Science is Fiction is a four-piece indie rock band from Calgary, Alberta, comprised of Pavan Singh (vocals, guitar), Kirk Stensrud (vocals, guitar), Blair Lipkind (bass), and Matt Anderson (drums). Their music is built on a foundation of infectious guitar riffs and angular pop melodies, providing a tense, energetic bedrock for their distinct narrative-driven lyrics.
The first single on the forthcoming album, “Sea of Love II” is a hypnotic track that uses its repeated, mantra-like verse “The sea will wince with pain and crash / The wind will cry a song of sorrow…” to set a scene of turmoil, letting the expansive instrumental sections carry the emotional weight of facing the same storm again and again.
The single serves as an introduction to the upcoming “No Future”, an album that’s the latest result of the musical partnership between Pavan Singh and Kirk Stensrud that began as a late-90s home recording project. Reborn as a full band with the addition of a formidable rhythm section in Blair Lipkind (bass) and Matt Anderson (drums), they released their 2019 EP Don’t Everybody Thank Me At Once, which saw the band charting on college radio across Canada. A few years later, Pavan arrived at jam night with a handful of songs full of righteous riffs and catchy melodies that would become the basis of their debut full-length. The album explores the ways we deal with the present when we know things are falling apart, whether it’s giving up, trying harder, or a wry laugh.
“There’s a certain feeling of release, even joy, when you finally accept that things are over… when there is no future,” explains Singh. “It forces you to live entirely in the present moment, which can be both terrifying and hilarious. Many of the lyrics come from my own memories, but they’re filtered through this caricature of myself as a kind of Larry David or George Costanza character—anxious, over-thinking, but finding comedy in the collapse.”
To expand on their straightforward power-pop sound, the band brought these songs to producer Chris Dadge (Chad VanGaalen, Alvvays) at Child Stone Studios, who helped them succeed with their ambitious exploration into new genres on their full-length debut.
Name:
Science Is Fiction
Genre:
Indie Rock
Founded:
2014
# of Albums:
2
Latest Album:
No Future (Fall 2025)
Latest Single:
Latest Video:
Favourite musician growing up:
So many things – Beach Boys, Arrested Development, REM, Tragically Hip, Marvin Gaye, Modest Mouse.
Favourite musician now:
I feel like I am going backwards and appreciating older stuff again. movie soundtracks. Gustav Holst. I can’t even tell you what I like now.
Guilty pleasure song:
Gimme Gimme Gimme by Abba. Actually, I don’t even feel guilty….
Live show ritual:
Pretend to know what I am doing by turning knobs on pedals and amplifiers.
Favourite local musician:
Chad VanGaalen. Also, the Dust Collectors are pretty rad.
EP or LP?
LP – the more the merrier.
Early bird or night owl?
A bit of both. I love mornings and hate waking up late, but I also find it hard to fall asleep. I have a fear of missing out, and inspiration tends to come at night.
Road or studio?
Road – however, the studio is very fun though..it feels so luxurious to record an album.
Any shows or albums coming up?
We are playing a Ship Showcase (Ship and Anchor) on Sept 27th, hosted by our friends the Dust Collectors.
Where can we follow you?
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Rapid Fire Local Questions:
What is your favourite local restaurant?
I drink a lot of coffee and basically run the café circuit weekly. Food for me is either a donut, a toasted bagel with peanut and banana or… a donut. Always paired with coffee. Coffee to me..has to NOT taste like burnt coffee. The coffee circuit includes Phil and Sebastian’s and Beano… and recently Analog.
What is your favourite street in your city and why?
I am really liking Bridgeland lately. The street where the old General Hospital used to be is very calm and has a great view. The main street is starting to develop.
What is your favourite park in your city and why?
Fish Creek is great for bike riding. Edworthy Park feels sneaky; it’s awesome. I have great memories of Prince’s Island Park and being at Folkfest.
What is your favourite music venue in your city?
When a smaller act comes to town, the Bella Concert Hall is a great listening experience; it’s the perfect-sized venue. For smaller local shows…there are actually too many to list, but The Ship, of course, for the crowd or Ironwood for really great sound and warmth.
What is your favourite music store in your city?
I love walking into a record store, even just for a browse. HotWax, Recordland, Sloth. The mustiness.
