On 21st February 2025, Peace came out with a new single, their first in a year. Peace has attracted a cult following over the years, and their music tends to encapsulate perfectly both the dark and light sides of youth, desire, and rebellion. The band, currently formed of two brothers, Harry and Sam Koisser, are one of the biggest bands to come out of Birmingham since Black Sabbath. One thing I’ve learned since moving to Birmingham has been that Brummies love to protect their own, and that’s certainly the case with Peace. The city and its residents have truly embraced this duo in a way that seems almost singular, and many people echo the sentiment of their infamous Instagram handle, “peace4ever”.

I first came across Peace only last year when someone, who has since become a friend of mine, was such a big fan he falsely introduced himself as the lead singer, and saved all their songs to my Spotify library. Thanks to them I would now consider myself a fan. I love how refreshing and modern Peace feel, despite most of their discography being recorded over ten years ago, and yet simultaneously retro, with tracks like “Lovesick” and “World Pleasure” having a definite The Cure feel to them.

Peace’s newest single, provocatively titled ‘Swimming with Dolphins’, is a shiny, synthy track, reminiscent of summer: picture laughing with friends at a festival in July heat. I happened to see Peace perform live last July at Truck festival. Their set was one of the more lively events of the weekend, and they brought an electric atmosphere that coincided perfectly with those warm British evenings I spent around the campsite with my nearest and dearest friends. So, maybe I am biased towards this new track of Peace’s, who have become a sure part of my staple summer soundtrack, and whose music has embedded such good memories of the upcoming season. Whatever I have found in it to resonate with, though, I think many others will have found too.

The shimmery guitar riffs blend experimental elements with their signature indie rock roots, and sets a dreamy and atmospheric tone. It feels like an eclectic mix of old and new sounds, which mesh together to create a clean cut finish that still maintains its edge. Lyrically, the song is as cathartic as it is sonically. The catchy chorus repeats the phrase “I wanna scream loud/ scream to the wasteland”, which feels both freeing and full of the desire to escape. The opening lines, “in the room where you sleep / the critters creep / when you want to be happy / desperately” evoke thoughts of an internal struggle. The provocative imagery of “critters creep[ing]” gives an uncomfortable and uneasy spin on things in just the first few seconds of the song, juxtaposing the bouncy sound. The shift in the lyrics of the chorus to “and go swimming with dolphins” really taps into an urgent need for release. It’s like the speaker is desperate to let out all the chaos and frustration inside, but at the same time, it feels like an impossible task. Screaming into the “wasteland” brings to mind a sense of emptiness, like shouting into the void and hearing nothing back. It’s a raw, almost hopeless kind of release. Swimming with dolphins is a bit of a curveball in this sense.

Dolphins are known for their playfulness, symbolising freedom, joy, and peace (no pun intended), with the concept of swimming with dolphins being itself a frivolous idea. It’s a sharp contrast to the “wasteland”, and a sudden shift from frustration to a deep desire for calm and tranquility. The lyrics are torn between these two extremes: the inner chaos and the yearning for something peaceful, something to bring them balance and joy. In a way, these lyrics are a tug-of-war between desperation and hope. They show this raw, human side of struggling to break free from inner turmoil while also craving a sense of peace, something that makes everything feel okay again.

For a comeback track, the overall message in “Swimming with Dolphins” is an experimental and carefree one. Which feels very representative of Peace as a band and I think old and new fans alike will find something to enjoy within it. Peace have just wrapped up a UK tour and are heading
to Germany this month to play a few shows. This is a band that I’m definitely excited to see again this festival season, with their next new highly anticipated single. And to wrap this up, all that’s left to say is, peace4ever!

Listen to ‘Swimming With Dolphins’ below!