Who is j. of the?
j. of the is the alter ego of Rival Waves singer Joel De La Garza. A songwriter since the late ’90s, De La Garza writes smart, melodic, pop rock that’s equal parts genre-fluid curiosity and melody-led craft. Songs that can pivot from lo-fi bedroom weird to fist-pumping stadium-hook in a heartbeat. The joy of not being limited to one musical point of view means the writing can bring authentic earnestness as easily as dry, biting humor.
Start Here
New to j. of the?
Start with three preview songs from the upcoming album ‘Holed Up, Wait a Minute’ – out this spring on Lunar Drive Records.
Lyrics
All Day
I took the long way
the long way home
back to the island
where I was born
I’m reimagined
refueled and reformed
and I never felt more alive
then I do – in this moment with you
no rainy days just warm sunshine
forget the pain that lingers
right here – in your mind
you’re just a hope, a dream away
a full moon balanced on the crest
of a tidal wave
let’s ride it
all day.
and now we’re out here
alone on our own
maybe we’re wiser
maybe we missed the boat
but just the same, love
I am far from view
and there’s nowhere else I’d rather
be than – here with you
no rainy days just warm sunshine
forget the thoughts that linger
right here – in your mind
you’re just a thought, a touch away
a full moon balanced on the crest
of a tidal wave
let’s ride it
all day.
take my hand, we’ll drive all night
leave behind the dark and bathe in light
forgo the roads and learn to fly
and i’ll be yours if you’ll be…
mine is a passion
a heartfelt lust for life
that we are crafting
one day we might get it right
‘til then i’m waiting
for an open door
back to the opportunity
that i get – when all is possible
no rainy days just warm sunshine
forget the fear that lingers
right here – in your mind
you’re just a wish, a call away
a full moon balanced on the crest
of a tidal wave
let’s ride it
all day.
© 2026 bell(a)dora music (ASCAP)
Tonight
tonight…
the world is ours tonight
break out forget what’s right
keep running from the light
this world’s…
blue shadows painted black
just like they were way back
when you could stop the time
turn ‘round…
move your body to the sound…
turn the whole world upside down…
with my voice inside your head…
and laugh…
launch your smile into my soul
know you make me lose control
and in your heart I know
the stars are all out for you
what more could I ever do
just know that I love you…yeah…
wait…
yet, don’t hesitate
the truth will keep us safe
i hope it’s not too late
to recall…
the way I felt in you
back when we both could feel
the earth move
the stars are all out for you
what more could I ever do
just know that I love you…yeah…
it’s a perfect world
such a sad, sad, world
in this insane world
just dream…of me…
tonight…
dream of me tonight
say your prayers just right
and then…
the stars are all out for you
what more could I ever do
just know that I’ll always fall…always fall for you
tonight…
© 2026 bell(a)dora music (ASCAP)
Sing Out
Broken love
Is all around us
When only real love
Can understand us
Only thing better than
The real thing
Is learning how to make
Your heart sing
So sing…sing out…
When your friends are gone
And you’re on your own
And you feel like you can
No longer carry on
Just take your broken heart
And tuck your shattered soul?
Into one big breath
And just let it go
And sing…sing out…
Let the tide embrace and take you for a ride
Light headed by the freedom that arrives
When no one has the answers
It’s just you you have to answer
When everything is nothing as it seems
It’s a slice of peace in this crazy world
It’s a brand new song for a pretty girl
It’s that epiphany that you dream about
And when it happens, man, you gotta sing it out
So sing…sing out…
© 2026 bell(a)dora music (ASCAP)