Cloud Cult’s approach to "music as medicine" and indie-chamber-rock sound has been lauded by critics as "insane genius" (Pitchfork), "an invocation of the lifeforce" (New York Times), and ranked the band as one of the Top 10 Green Bands (Rolling Stone). Cloud Cult’s philosophical lyrics and indie-chamber-rock sound has been lauded by critics as "insane genius" (Pitchfork) and "an invocation of the
lifeforce" (New York Times). Hailed as one of the Top 10 Green Bands by Rolling Stone, Cloud Cult has a history of bucking the mainstream music industry in favor of independently releasing music via their environmentally-conscious record label Earthology Records. Cloud Cult began as Craig Minowa's solo studio project after the unexpected loss of his son and has grown with an evolving lineup of string, brass, and rock musicians. Breaking with the recent history of orchestral folk singles that have landed Cloud Cult’s music at the top of college radio charts (including three songs landing in The Current's Hall of Fame), Cloud Cult is set to release a high energy ambient indie rock album, in August of 2024 with singles debuting in May. The album, entitled Alchemy Creek, was written and recorded in a tiny home in the middle of deep Wisconsin woods by Minowa in isolation over the course of two years. Cloud Cult’s extensive catalogue also includes 10 full-length studio albums, , Unplug (a live album and film), No One Said It Would Be Easy (a feature length documentary film), Stories From the Road (a series of short films), and their album turned feature film, The Seeker – (starring Josh Radnor & Alex McKenna – which landed on Entertainment Weekly’s Must List). Cloud Cult's most recent album, Metamorphosis (2022), was written and composed for performance with the Minnesota Orchestra and included three sold out shows at Minnesota Orchestra Hall, in the fastest ticket sale in the venue's history. Cloud Cult has been touring in 2024 and 2025 nationally behind its most recent release "Alchemy Creek". In addition, the band’s green efforts are unmatched. Minowa created the band's own Earthology Records to help green the music industry and co-developed the first 100% postconsumer recycled CD packaging in the U.S. The band began zero net greenhouse gas practices for tours long before it was trendy and their merchandise is 100% postconsumer recycled or made of certified organic materials. On top of that, Cloud Cult has planted several thousand trees to absorb the band's CO2 output, their studio is powered by solar power and built partially from reclaimed wood and recycled plastic and they donate heavily to projects that build wind turbines as revenue generators on Native American Reservations. From a cabin studio in the middle of the woods, Minowa has been releasing a steady stream of weekly Cloud Cult “self-help” songs and videos exclusive to its Patreon base over the last 5 years, ranking the band as one of the top content creators on the platform. The common thread through what Cloud Cult does as a creative collective is their uplifting message and continual celebration of life, love, and catharsis through music as medicine.
