T… Read Full Bio ↴Joywave is a Rochester, NY, USA indie pop band, active since 2010.
Their first full-length album, "How Do You Feel Now?", was released on April 21, 2015.
The band released its first single "Golden State" on January 4th, 2011 via its website (joywavemusic.com), and followed up with their "77777" mixtape in March 2011. The mixtape is a complex arrangement of original works, covers, and sample based songs featuring various stems combined with Daniel Armbruster's vocals.
In August 2011, Joywave released a limited edition 7" vinyl through blog-turned label Tympanogram, featuring "Traveling At The Speed Of Light" from their "77777" mixtape alongside new single, "Ridge".
Joywave released "Koda Vista" EP on March 27th, 2012. The 7 song release deals with the influence of environmental factors on personal experience, painting a picture of predestination born long before each of the band members.
Their 2nd mixtape, "88888", and 2nd EP, "How Do You Feel?", have been released in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
They are also known for their cooperation with Big Data ("Dangerous", 2013).
Since then, they've released three more albums- 2017's "Content", 2020's "Possession", and 2022's "Cleanse".
Members:
Daniel Armbruster - Vocals
Joseph Morinelli - Guitar
Paul Brenner - Drums
Kevin Mahoney - Bass
Past members:
Travis Johansen - Keys/Percussion/Guitar
Sean Donnelly - Bass
Benjamin Bailey - Keyboards
Golden State
Joywave Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I watched the hills pour east through the plains of Texas
I cleansed myself, and wiped my memory
I watched the coast pull close in a western bay
I saw the desert sky in the pouring rain
So I washed myself, and wished you'd do the same
Cuz I'm not gonna turn around and tell you "oh, now I miss you"
I watched the moon stand up to the Rio Grande
I watched myself rise up from beneath the sand
And I knew, that I was here to stay
Maybe my head is clouding up my brain
But I think it's for the best for you to be on your way
Cuz I'm not gonna turn around and tell you "oh, now I miss you"
And you're never gonna get that postcard home from the Golden Gate
Oh I'm never gonna lie and say "without you here, it's just not the same"
Cuz a love that's been build on skin and bone was meant to fade
Meant to fade
The song "Golden State" by Joywave is about moving on from a past love and finding oneself in new places. The lyrics describe the singer watching the sunrise over LAX, witnessing the beauty of the natural world from the hills of Texas to the western bay, and cleansing themselves and wiping their memory. They see the moon rise over the Rio Grande and rise up from beneath the sand, realizing that they are here to stay. The singer acknowledges that while their head might be clouding up their brain, it is for the best for their former partner to move on, as their love was meant to fade. The song is a powerful anthem about the acceptance of change and the embracing of new beginnings.
Line by Line Meaning
I watched the sun come up over LAX
I observed the sunrise over the airport in Los Angeles, California
I watched the hills pour east through the plains of Texas
I observed the movement of hills towards the east, passing through the flat lands of Texas
I cleansed myself, and wiped my memory
I rid myself of my past experiences, and removed any traces of memories that still remain
I watched the coast pull close in a western bay
I observed the shrinking of the coastline as it approached a bay in the western region
I saw the desert sky in the pouring rain
I witnessed the sight of a desert sky filled with rain falling from the clouds
So I washed myself, and wished you'd do the same
I cleaned myself, and hoped that you would do the same so we can both move on
Cuz I'm not gonna turn around and tell you "oh, now I miss you"
Because I have decided not to look back and express that I miss you now
And you're never gonna get that postcard home from the Golden Gate
You won't be receiving a postcard from me, sent from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
I watched the moon stand up to the Rio Grande
I observed the moon rising above the Rio Grande river
I watched myself rise up from beneath the sand
I watched as I got up from under the sand, representing a fresh start
And I knew, that I was here to stay
I felt certain that I was meant to be where I am, and that I wouldn't be leaving soon
Maybe my head is clouding up my brain
Perhaps my head or thoughts are causing confusion in my mind
But I think it's for the best for you to be on your way
However, I believe it is best for you to move on
Cuz a love that's been build on skin and bone was meant to fade
Because a love that is built only on physical attraction and surface-level connection is destined to end eventually
Contributed by Ella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TomO-po3ce
This band needs more recognition.
@troop7henriettany336
I couldn't agree more!!
@consumedondapcfrfr
these guys had no idea how great they would become
@michaelcrawford4940
As good as this song is, Joywave has gotten so much better over the years
@Kisarazu99
Wish this version were on the album.
@Wilson50000
Surfing youtube for hours to find a jem like this makes it all worth while. Great song
@SurprizE98
This was my first Joywave song I listened to. It popped up on my YouTube feed and I decided to give it a listen because I thought the cover art looked nice. I've been listening to them ever since! :)
@Yoshixd9
OHHH SHIT KODA VISTA BEST EPPPPPPP OF 2010's
@Pepper-cd9yr
one of my favorites from you guys, maybe my most favorite
@Kisarazu99
So much better than the album version.