
