Donavon Frankenreiter: From the age of 16 on, I brought my guitar ever...

They say things happen for a reason You don't do them, they won't.

Donavon Frankenreiter

happens-for-a-reason reason happens

I just try to enjoy the moment and enjoy what's happening. I mean, I want to be conscious of what's going on around me, and be aware of if I can make a change and make things better, which I think is very important.

Donavon Frankenreiter

important mean thinking

I just think it's amazing that I'm able to do both singing and surfing.

Donavon Frankenreiter

surfing singing thinking

Nobody in my family ever surfed, but they would always bring me to the beach.

Donavon Frankenreiter

my-family beach

The things I try to do with Surfrider Foundation, SurfAid, Love Hope Strength, which is a cancer foundation, I try to do as many benefits and fundraising things as I possibly can. It's so important, if you have any kind of a voice, or any way to make a difference, to do that. So, I'm trying to do that, and have fun in the moment, and live life, and hope it all comes together.

Donavon Frankenreiter

cancer live-life fun

My wife really pushed me in that direction, to write my own songs and start singing, so I think having the whole family thing is such a huge thing.

Donavon Frankenreiter

writing song thinking

Before I actually got a hard surfboard at the age of 10, like a real board, I was always just trying to stand up on boogie boards or rafts or whatever I had, trying to emulate the people that I saw surfing the waves out there.

Donavon Frankenreiter

surfing real people

I just think that's the most amazing thing to be able to go to places like Japan and surf all day and then that night, play music. It's never been one of those things that's disrupted the flow of one and other, they've just enhanced one and other. It's incredible. It's beautiful that I found these two things that help each other out.

Donavon Frankenreiter

beautiful night thinking

When I'm out in the water surfing, it clears my mind and it makes me want to play music and write music, and then when I'm playing a lot of music and touring, I can't wait to get in the water again and surf. So, I'm striving to find that perfect balance, and it's all good.

Donavon Frankenreiter

perfect play writing

I grew up knowing [Jack Johnson], surfing with him.

Donavon Frankenreiter

surfing grew-up knowing

[Jack Johnson]gave me my whole start in music, which was the coolest thing ever.

Donavon Frankenreiter

johnson whole

[Jack Johnson] became a superstar and started his own record label, and then he made and produced my first record, he co-wrote the songs on there, and then he let me open up for him for two years all around the world. And that was like the best start I could've had, the best way I could've started in the music scene.

Donavon Frankenreiter

song two years

That was like the best start I could've had, the best way I could've started in the music scene. I owe [Jack Johnson] a lot for the beginning of my career and setting me off on the right path, and that's the coolest thing that ever could've happened.

Donavon Frankenreiter

careers path way

[Jack Johnson] really helped me make the record, put it out, and then let me tour with him for two years. He really helped me out.

Donavon Frankenreiter

records two years

I don't really try to set any long-term goals.

Donavon Frankenreiter

goal trying long

I started surfing at the age of 10, and then turned professional at the age of 16, which was right around the same time I took up the guitar. So, the surfing came first.

Donavon Frankenreiter

surfing guitar age

I fell in love with these two passions that I made into careers, and I've never had to give one up.

Donavon Frankenreiter

passion careers two

The Surf Lodge has got to be seven or eight years I've been playing there, every summer. It's definitely one of the most fun gigs of our whole East Coast tour. The beautiful atmosphere, amazing stage overlooking that beautiful lagoon - it's just a really hip, cool spot to play. We always look forward to it, every year.

Donavon Frankenreiter

summer fun beautiful

One Christmas, I just begged my parents like "I want to try to surf on a real board instead of these boogie boards and rafts" and they got me one.

Donavon Frankenreiter

parent real trying

As soon as I stood up on that hard surfboard, I went so fast and it was such an incredible feeling that I was obsessed, and I fell in love with it, so I never stopped. So, that's how it all started, being around people at the beach and other surfers and then finally getting an actual surf board, and falling in love with that feeling.

Donavon Frankenreiter

falling-in-love beach people

From the age of 16 on, I brought my guitar everywhere. I just fell in love with learning the guitar, and I wanted to learn songs and chords, and that led to wanting to start a band, and to wanting to do our first show.