About Water Stones

An expressive, uplifting collection of contemporary instrumental music that balances joyful energy with thoughtful reflection, celebrating life, creativity, and the joy of discovery.

Water Stones is guitarist and composer Lynn Patrick’s sixth instrumental album, featuring 12 tracks that blend folk, jazz, country, bluegrass, and New Age influences. The music features guitars, mandolin, violin and fiddle, upright and electric bass, and percussion, with compositions ranging from playful and rhythmic to thoughtful and reflective.

RECOGNITION AND ACCLAIM

Water Stones was named Best Instrumental Album of the Year in the Indie Acoustic Project Awards 2025–2026. Six songs from the album have been featured in episodes of The Young and the Restless on CBS. The title track is in regular rotation on SiriusXM’s Spa channel, while “Surfing Lu Lu” has been featured on SoundsLikeCafe’s Top Charts since February 2026.

Jonathan Widran of The JW Vibe and Billboard has described Patrick as a “master” of her “optimistic acoustic” fusion of folk, jazz, country, and bluegrass, noting that she has “practically created her own genre.” Writing about the title track, he called Patrick’s ability to share its “complex, ever-shifting narrative” in under three minutes “something of a creative miracle.”

Bill Binkelman of Wind & Wire / Zone Music Reporter praised Patrick’s “diverse picking style on acoustic guitar” and her ability to “punctuate strong, resonant leads between and over the rhythms.” New Age Music Reviews similarly praised the album’s precision guitar lines, subtle and tasteful improvisation, and Patrick’s complete command of the acoustic guitar.

READ MORE WATER STONES REVIEWS

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND WATER STONES

In Lynn’s Words

Water Stones was created during a period of profound change. After experiencing Stage 3 cancer, the death of my mother, and the loss of several friends within four years, I felt a deep need to write music that would lift my spirits and bring more peace, joy, and beauty into my life. It was an incredibly difficult time, and I remember lying in bed after lung surgery, feeling as though my life had slipped away, with an overwhelming longing to feel my life force again.

I wanted to find my way back to that feeling of being alive, and music became a way to do that. But I also wanted to create something that could reach beyond my own experience. I wanted to bring more joy, beauty, and wonder into the world through music, offering others a place of peace and renewal, something that might lift their spirits, bring comfort during difficult times, or simply brighten their day.

Some songs grew directly from these experiences, while others emerged from memories, love, playfulness, and the simple pleasure of playing guitar. Each song has its own story, but together they reflect the many dimensions of life, including its challenges, its unexpected beauty, and its capacity to bring us joy.

My hope is that Water Stones can be a reminder that even during difficult times, there is still beauty to discover, joy to experience, and life to embrace.

MUSICAL STYLE

At the heart of Water Stones is Patrick’s guitar playing, which remains the album’s central voice. Her distinctive approach moves easily between intricate acoustic picking, melodic lines, rhythmic patterns, and resonant lead work. Her compositions combine musical sophistication with organic, richly textured arrangements that remain natural, melodic, and accessible.

Guitarist Dave Beegle contributes an energetic and rhythmic guitar voice that adds another dimension to the arrangements. Guitars and mandolin often work in conversation with one another, while violin and fiddle add melodic color, bass provides a strong foundation, and percussion brings rhythmic drive.

CREDITS

The album was mastered by Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer Michael Romanowski, whose work brings clarity and polish to the recording. Patrick produced, composed, recorded, engineered, and edited the album, with Dave Beegle mixing and contributing guitar. Additional musicians include mandolinist Silas Herman, percussionist Christian Teele, bassist Eric Thorin, violinist Sandra Wong, and guest violinist Enion Pelta-Tiller. Cover photography is by Todd Winslow Pierce, with additional photography by Gordon Timothy Reese and design by Monika Edgar.

