Who is j. of the?
j. of the is the musical alter ego of Rival Waves lead singer Joel De La Garza. A songwriter based out of Austin, Texas, Joel’s been producing and recording his music since the early 2000s, chasing the same thing through every era: a hook that won’t let go and a story worth building around.
If Rival Waves is the sharp edge-abrasive guitars, big drums, politics-forward urgency-j. of the is the other room in the same house. It is the permission slip to widen the frame: smart, melodic bops built on curiosity and songcraft, where the production can flip from lo-fi bedroom indie to full-tilt, flag-weaving anthems in the same heartbeat. The point isn’t genre tourism. It’s freedom…following the song wherever it wants to go, without apologizing for the left turns.
The through-line is melody-first writing. These are songs designed to replay: choruses that stick, verses that move, bridges that earn their keep. Even when the arrangements get weird, the core stays clear—voice, hook, and intention. That foundation gives j. of the room to be emotionally honest without being precious, and funny without turning it into a bit. Depending on what the story calls for, the project can land authentic earnestness, dry, wry humor, or a gut-punch of sincerity—and it all still feels like the same songwriter.
That range shows up in early previews from the upcoming debut LP, Holed Up, Wait a Minute: the Ric Ocasek tribute-turned-love-letter of “All Day,” the cinematic swing of “Tonight,” and the live-tested uplift of “Sing Out.” Each track is a different doorway, but the fingerprints are consistent—tight melodic instincts, a knack for turning specific moments into something universal, and arrangements that keep surprising you without losing the plot.
j. of the may be a new name, but it’s built on decades of writing, recording, and studio obsession—an outlet designed to keep the floodgates open, stay prolific, and let the songs be exactly what they want to be.