by Whitney Youngs

Surfing and music seem to share at least one characteristic: the surrendering to an unbreakable and unbounded power. One yields to the force of nature similarly to how one submits to the craft of singing and songwriting. Donavon Frankenreiter recognizes this commonality as both a surfer and musician.
Frankenreiter, born in Downey, California, birthplace of the Apollo space program and the oldest operating McDonald’s, makes his home in the Hawaii islands, where earns a livelihood writing songs and surfing waves.
Frankenreiter released his self-titled debut album more than 10 years ago. Last year, he recorded his most recent album “The Heart” at the sprawling Blue Rock Studio situated on roughly 50 acres of lush landscape in Wimberley, Texas. He streamed the recording process over the Internet, working with two members of his band and one engineer over the course of two weeks.
Easy Reader recently chatted with Frankenreiter about the album and how music and surfing continue to shape his life.

DO YOU FIND ANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN SURFING AND SONGWRITING/PLAYING MUSIC?
There are many similarities as far the feelings you get when you write a song you like or get an amazing wave. You realize something special has just happened and it could be a while before it happens again. Sometimes you hold onto that moment your whole life searching for the next amazing ride or song.

WHAT HAS MUSIC AND SURFING TAUGHT YOU OVER THE YEARS?
Surfing has made me the musician I am today. I have met all my friends through surfing and have been taught how to play while on surf trips. They influence each other like no other. They have both taught me to enjoy the moment even the ones that last only seconds because sometimes those are the greatest moments ever. It’s the little things and moments that can last a lifetime.

NOW THAT YOU’VE BEEN LIVING ON THE ISLANDS FOR YEARS, WHAT’S IT LIKE COMING OVER TO MAINLAND TO TOUR?
It’s all good, I live to travel and see the world, but there is no place like home. To me it is heaven on Earth. I just love Hawaii, the people and the culture. There is no love like Aloha.

YOU CO-WROTE SONGS WITH GRANT LEE PHILLIPS ON YOUR MOST RECENT ALBUM, “THE HEART.” CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE COLLABORATION?
He has been a friend ever since my third album ‘Pass It Around.’ I called him when I was writing songs for this new album and it all just came together so easy. I think it had to do with timing. He had songs that just worked for me and helped me out so much on the ones that were not finished.

THIS ALBUM IS PACKED WITH SONGS ABOUT LOVE, BUT “CALIFORNIA LIGHTS” IS A BIT SUBDUED. THE SONG’S NARRATOR IS HOPING FOR THE BEST IN WHAT SEEMS LIKE A SAD SITUATION. CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE SONG?
I wrote it the night I found out my dad had leukemia. He died a week after we finished the album, and I recorded it during that time when he was dying. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do musically. I made it through the song three times while recording it, and everyone in the control room, after the third pass, said that was the one. I have never played it since.

Donavon Frankenreiter plays two shows (early, 3:30; late, 8:30), June 26, at Saint Rocke, 142 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach, (310) 372-0035. www.saintrocke.com. ER