Produced and composed: Lynn Patrick

Recorded, engineered and edited: Lynn Patrick

Mastered: Michael Romanowski / Coast Mastering

Mixed: Dave Beegle

CD design: Monika Edgar / Studio Monika

Cover art photography: Todd Winslow Pierce

Photography: Gordon Timothy Reese / Greesemedia

MUSICIANS

Melodies, acoustic guitars and lead: Lynn Patrick

Guitar lead: Dave Beegle

Upright and electric bass: Eric Thorin

Mandolin: Silas Herman

Violins: Sandra Wong and guest Enion Pelta-Tiller

Percussion: Christian Teele

SONG STORIES

Each song on Water Stones has its own story, shaped by moments of love, loss, discovery, playfulness, and change. Some emerged from difficult experiences, while others celebrate the simple joys of life and making music. Together, they offer a deeper look into the experiences and emotions behind this uplifting collection.

1. “Surfing Lu Lu” is a song about my cat Kitty Bean being playful, running through the room, diving into the air, and being silly.
Guitar: Lynn Patrick; Mandolin: Silas Herman; Bass: Eric Thorin; Percussion: Christian Teele

2. “Made Your Escape” was written after a therapy session.
Guitars: Lynn Patrick and Dave Beegle; Upright bass: Eric Thorin; Percussion: Christian Teele

3. “When You Find What You’re Looking For” describes the experience, and the music describes the feeling.
Guitars: Lynn Patrick and Dave Beegle; Mandolin: Silas Herman; Bass: Eric Thorin; Percussion: Christian Teele

4. “Breezy Sassafras” was written while simply being, hanging out, playing the guitar, looking out over the hills of Sugarloaf Mountain, and thinking about the beach.
Guitars: Lynn Patrick and Dave Beegle; Bass: Eric Thorin; Percussion: Christian Teele

5. “Unknown Changes” came about at the beginning of the pandemic. I didn’t know what was going to happen, and anticipating it felt mysterious and unknown.
Guitars: Lynn Patrick; Violin: Sandra Wong; Upright bass and bowing: Eric Thorin; Percussion: Christian Teele

6. “Water Stones.” I finished writing this song the day my mother passed away. I placed my hand on my heart and began singing a melody for her. I then took the melody and played it on my guitar. The energy and feeling that came through was unconditional love, acceptance, forgiveness, peace, and letting go.
Guitars: Lynn Patrick; Upright bass: Eric Thorin

7. “Homecoming.” The inspiration for this song came from sitting on my mother’s porch in Florida with my sister. We looked out at oak trees with Spanish moss, tropical plants, listened to birds singing, and reminisced about our childhood experiences growing up on a lake in the countryside.
Guitar: Lynn Patrick; Mandolin: Silas Herman; Bass: Eric Thorin; Percussion: Christian Teele

8. “Finish Line” was composed while going through chemotherapy. The tempo of the song started out really slow, then got faster and faster as I started feeling better.
Guitar: Lynn Patrick; Mandolin: Silas Herman; Bass: Eric Thorin; Percussion: Christian Teele; Violins: Sandra Wong and Enion Pelta-Tiller

9. “Labyrinth Sun” was inspired after a close friend died. I remembered one of the days we were kayaking and paddleboarding. We stopped and hung out on a beach to watch the sun go down. My friend made a small labyrinth with stones on the sand.
Guitars: Lynn Patrick; Bass: Eric Thorin

10. “Love Is Here.” Love is one of the most important things in my life.
Guitars: Lynn Patrick and Dave Beegle; Bass: Eric Thorin; Percussion: Christian Teele

11. “So Unexpected.” I composed this song after receiving a diagnosis of stage 3 cancer.
Guitars: Lynn Patrick; Upright bass: Eric Thorin; Percussion: Christian Teele

12. “Guitar Dance.” While sitting and playing the guitar, my fingers started dancing and moving on the fretboard, creating this song.
Guitars: Lynn Patrick and Dave Beegle; Bass: Eric Thorin; Percussion: Christian Teele