Santa Cruz Rock band Magic Waters have released their lead single “Pinky Swear”. This is the lead and only single off their debut EP “Pinky Swear”, out March 27th, via Gold Robot Records.
“The single, and title track, is bi-polar. The verses are about the negativity and corruption in politics, but the choruses and outro speak to the bright future being laid out by all of our country’s strong women leaders. I start the outro by listing three of the strongest women in my life…Gina, Rosita, and Abuelita, referencing my wife, mom, and grandma. Then, I go on to call out by name other women leaders who I look up to and am incredibly grateful for. The EP and single are called Pinky Swear with a nod to Elizabeth Warren’s tradition of making pinky promises with young women so they never forget that running for president is what girls do. I love that.”
“Pinky Swear” EP will be released March 27th, via Gold Robot Records, on Digital and is available for pre-save/pre-add here.
Magic Waters is the project name for singer-songwriter, and recording engineer, Ryan Lee. As a guitarist, bassist, and eventually drummer in bands based out of New York and Santa Cruz, Ryan developed an ear for thoughtful arrangements and the art of recording. This project came to life in 2019 after Ryan built a recording studio, affectionately called Paradise Garage, in the backyard of his home in Santa Cruz, CA. The studio is soundproofed with three new walls layered with drywall, rock wool, and an air cavity. It was built and modeled to create specific dimensions that would be ideal for tracking and mixing a dry/tight sound.
Ryan originally sat down to record songs off of “Pinky Swear”, in an effort to familiarize himself with his newly constructed home studio. After finishing the songs however, it became clear that they turned into something special. Each song demonstrates Ryan’s versatility as a singer and producer. He seamlessly blends personal stories with observations on society’s unresolved issues like gun-control and income inequality. This EP truly represent Ryan and is a fitting introduction to Magic Waters.
In addition to recording and mixing his own music, he started a Youtube channel called “Santa Cruz Is Paradise”, to help promote local Santa Cruz bands and touring bands stopping by. He plans to release live videos twice a week and already started with the live performance from BB Sinclair. Ryan’s goal for Paradise Garage, by the end of 2020, is to record 20-25 bands mostly from Santa Cruz and a few touring bands. “Recording a live performance adds a little pressure on the musicians and with that, everybody focuses a bit more so you get some really cool performances that can’t be repeated. I think getting the recording process as similar to a live show as you can, produces some cool outcomes on the recording.”
All songs written, performed, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Ryan Lee at the Paradise Garage in Santa Cruz, CA.