There’s a Berlin-based artist making waves right now, and Icing Sands is not trying to fit into anyone’s boxes. At 28, Icing Sands, created by artist and songwriter Kate Elister, blends metalcore intensity with dark pop atmosphere, creating a sound that feels familiar but completely their own.
This is music for people who want heaviness with space, where slow, moody riffs sit alongside 80s-inspired synths and restrained vocals that still cut deep. It’s an unusual mix, but Icing Sands makes it work. With a background in sound design, every element feels intentional. Nothing is there by accident. This isn’t heavy for the sake of it. Icing Sands uses weight when the emotion calls for it, and when things pull back, the silence lands just as hard.
Before stepping fully into the project, Icing Sands worked as a sound engineer across mixing, tracking, and design. That technical foundation is clear. For the upcoming EP, Icing Sands collaborated with UK producer Romesh Dodangoda, known for work with Bring Me The Horizon and Nova Twins. It’s a smart choice, someone who knows how to make heavy music feel wide and cinematic without losing its edge. The production reflects that balance of control and experimentation.
The singles 'Waves' and 'Nightmares' highlight two sides of Icing Sands. 'Waves' captures the quiet pain of leaving a toxic relationship, where attachment makes letting go feel impossible. It’s emotional without overreaching, grounded in lines that feel real. “Nightmares” turns inward to explore the chaos of the mind. It’s less about narrative and more about immersing ourselves in the darkest parts of our minds and the realisation of how dark a place the mind can be.
Both tracks were co-written with a longtime collaborator, and everything around Icing Sands carries that same raw energy. There’s no rush here, no chasing trends. Icing Sands is building something honest, heavy, and unapologetically rooted in the dark.
You can stream both scintillating new singles now, and for more, be sure to join Icing Sands on Instagram.
