California’s HOLY WATER, led by Jacob Desrochers, joins us today to unleash Tides, his debut LP, via Sell The Heart Records. This release is a plunge into darkwave atmospheres, rooted in a unique blend of post-punk, new wave, and heavy electronic undertones.
The new album is unmistakably haunting, yet the melodic pull and synth-pop sensibilities give it an almost hypnotic accessibility. Desrochers’ vocals hold a strong, penetrating appeal, layering over throbbing basslines and shadowy textures that can’t be ignored.
Think DEPECHE MODE, NINE INCH NAILS, and a hint of TWIN TRIBES, spun into an introspective but assertive sound.
Jacob’s description captures the thematic depth of Tides: “TIDES is a collection of songs about loss, love, anger, addiction, and forgiveness. Learning to accept we can’t manipulate life’s inevitable outcomes. In parallel, nothing can stop the force of the tides. It comes and goes in a timeless flow; the ocean’s tide is like life itself in its massive unmovable power and grace.”
Desrochers, known for his roots in Northern California’s punk and hardcore circuits, is no stranger to raw expression. His earlier band, LONELY KINGS, pumped out four full-lengths for Fearless Records, sharing stages with AT THE DRIVE-IN, HOT WATER MUSIC, THE MISFITS, and AFI, touring across the USA, Europe, and the UK. Tides brings the same intensity but twists it into a darker, more atmospheric shape. Together with Ian Smith—a veteran from bands like WAYS AWAY and RACQUET CLUB—HOLY WATER crafts a layered sound that sits somewhere between industrial depth and ambient electronica, with shades of COLD CAVE and DAFT PUNK interlacing through their music.
Smith’s background, which stretches back to Hong Kong punk roots and a Sony-signed act at 15, adds a diverse edge. His experience includes touring alongside DEPECHE MODE, RANCID, and HOT WATER MUSIC, which he channels into HOLY WATER’s heavier, more nuanced sound.
Beyond the studio, HOLY WATER has left their mark live, with recent West Coast and UK tours and appearances alongside heavyweights like SOFT KILL, MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL CULT, and COLD CAVE.
Inspired by the force of nature and vast, humbling spaces, Desrochers’ vision has a brutal honesty—there’s no softening the edges here.
