Cloud Studies set to release debut EP

Cloud Studies started as an experiment between three friends surrounded by an ever-growing collection of guitar effects pedals and they’ve since bloomed into one of South London’s more intriguing shoegaze propositions. Cloud Studies rose from a simple desire to see what might happen when layers of reverb, texture and distortion were taken to their limits, resulting in a panoramic sound that drifts between dream pop haze, indie shoegaze and the darker emotional context of post punk goth music.

Since forming in 2024, the band have been quick to earn a reputation for their widescreen approach to texture-driven alternative music. Cloud Studies stretch the familiar elements of the shoegaze style into something more fluid, blending shimmering beauty with moments of tension. Their early singles unveiled a project invested in mood and atmosphere, balancing stacked instrumentation with reflective lyricism and an openness toward sonic experimentation.

Their output has already attracted attention from across the independent music landscape; support from various tastemakers helped establish early momentum and alongside critical support, official playlisting from Qobuz, Apple Music and Tidal, including the number one position on an Indie Britain playlist, further confirmed their status

Now, following a run of well-received singles, Cloud Studies arrive with their self-titled debut EP, a release that expands the hazy, reverb-drenched world they’ve been gradually constructing. Across four tracks, the record builds on the band’s exploration of shoegaze and dream pop while introducing flourishes of goth rock, ambient music and folktronica.

Opening track “Cloud Cartography (Extended)” reimagines one of the band’s earlier outing as an ascent through layered textures and chiming guitars. Built on the rustle of hurried drums, pulsing bass lines, washing guitar tones and mellow vocal leads, the arrangement develops steadily, drifting with stretched textures and bubbling synth notes before eventually collapsing into a dense and melodic wall of sound.

The sense of scale continues into “Dreams About,” the EP’s lead single and perhaps its most uplifting moment, offering an intricate balance between energising rhythm, bright vocal harmonies and sombre concept. Rolling with shimmering guitars and melodic arpeggios that echo classic indie pop appeal, the track contrasts bright musical textures against lyrics centred on escaping the monotony of everyday life through prescription drugs while the tension between euphoria and emotional exhaustion gives the song a subtle tone of melancholy beneath its more buoyant melodic warmth.

“Avenue” veers toward an indietronica scene, offering a reflective political meditation shaped by environmental change. Themes of loss, renewal and nature move subtly through the track, giving it a contemplative stillness that contrasts with some of the EP’s more invigorating moments. Flowing with lilting rhythmic sway, elegant vocal delivery and mesmeric atmosphere, it’s a delicate moment that frames the band’s meaningful songwriting in a dreamy setting.

Closing the release with “Hiding Place,” Cloud Studies reveal the darker edges of their sonic vision by exploring the psychology of stalking and abandoning much of the earlier warmth in favour of eerie tension. Breathy vocals float above the biting twang of guitar and brooding atmosphere while bursts of noise fracture the arrangement as post punk influences begin to dominate, taking the band into the sphere they describe as “gothgaze.” It’s an epic finale that filters their sound through a moody sonic lens to deliver an engrossing conclusion to their sensational debut EP.

With the release arriving on the 19th of June, Cloud Studies are set to deliver their most ambitious artistic statement thus far. As their reputation for immersive live performances continues to grow, this first EP is sure to win over fans across the UK and beyond by crystallising their studio output in spectacular fashion.