Rival Waves // A Meaningless Chaos

Release Date: August 4, 2023

Produced & Mixed by Chris "Frenchie" Smith
at The Bubble Studios, Austin, TX

Mastered by Alex Lyon
at The Bubble Mastering House, Austin, TX

Released by:
© ℗ 2023 Lunar Drive Records

Buy LP

A Meaningless Chaos (2023)

The NAMI EP

Sweetest Betrayal EP

TRANSDUCER (2018)

your time is up
this is no drill 
the seas are rising and the,
fires are raging still

nowhere to hide
from such a loss
hard times bring lessons learned that
come at too high a cost

here is no why
there is just pain
caught holding the umbrella
standing in acid rain

we are to blame
for all we see
sitting on our hands while the
whole word is on its knees

a dream...deferred
never stopping to think
living...our lives
somewhere out on the brink

your time’s up
your time’s up
it’s time

your time has come
no need to run
it’s all just evolution
finishing what you’ve begun

as lies and fears
have taken hold
now reap what you’ve been sewing
if we may be so bold

a sickness rages
through our veins
as you divide and conquer
in the name of short-term gain

is this your plan
to be redeemed?
'cos even Jesus Christ can’t
fathom this suffering

a dream...deferred
never stopping to think
living...our lives
somewhere out on the brink

lions, awake!

Time's Up - Single

Time's Up

SLANT:

There's a slant on the horizon
Your position's inopportune
The tipping point has capsized
There is nothing else we can do
All solutions, when provided
Simply cast off in self-abuse
And so it goes
Reap what you sow

A disease has us surrounded
Now it's everyone for themselves
Revolution is demanded
Inconveniences
Can't be helped
When the truth is second-handed
And all logic
Left on the shelf
Let's all have fun
Deaf, blind, and dumb

It's gone
And done
What's left?
When you've taken everything
Gone
And done
What's next?
How much more do you really need
Of
Our blood?
Clear out
Find another sucker
To con
You're done
Cut and run
Head over on to the next one

Why make amends?
Who mourns for our friends?
How do you pretend
And attempt to defend
Insanity?

There's a slant on the horizon
And your time is soon coming due
There's a consequence
For every action
And you are not immune
Blind belief
In what you believe
Never made "the big lie"
The truth
Hate and deceit
Your greatest feat

But you're gone
And done
What's left?
When you've taken everything
Gone
And done
What's next?
How much more do you really need
Of
Our blood?
Clear out
Find another sucker
To con
You're done
Cut and run
Head over on to the next one

Over on to the next one
Over on to the next one
Over on to the next one

SLANT

"New Fear" - the new single from Rival Waves - out May 9, 2025 on Lunar Drive Records

New Fear:
rust never sleeps
and time won’t forget
the depths we have plumbed
to pay down our…

guilt is a plague
kept out of the way
a short-sighted lie
keeps the wolves at bay

embrace the wonder
take hold of the wheel 
create, rediscover 
and learn how to feel

it’s not too late
to know we’re not okay

life in a doom scroll
chaos well-defined
curated to muzzle
and keep us all…

consumed in (consuming) our pain
a somnambulant rave
the fear of missing out
breeds a new fear these days

embrace the wonder
take hold of the wheel 
create, rediscover 
and learn how to feel

it’s not too late
to know we’re not okay

I’ll hide myself away
(I’m gonna fight it, I’m gonna fight it)
only myself to blame
(I can’t deny it, I can’t deny it, I can’t deny it)

embrace the wonder
take hold of the wheel 
create, rediscover 
and learn how to feel

it’s not too late
to know we’re not okay

Pre-Save

New Fear (2025)

Track drops May 9, 2025 on Lunar Drive Records

New Fear - Preview

Backward Blue Scenes:

i close my eyes
counting backward blue scenes
my favorite one's where you're looking at me
star-crossed and faded
all the while remain strong
waiting to hear the words i've known...all along

but life comes back my way
in the form of another day
i would dream my whole life through
for one more chance to dream of you

stay awake for me...in my backward blue scenes
stay all night for me...in my backward blue scenes
dreaming life away...just to have you here with me
stay awake for me...in my backward blue...

this empty feeling
i can't put my finger on
so i'll just try to figure this all out on my own
i spend days restless
as these nights become my life
oh how i wait

a sanctuary replete
if only in my sleep
if life is but a dream
i'll dream a life of you with me

stay awake for me...in my backward blue scenes
stay all night with me...in my backward blue scenes
dreaming life away...just to have you here with me
stay awake for me...in my backward...

