Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel De La Garza
Hi Joel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Music has always been central to my life. My parents were youth church choir sponsors, and the house was filled with everything from The Beatles to Motown, New Wave, and Hard Rock. While most kids were into Sesame Street, I was raised on rock radio and MTV. At 13, I started studying percussion, which became my passion. By high school, I was an all-state percussionist and award-winning jazz drummer.
While attending the University of Texas, I saw a Daily Texan feature on Austin bands, a few led by Latinx musicians who looked like me or had similar last names. This sparked my belief that a music career in Austin was possible. After two years in the UT basketball band, I joined 3 Penny Opera, played my first 6th Street shows and got a taste of touring. When the band ended, I decided I wanted to be a singer, and formed Chloe’s Honey. During our 3-year run, we released my first record and went from playing small venues to headlining Antone’s.
I ended the band to pursue my MBA at St. Edward’s University but kept honing my songwriting. During grad school, I worked with top session musicians, including Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jack Irons (Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers) as part of my capstone project. This collaboration led to the formation of Rival Waves.
Originally a studio project, Rival Waves quickly evolved into a full band. After a few lineup changes, guitarists Marc Schulz and Erik Salinas joined in 2017, followed by drummer Paul Piñon and bassist Dave McLeod in 2019. We released our debut EP TRANSDUCER in 2018 and teamed up with Grammy-nominated producer Chris “Frenchie” Smith for our debut album A Meaningless Chaos, which was released in August 2023 after a COVID delay.
Since then, we’ve been on a roll, releasing an EP and two singles in 2024. Our single “Time’s Up” has generated significant online buzz and nearly 100,000 Spotify streams since its June release and we have followed that up with our latest single “SLANT” on September 13th.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Rival Waves has been through a lot since we first started, and the journey hasn’t always been easy. From day one, we’ve worked to carve out our own space in the alternative rock world, which can feel overwhelming when you’re up against many other bands. Without major label support, we’ve had to figure out a lot on our own, including producing our albums A Meaningless Chaos and TRANSDUCER ourselves, and managing everything from booking shows to distribution to promotion and marketing. It’s been a grind, but we’ve always been committed to making music on our terms, no matter the hurdles.
On top of that, one of the toughest parts has been juggling the band with everything else in life. Austin’s live music scene is amazing, but it’s competitive, and sometimes it’s a challenge to get noticed and consistently draw. Meanwhile, we’re all balancing our personal lives and careers while trying to give as much energy as possible to Rival Waves. There have been moments where it felt like we were running on fumes, especially between album releases, but that struggle has also driven us to keep pushing forward and get more creative with how we approach our process.
In the digital age, growing a fanbase isn’t as simple as it used to be. We’re constantly figuring out how to stand out and meaningfully grow on platforms like Spotify, Instagram, and TikTok, where there’s no shortage of music and content fighting for attention. Reaching 20k monthly Spotify listeners and aiming to grow our presence on social media has been an ongoing effort, but we’re committed to connecting with our fans in a real, authentic way. No matter how tough it’s been, we’ve always remained focused on our vision, adapting and finding ways to keep moving forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Rival Waves is an alternative rock band out of Austin, TX, and we’re all about creating music that blends raw energy with deep emotion. Our sound is rooted in powerful guitar riffs and dynamic rhythms, but what really drives us is the storytelling aspect of our songs. We aim to capture a range of emotions—from the chaos of the world around us to the more personal struggles and triumphs we all face. Aside from a handful of singles, we’ve self-produced two albums thus far, 2018’s TRANSDUCER EP, and 2023’s ‘A Meaningless Chaos’, and our focus has always been on making music that resonates both sonically and lyrically.
We specialize in crafting songs that have layers—both musically and thematically. There’s a certain intensity to our sound, but there’s also a lot of thought put into the words we choose and the stories we tell. Our music touches on themes of conflict, resilience, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. We’re known for delivering high-energy performances and for songs that stay with you long after the music stops. It’s that emotional depth combined with the drive to connect with listeners that sets our work apart.
What we’re most proud of is staying true to our vision and maintaining our independence as a band. We’ve built everything ourselves—from recording and producing albums to booking shows to growing our fanbase online—and that’s something that gives us a real sense of accomplishment. We didn’t look for a record label or outside help to make things happen. Every song we’ve released and every show we’ve played has been the result of our own passion, determination, and hard work. That DIY ethic is at the core of who we are as a band, and it’s something we take a lot of pride in.
What sets us apart from others is our commitment to authenticity. In everything we do, we try to stay as genuine as possible, whether it’s in the music we make, how we engage with our fans or the way we present ourselves on social media. We aren’t interested in following trends or conforming to what’s expected—we’re more focused on creating something meaningful and lasting. We believe that this connection with listeners, where they can feel the honesty and intention behind what we do, is what makes Rival Waves stand out in a crowded music landscape.
What makes you happy?
Simply put? It’s seeing our music resonate with people. There’s something incredible about knowing that a song we wrote in a small studio, on an iPhone memo, or during a jam session is being played in someone’s car or through their headphones halfway across the world. When fans reach out to tell us how a particular track or lyric hit home for them, it’s a reminder of why we started doing this in the first place. That connection—when the music becomes more than just something we created but something that belongs to everyone who listens—that’s what drives us.
Playing live is another huge source of happiness for us. There’s an energy in any room when we’re on stage that’s hard to put into words, but it’s what we live for. Every show, whether it’s a packed 3Ten at ACL Live or a more intimate venue, gives us a chance to connect directly with the audience and feed off their excitement. Seeing fans sing along to our songs or just lose themselves in the music makes all the hard work, late nights, and struggles worth it. Those moments remind us of the power of live music and why we love being a part of it.
And honestly, we get a lot of joy out of creating and simply being together as a band. Making music together is something we’re passionate about, but it’s also a ton of fun. Whether we’re goofing around during a recording session, coming up with new ideas, or just hanging out before or after a show, the bond we’ve built keeps us grounded. There’s a real sense of camaraderie, and that makes the journey a lot more rewarding. It’s not just about reaching milestones or success, but about enjoying the process and the people we get to share it with.
Pricing:
Check out the latest merch at the Rival Online Shop” with a link to https://shoprivalwaves.myshopify.com/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rivalwaves.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/rivalwaves
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/rivalwaves
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rivalwaves
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/rivalwaves
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/rivalwaves
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/15dWRJaOO2mu2B24EgOS8h?si=d-zvhtBXT2eMuu4TCtR5pw
Image Credits
Photo credit: Daniel Cavazos
(All non-album cover images)
