Exclusive video premiere of ‘Water Bearer’ by moondaddy, taken from the upcoming EP, ‘Lightwave Lightwave,’ due September 13.

What began as a way to escape existential dread has evolved into a confident artistic expression for moondaddy, the dream pop band hailing from San Diego, California. Over a few short years, Cara Potiker, the band’s lead singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, has transitioned from crafting tunes in her bedroom to captivating audiences with moondaddy’s enchanting live performances.

In 2023, they released their highly praised debut album, ‘Poet Lies,’ and now they unveil their latest EP, ‘Lightwave Lightwave.’ This new four-track collection brings the fearless and transcendent energy of their live shows into a completely analog recording session. The entire process— from recording live to cutting vinyl—was done without the use of computers.

“This is the first project that sounds exactly the way I want my music to sound. I didn’t have the confidence before, and I just let men take reins,” Cara says. “My vision really came to life on this analog EP—my band and I took full advantage of the spontaneous and manic energy of tape recording.”

Along with the announcement of Lightwave Lightwave, moondaddy also releases the captivating first single, ‘Water Bearer,’ which serves as a beautiful tribute to Cara’s relationship with her partner. The lyrics are deeply poetic, filled with a profound longing that is complemented by a wistful synth. The track features Cara’s richly emotive low-register vocals enveloped by ethereal textures, shimmering electric guitars, and precise drumming. A striking operatic section towards the end of the song is performed by Julia Rahm, Cara’s partner and fellow band member.

How did the band collectively set the intention to make the song sound “familiar yet supernatural,” and what techniques did you use to achieve this?

We all lean towards psychedelic or lo-fi music, but our sound really happened naturally because of the studio environment and the outboard gear we were using. Manny is also really amazing at making everything he touches very dreamy. – Cara Potiker

“‘Water Bearer’ is an homage to the depth and strength of my relationship with my partner and bandmate. The six of us (Manny, Pat, Rob, Gabe, Julia, and I) collectively set an intention to make the song sound familiar yet supernatural. I think we were able to capture something kind of otherworldly during our breakdowns.”

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