...come back...

...i close my eyes...

music/lyrics: Joel De La Garza

from the debut Rival Waves EP, TRANSDUCER

Produced by: JR Taylor and Rival Waves at Taylor Audio, Austin, TX
Mixed by: Louie Lino at Resonate Music Studios, Austin, TX
Mastered by: Jerry Tubb at Terra Nova Masters, Austin, TX

TRANSDUCER

Backward Blue Scenes

music: Joel De La Garza

from the debut Rival Waves EP, TRANSDUCER

Produced by: JR Taylor and Rival Waves at Taylor Audio, Austin, TX
Mixed by: Louie Lino at Resonate Music Studios, Austin, TX
Mastered by: Jerry Tubb at Terra Nova Masters, Austin, TX

Lost Horizon

Two Horizons:

I'll take this view...two horizons at your back...

commit it all to my mind's eye
before it fades to black
a million pictures
set to launch a thousand ships
resplendent beauty fogs the shores
and reminds me of all i've.....

take to the waves
pulse with the sea
proof that she's out there...is proof she breathes for me...

i rub my eyes raw
and make my soul believe
what's been denied, embraced this time
she holds the life i need
this burning fortress
will not be denied this time
as all the warnings from ashore
remind me of all i've left...behind...

take to the waves
pulse with the sea
proof that she's out there...is proof she still needs me...

so i stay...stay in the storm
stay in the full moon tide with me...
i've given nothing
i've given all
just say it's me you need and stay...

all that i wanted
it's only ever been you
a bit of everything
and nothing less will do
love is intrepid
yet so much more than this
so i take to the waves

and pulse with the sea
proof that she's out there...is all the proof i need...
take to the waves
pulse with the sea
she'll always be out there....
yet just...beyond my reach...

i'll take this view...

music/lyrics: Joel De La Garza

from the debut Rival Waves EP, TRANSDUCER

Produced by: JR Taylor and Rival Waves at Taylor Audio, Austin, TX
Mixed by: Louie Lino at Resonate Music Studios, Austin, TX
Mastered by: Jerry Tubb at Terra Nova Masters, Austin, TX

Two Horizons

Transducer:

these lines
redefine
all our lives
blind pride in your strength has led to this downfall...
huddle 'round
you are bound
to the sound
of all of our heads hitting the concrete...

send the impulse into your mind
reverberate it against what's possible
take control & seize the day it's....yours...

be resolute
seek the truth
from a higher view
and in the end you'll be indestructible...
just let out
all self-doubt
let it go right now
release it! release it! release!

send the impulse into your mind
reverberate it against what's possible
take control & seize the day it's....yours...
send the impulse into your mind
then your arms and legs will follow
take control & become so much...more...

today the whole world changed...before my eyes...
tomorrow will never be the same...again...

send the impulse into your mind
reverberate it against what's possible
take control & seize the day it's....yours...
send the impulse into your mind
then your arms and legs will follow
take control & become so much...more...

i will send it to you...i will send it to you...

music/lyrics: Joel De La Garza

from the debut Rival Waves EP, TRANSDUCER

Produced and Mixed by: JR Taylor and Rival Waves at Taylor Audio, Austin, TX
Mastered by: Jerry Tubb at Terra Nova Masters, Austin, TX

Transducer

Amputee:

built up so strong…
don’t feel anymore…
lost my head my will is dead…
and I’m standing at your door…again…

and you’re viewing me…
as an amputee…
who’s got his heart sewn to his sleeve still…
i will make you see…again...

only happy when you try to break me down…
it’s always me and you…out of the loop…
only happy when you want to cut me out…
it’s always me and you…out of the loop…

it’s what’s in your eyes…
that can mystify…
but when I look at you, your eyes…
rip me apart…again…

it’s the same old game…
and yeah I’m to blame…
an amputee is all you see…
it’s the price I pay…again...

only happy when you try to break me down…
it’s always me and you…out of the loop…
only happy when you want to cut me out…
it’s always me and you…out of the...the loop….

i swear…that there’s…no cure for you…
my head’s…a mess…I cannot help myself…

so here I am…
built up strong again…
an amputee down on one knee…
it’s all that I have left…here I am…

only happy when you try to break me down…
it’s always me and you…out of the loop…
only happy when you want to cut me out…
it’s always me and you…out of the….
....out of the...loop...

