New Music: Omo Cloud – Sometimes

A mausoleum is often a sombre affair, a way of marking the death of someone important. But on the new album of that name by Omo Cloud, it can also be viewed as marking the end of an era.

The album doesn’t close the book on a period of the life of Omo Cloud – non-binary San Diego based musician Cole De La Isla – one that saw them suffer trauma and go on a journey to find their own identity, but it does signal a recognition of a place where they can look back while embracing the future.

And that future promises them beauty and more, judging by tracks like Sometimes. A delicate exploration of pain and recovery, the track is an accommodation of the past, acknowledging that what happened has happened, but it doesn’t define De La Isla, and nor should we allow our own similar experiences to define ourselves.

Along with collaborator Andy Walsh, Omo Cloud creates a gossamer blend of indie, baroque, and dream pop, at times soothing, at times raw, but always – always – full of beauty.

Reveals De La Isla says about Mausoleum, “This music was born out of the pandemic, and so much therapy. The record is called Mausoleum because I’m trying to encapsulate this very long part of my life that is now closed, that I’m moving beyond, but I can always return to it and reflect on it.”

“I feel like I spent a lot of my teenhood being very angsty and existential and cynical in a lot of ways, but I don’t want that to be the takeaway of the record at all,” adds De La Isla. “I feel the takeaway is actually a very optimistic one.

“We’re all capable of growth and change, and it is a lot of work, but it is worth it. I want people to trust their gut. I want to help people connect with hard emotions — and I want people to be inspired.”

“And so, we’re not buried with our past — but we can visit it from time to time and see how far we’ve come.”

Mausoleum is out now to stream on Spotify and pick up on vinyl over on Bandcamp. For all the latest news from Omo Cloud, check out their Instagram page.