Total Science are Jason Greenhalgh, also known as Q Project and nicknamed Quiff, and Paul Smith, known as Spinback. The pair became friends in Oxford through hip-hop before house music and early rave drew them towards faster breakbeats.
Their earlier partnership, Funky Technicians, explored deeper material for Good Looking Records. The Total Science name gave them an outlet for tougher music, while their own label, C.I.A., let them release tracks at their own pace.
Samples are central to their writing. Smith has described starting with a folder of sounds and allowing those choices to suggest the direction of a track, rather than working to a rigid plan. Old funk and soul records offered textures that he felt were difficult to reproduce with instruments alone.
The pair's roles developed differently: Smith was initially drawn to DJing, while Quiff was already experimenting with drum machines and synthesisers. Their later studio work brought those instincts together, with Quiff paying particular attention to engineering and mixdowns.
In February 2026, Total Science and Kublai released Rack 'em Up / Swamp Thing to open C.I.A.'s 30th-anniversary celebrations. The label described the pairing as a connection between its roots and its newer generation, placing a jungle-led track alongside a darker, rolling counterpart.
