SOS Shows Grace in Endings with ‘Yumi & The Apocalypse’

Indie alternative band SOS reflects on endings in their new single, “Yumi & The Apocalypse,” the carrier single of their forthcoming sophomore album, It Was A Moment, out on March 28th.

Blending old, familiar sounds with new, experimental production, “Yumi & The Apocalypse” hones in on SOS’s strong storytelling, often centered on personal and serving as an avatar of collective experiences, delicately balancing their tendency towards cynicism (or, “a stroke of sadness,” as they describe it) with a more mellowed maturity. While the song is about a breakup, “Yumi” tells it with more grace. As the band puts it, “It’s with less spite and more acceptance.”

Originally written with a different chorus by vocalist Roberto Seña, the band kept the older production and incorporated standout rearrangements by Ram Alonzo (keys) and King Puentespina (drums), who also both work on synths. Kiddo Cosio, the owner of beloved El Union coffee shop and roastery, played on trumpet for the track.

While “Yumi & The Apocalypse” still delivers SOS’ self-described classic “guitars, angsty but melancholic singing,” the end result is brought together by dynamic sources of inspiration and sound palettes from all five members, even if it meant not capitulating to a highly pop-oriented market—but with hopes it will resonate with people, too. “It was rewarding hearing the music come together. It always is… A lot of artists are too concerned to make a pop hit, but sometimes you just want to let some angst out,” they said. “We’re always just trying to amuse ourselves at this point. Never fully concerned if listeners today want this from us. If it lands, it lands. We’re just happy to be in the studio and bring life to whatever stories we have to tell.”

The single arrives after the announcement of the five-piece band’s highly anticipated second album, It Was A Moment, following their critically acclaimed 2017 debut LP, Whatever That Was and their first full-length release since the addition of Alonzo in 2023.