California dream-pop collective Soft Science has just released their fifth full-length album, Sand, out now via Shelflife Records in the US and Spinout Nuggets in the UK. Spanning 10 tracks, the album finds the six-piece expanding their sonic palette through shimmering guitars, ethereal vocals, swirling synths, and driving rhythms, bringing together elements of dream pop, shoegaze, and indie rock.
Listen to Sand:
Watch the official video for “Spinning”:
Throughout Sand, Soft Science explore themes of change, memory, love, and identity, examining how relationships evolve and endure amid uncertainty and transformation. The album pairs immersive soundscapes with melodic immediacy and emotional honesty, capturing the tension between the familiar and the unknown. The result is a collection that balances the atmospheric qualities of dream pop with the urgency of indie rock, creating music that feels both expansive and deeply personal.
The album’s release follows the arrival of lead single “Spinning,” a hypnotic, emotionally charged track built around stellar guitar work and restless momentum. The song examines the exhaustion of going in circles in a relationship, revisiting the same conversations, searching for understanding, and questioning whether you are ever truly reaching the other person. With its shimmering instrumentation and infectious melodic hooks, “Spinning” transforms frustration and uncertainty into something both exhilarating and affecting.
“‘Spinning’ is one of my favorite songs on Sand,” says vocalist and percussionist Katie Haley. “It carries a powerful energy. It’s incredibly catchy and makes you want to move, but there’s also an underlying tension that perfectly complements the lyrics. Matt’s guitar work really heightens that feeling throughout the song.”
Guitarist Ross Levine explains how the track’s arrangement came together: “I’ve always been drawn to driving guitar parts combined with repeating bass motifs because they create a feeling of constant motion. That was the foundation for ‘Spinning.’ Katie’s gentle vocal melody provided the perfect contrast. The final touch was a harmony she added to the chorus near the end of the recording process—it elevated the entire track.”
The band also experimented with unconventional production techniques while developing the album’s sound. Guitarist Matt Levine describes the process behind one of the track’s distinctive instrumental elements: “We wanted to experiment with backwards guitar leads. The challenge wasn’t just creating the effect, but making it feel purposeful. I recorded a descending lead line with the intention that it would move in the opposite direction when reversed. The first attempt exceeded my expectations.”
Soft Science features Katie Haley on vocals and percussion, Matt Levine on lead guitar, Ross Levine on guitar and backing vocals, Tony Cale on drums, Becky Cale on bass and backing vocals, and Hans Munz on electronics. Together, the band create richly layered arrangements that bring together swirling guitars, atmospheric electronics, ethereal vocals, and propulsive rhythms.
Sand was recorded at Shattered Records and The Pool House. Jack O’Donnell handled engineering duties, with additional engineering by Ross Levine. The album was mixed by Kev Bolus at OneEleven and mastered by Antony Ryan at Red Red Paw.
With Sand, Soft Science continue to develop their distinctive approach to dream pop, crafting a record that moves between atmospheric textures, driving instrumentation, and candid explorations of the complexities of human connection.