Swiss band Softlander’s California hits like a ’70s rock anthem with a wink. It’s all swagger, guitar solos, and a narrator dishing out advice like he’s got it all figured out, but there’s a twist—the California in this track isn’t the dream. It’s more of a stand-in for that too-perfect feeling, like sunshine that burns a little too bright. There’s something off-kilter in the good vibes, a subtle jab at self-improvement and the pressures of having it all.

With gritty charm, Softlander turns west coast paradise into a place that’s not quite as golden as it seems.

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