Musicians who surf and defy genres

Musicians who surf usually fall into one of two genres: rock or singer/songwriter.

So let’s take a walk on the wild side and discover musicians who surf from other genres.

Benny Freestyles – Hip Hop

More hippy hop than gangster rap, Benny’s bio describes his music as ‘dreamy and uplifting with a message of freedom, truth and love’. Perfect tunes to ease these tense times.

Benny grew up in the waves on the east coast of America, and has surfed around the world. He uses surfing and music to free himself from his thoughts, along what he calls ‘The Sky Roads’.

Surfing and music go hand in hand, they are both an art form and a way to get out of my mind. Since I can remember, surfing has always been an escape. When I am in the water, I am not caught up in all of the meaningless thoughts that enter my mind. It is a constant flow, similar to when I am in the studio writing music.

This melting pot of surfing, travel and freeing the mind, influences his music, as Benny says ‘you can hear it in the sound’. His music video and song Grateful sums this up as Benny gazes out to sea, the waves crash down and the opening lyrics ‘saltwater help me feel close’ kick in.

From upbeat to mellow acoustic tracks, Benny Freestyles’s soulful rap feels like soothing waves on your shore. Check out his latest music video ‘Follow Me Home’ released today:

Liam Mogan – Pop / Country

Raised on the Beach Boys, Alan Jackson and Hank Williams, Liam got hooked on the melodies and raw, sincere songwriting. Honesty and nostalgia are threaded through Liam’s music, resulting in a unique California pop-country sound.

Dubbed the ‘Surfing Cowboy’, Liam loves longboarding at Malibu and riding his rescue horse Tulsa. Working construction by day, making music by night and surfing in between keeps this rising star grounded. As Liam says:

“Surfing is great because the entire lifestyle is based on authenticity. No one is awed at the price of your board, or which brand of car you drive. In fact, there’s more stoke for the guy who rolls up in a sputtering van that still rips on a dinged up board.”

“I’d like to think my life and music reflect that authenticity. I’m not signed to a label or sponsored by any fat bank account. I use what I got, work as hard as I can, and enjoy every wave that comes my way.”

Liam’s new song ‘Burn At Home’ is out on May 22nd, but you can get a flavour of his music and riding style below:

These two surfing musicians are doing their bit to broaden surf music genres. So give them a try, after all variety is the spice of life.

If you know a surfer that makes music beyond the mainstream, share your discoveries in the comments below.