Ray & Paul Bring Bay Area Surf Rock Energy to San Diego
On September 5th, San Diego gets a taste of California’s rising surf/garage rock talent when Ray & Paul hit town ahead of their highly anticipated debut EP Fading (out September 12 via AWAL).
Ray and Paul are brothers who started making music together in the Bay Area when they were just 17 and 13. Their first single, “Mystery” (2019), earned them early attention on Spotify’s Editorial Playlists, setting the stage for their self-titled debut album. That album’s standout track “Butterflies” landed a sync placement on HBO’s The Sex Lives of College Girls, which was a career milestone that helped introduce the band to a national audience.
After moving south for college in Santa Barbara, Ray & Paul sharpened their sound in Isla Vista’s house show scene. Their blend of surf rock grit and garage rock urgency carried through in fan favorites like “Pelican,” currently their top-streamed track, and “Blue,” a heavier guitar-driven cut that’s become a staple of their live shows.
Over the past year, the brothers have toured relentlessly up and down the West Coast, selling out clubs while joined on stage by guitarist Aidan Reese and bassist Mac Bihn. They’ve recorded with John Goodmanson (Weezer, Pavement, Nada Surf, Hockey Dad) at Robert Lang Studios and with producer Jarvis Taveniere (Mile High Club, Surf Curse, Allah Las), shaping a sound that’s as polished as it is raw.
Photo by: @teardrop_estates
Their forthcoming six-track EP, Fading, collects “Pelican,” “Blue,” and three new tracks alongside the title track, which serves as the project’s focus single. The release will be available digitally and on limited edition vinyl.
Album art by: @annam.lls
San Diego fans have the chance to catch the band live on September 5th, just days before Fading drops. Expect surf-tinged riffs, high-energy garage rock, and the kind of raw intensity that’s been winning them packed houses across the coast.