music/lyrics: Joel De La Garza

from the debut Rival Waves EP, TRANSDUCER

Produced and Mixed by: JR Taylor and Rival Waves at Taylor Audio, Austin, TX
Mastered by: Jerry Tubb at Terra Nova Masters, Austin, TX

Amputee

Monument:

a monument for all time
held its greatness in our hands
burned in effigy to spite us
razed and broken where it stands
offhand

fallacies
false soul searching
wastes our time

with no resolve
we watch it fall
into decline

a front row seat to leave it all behind...

a monument built to our plans
left on a blood soaked floor
ghosts of those who've gone before us
shame we never did much more
to end this cold war

soul numbing
mass tragedies
that beat us down

into a state
of active hate
an upside down

and as we fall your thoughts and prayers abound...

nameless/faceless
eyes in the crowd stare down
a falling, our calling
this will be

a monument to all love…

De La Garza/Schulz (ASCAP)

Monument

Ultramanifesto:

I don't believe in superman, the pope, or presidents
I don't believe that all our hope like money has been spent
I don't believe in CEOs, the Fed, or CIA
self-serving sins will only help you on your way

I only
believe in love
only
believe in love

I don't believe the rich, the poor, or the middle class
I don't believe forgiveness when you never had to ask
I don't believe in television or in Hollywood
I don't believe in evil i don't believe in good

I only
believe in love
only
believe in love

I don't believe in all or none, without some give and take
I don't believe in looking back to relive past mistakes
I don't believe inactivism is the rage today
I don't believe in believing you never had a say

I only
believe in love
only
believe in love

I don't believe in secret handshakes or conspiracies
I'd rather fail on my feet than live on my knees

De La Garza (ASCAP)

Ultramanifesto

100M:

I left my head
somewhere else
and forgot just how to be myself
there’s nowhere else
I’d rather be
than 100 million light years away

away from me
far away from me

you had your fill
I wanted more
it’s just as well
it’s how we live
so unadorned
yet here you stay
100 million light years away

from finding my hope
from finding my peace
from making my way back home
to me

there’s something with
the stars tonight
a solar beam
refracting light
8:20 here
and into space
100 million light years away

from finding my hope
from finding my peace
from making my way back home
to me

from finding my hope (my hope)
from finding my peace (my peace)
from making my way back home (making my way back home)
from finding me (finding me)

100 million light years away.

De La Garza (ASCAP)

A Meaningless Chaos

100M

NAMI:

take me out
beyond the break
of day

with/without
I’ll make a complete
escape
my way

(existence on a string) breathe in, begin
(take the whole world in) give in to everything
and let the vast surrender carry you back
home...

let’s swim out
amongst the stars
alone

and find us a place
beyond the gloam
we’re home
again

(existence on a string) breathe in, begin
(take the whole world in) give in to everything and let
the vast surrender carry you back

...home...

(existence on a string) breathe in, begin
(take the whole world in) give in to everything and let
the vast surrender carry you back

home.

De La Garza/Schulz (ASCAP)

NAMI

Meaningless Chaos:

the sadness that you’re hearing
the trembling in my voice
a fear of fearlessness persists
as if i ever had a choice

another walk beside you
a vision crystal clear
awoken, broken as I find out
you were never even here

I can still see your face
as I wipe every perfect tear away
the longest nights make for longer days
I wouldn’t have it any other way

oh, can you hear me calling
screaming out your name
amid a din of fireworks
this meaningless chaos remains

forget the four-leaf clovers
the sunsets in your eyes
try as I may I won’t forget you
not on your life

I can still see your face
as I wipe every perfect tear away
the longest nights make for longer days
I wouldn’t have it any other way

and now I stand in silence
where ocean's meet the sand
your destination isn't
anywhere that I can comprehend

I can still see your face
as I wipe every perfect tear away
the longest nights make for longer days
I wouldn’t have it any other way

De La Garza (ASCAP)

Meaningless Chaos

from the album, A Meaningless Chaos (DELUXE EDITION), to be released September 2021

Produced & Mixed by Chris "Frenchie" Smith
at The Bubble Studios, Austin, TX

Recorded: Winter 2019
Mixed: Spring 2020

Mastered by Alex Lyon
at The Bubble Mastering House, Austin, TX
Mastered: Summer 2020

A Meaningless Chaos (D-Sides)

What She Could Be

Ironwill

The Greater Fool

Rival Waves is an alternative rock band from Austin, Texas, known for its explosive sound, socially conscious lyrics, and fiercely independent spirit. High-impact rock with purpose, passion, and conviction. https://RIVALWAVES.COM

Rival Waves

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