John Ringhofer, known by his stage name Half-handed Cloud, is an American indie musician and songwriter celebrated for idiosyncratic, lo-fi “pocket symphony” pop collages, and playful, spiritually themed lyrics. Emerging from the independent music scene in the early 2000s, he has released numerous albums characterized by short, catchy songs, inventive arrangements, and a distinctive childlike sense of wonder. His music often blends melodic elements of indie pop, eclectic instrumentation, and DIY avant-garde experimentation, drawing upon his art school background. He and his family have been based in Helsinki, Finland since 2015.
Ringhofer frequently backed and toured with both Danielson and Sufjan Stevens in the mid-2000s (John was an original member of Sufjan’s Illinoisemakers band), and Half-handed Cloud has also shared stages with Daniel Johnston, Deerhoof, Joanna Newsom, Of Montreal, LAKE, John Van Deusen, The Motifs, Soul-Junk, Vollmar, Those Lavender Whales, Little Wings, WHY?, Frightened Rabbit, The Mountain Goats, and Maher Shalal Hash Baz, among others.
'Toothpaste Horse,' his latest album, was written and developed alongside his four children and released June 18, 2026 on Asthmatic Kitty Records, paired on vinyl with his 2018 children's album 'I Don't Have A Bib.'
