Los Angeles indie post-punk art outfit Science of Nature is the creation of Joel Petersen (ex-The Faint, Broken Spindles) on guitar and vocals, Han-Su Kim on bass and harmony vocals, and Danny Deleon (Soft Kill, Moving Units) on drums.

Upon listening to their new LP ‘Time Spent'(out now via The Record Machine), you’re immediately taken on a beautifully cohesive, well-crafted, vast journey. Some of the vocals carry a Gotye-tinged feel, like on ‘Typical Joy,’ while ‘Edge of Line’ conjures the spirit of Talking Heads and Franz Ferdinand, and ‘Have Hope’ not only showcases the band’s sophistication and songwriting chops with a cool 2025 indie twist — its uplifting lyrics are also something the world really needs right now.

Their song and lead single ‘Everything Fucked’ is, honestly, just what we need too. “Fuck it, let’s dance until the lights go out” is a perfect motto to stand by! The vocal energy of this track hints at Violent Femmes, while the music leans into The Strokes territory — yet remains totally their own. The lyrics are raw and honest, and the track proves the band’s broad musicianship and ability to craft a strong, catchy chorus. It makes sense — two of the members come from legendary early-2000s bands like The Faint and Moving Units, who helped define the era’s “cool” scene. These guys know what they’re doing.

‘Time Spent’ is a danceable, disco-laced indie post-punk dream — full of angular, hooky guitars, rolling bass lines, and creatively percussive, disco-inspired drums. Joel Petersen did a fantastic job creating a tight production that feels well-toned, balanced, and thoughtfully crafted, with great dynamics that suit this kind of record.

Additionally, the trio has developed a simple, strong visual identity with their album — their modern, minimalist collages are a perfect visual match for the music.

Bold, honest, and effortlessly cool — Science of Nature is the soundtrack to your late-night revelations and dance-floor escapes.

<a href="https://therecordmachine.bandcamp.com/album/time-spent">Time Spent by Science In Nature</a>

How did the band come about?

Joel Petersen: After I left The Faint in 2010, I worked in the creative agency world and it took over my life for quite a few years, and I didn’t write or play music. I got to a point where I knew something was off within me, so I stopped. Within a few months, there was a rapid outpouring of songs that must have been bottled up. Versions of the songs ‘A Calendar Crossed Through,’ ‘This Money Talks,’ and ‘Have Hope’ were written at that time. Soon thereafter, I knew I missed playing with other people. I’d known Han-Su for a while through the agency world, and we’d always gotten along well, and I knew he was a total shredder on guitar and piano — so I thought… he should play bass! We then had a number of other folks play with us at one point or another as we tried to figure out our sound, and I did everything I could to not be the singer. But ultimately it never felt right having other people sing my lyrics, which tend to be quite personal and introspective. Everything really clicked once Danny started playing drums with us. The way he and Han-Su lock in together feels magical to me.

“a slightly pessimistic take on optimism”

I love the sophistication in ‘Have Hope.’ What is that song about?

It’s a slightly pessimistic take on optimism and also an optimistic take on pessimism, using a relationship’s journey as the setting. It’s that apprehensive yet rosy tug-of-war that I think we all go through in the initial weeks/months of dating someone new.

If you guys as a band could tour with anyone (like a dream band to open up for), who would it be?

I’d love to share a stage with Model/Actriz. Their unconventional approach to their instruments, masterful use of tension and release, and plain yet poetic lyricism is awe-inspiring. They are true artists.

What’s next for you guys?

We are having so much fun playing together right now. We just want to keep playing and having fun with people at shows, and thankfully, the songs keep pouring out — so we’ll be releasing more music later in the year.

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