A few weeks ago, I introduced you to author/singer Nina Joyeux (see blog, Featured Artist: Nina Joyeux), who released her very first album “Winter Without Snow” on Dec 1st. Born in Hong Kong and of Norwegian nationality, Nina now lives in Tahiti with her husband (Teiva Joyeux, brother of the late Malik Joyeux) and their 8-month-old daughter. If you like her music, here is your chance to get to know her a little better.

Can you tell us about your past and about your life as an athlete?

Growing up with two older brothers, I always wanted to do what they did… so when they started windsurfing, I followed… starting at age 12, I was quickly “addicted” to the sport and at 16 I moved to Gran Canaria where I attended a Norwegian high school and got to windsurf every day. In GC I met one of the best female windsurfers in the world at the time, Kelly Moore, who invited me to come live with her on Maui to be able to continue a “career” in windsurfing.

At the age of 19 I moved there, started college and windsurfed at Ho’okipa every single day… I competed for a while on the PWA (world tour), but soon understood that I was more of a freerider. So when I got hooked on kiteboarding in 2000 it was purely as a freerider, making videos and travel stories and travelling. But I sort of grew a little “tired of it” and focused more and more on surfing. These days (well, not so much these days to be honest, since I “just” had a baby!), I longboard at the spots close to home, Teahupoo, Te Ava Iti and Vairao being my favorite waves. I still windsurf sometimes, just for fun… that’s where it all started and I just love the feeling of it!

Why did you decide to stop your career as a windsurfer & kiteboarder?

There’s a time for everything and after a while windsurfing and kiteboarding professionally, I realized my heart was not in it as strongly any more – for the professional part at least. So I decided to “let it go” and focus more on my studies. I finished my Master’s degree of Political Science in 2006.

Then one day you moved to French Polynesia. Can you tell me about that decision you made?

Teiva and I had decided to move to French Polynesia once I was done with my studies… Teiva grew up here, and we wanted to come back to his home. We were living on the North Shore of Oahu at the time… But when Teiva’s brother, Malik passed away in December 2005, we decided to move back immediately. We moved to Teahupoo to be close to some great surfspots (and some great people and incredible nature!)

And now you are an author, singer, and musician. How long have you been writing & singing?

I’ve always written little poems and thoughts, but mostly for myself… sort of “diary-style”… I never ever thought I could sing until Teiva one day said in the car (as I was singing along to the music playing): “You have a nice voice…!” Although I didn’t believe him, that inspired me to sing a little louder in the car! Hahaha. And over time I gained confidence and began to sing for other people. I love singing …who doesn’t? You all sing in the shower/car/surfing when you’re happy don’t you? Everyone can—and should!?!— sing every day.

I know that inspiration is something hard to explain, something very personal. But can you tell me about yours? What inspires you?

It’s pretty simple really… my inspiration comes from everyday life. From me as a single person trying to figure out my place, my relationship to the bigger world, and people around me. It’s the typical human conundrum, and all the experiences and thoughts related to it inspire me to write, sing and express my feelings and share. When we share and communicate we feel that unity of humanity more strongly I reckon…

What would be the best words to describe your album “Winter Without Snow”?

Mellow – please don’t fall asleep! Heehe. Personal. Honest

What are your plans for the future?

I try not to plan too much, and rather follow the path life takes me on. That doesn’t mean to be passive, but to be open to the opportunities that present themselves. I try not to be too rigid in my mind… My main focus now is our 8-month old daughter. For me becoming a mother has shown itself to the meaning of life, nothing else is more important… As for the music, it would be a dream come true to be able to make a living singing and playing. So we’ll see. Time will tell.

If you had any advice to give to a young girl looking up to you, what would it be?

You are beautiful just the way you are! Be yourself, be free and you can do anything you set your mind for.

Words to live by?

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it”. -Raymond Chandler

Check out Nina’s music here: www.myspace.com/ninajoyeux

-Vainui & Nina

The U.S. Open of Surfing presented by Hurley, Nike 6.0 and Converse is an action sports festival that brings together athletes from the worlds of surf, BMX and skate for a week of competition, art, fashion and music —all against the backdrop of the famed Huntington Beach Pier. From July 31 to August 8, 500 world-class athletes compete before more than 500,000 spectators. All of the action is accessible live on www.usopenofsurfing.com.

“This is the strongest music lineup to play along side competitive surfing in Huntington Beach in 50-plus years,” said Sandy Bodecker, VP of Action Sports, Nike Inc. “It should be a great experience for fans to end a full day of competition with music of this caliber – all on the beach.”

“I grew up in the Southland,” said Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids. “This will be our first show in Orange County in a long time. It’ll be fun to play in front of a home crowd again.”

The U.S. Open features North America’s only combined Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Men’s Prime and Women’s Six-Star competitions. The event also hosts the U.S. Open Men’s and Women’s Junior Pro and the second annual WPS All Stars event which allows the public to choose 10 pro surfers to compete in the U.S. Open.

Additionally, the Nike 6.0 HB BMX Pro is a uniquely-formatted “park event,” featuring 25 invited riders. The Converse Coastal Carnage returns with a Super Mini-Park event for skateboarding featuring an impressive roster of 35 all-star skateboarders. Hurley’s Walk the Walk National Championship, a high school fashion competition, hits the U.S. Open stage on Friday, August 6. Six schools will create their own five-minute fashion show to win the grand prize of $25,000.

Music Schedule:

Tuesday, August 3,  4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Cold War Kids preceded by The Soft Pack

Wednesday August 4, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Bedouin Soundclash preceded by Iration

Thursday August 5,  4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Switchfoot preceded by Timmy Curran

Friday, August 6,  4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Cobra Starship preceded by Street Drum Corps

Saturday, August 7,  4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Weezer preceded by Hot Hot Heat

About Hurley
Founded in 1999, Hurley is an authentic “Microphone for Youth” brand rooted in surf, skate, art, music and beach cultures. Driven by creativity and freedom of expression, Hurley develops world-class products for guys, girls and kids, including sportswear, footwear, eyewear, accessories, loungewear, swimwear and wetsuits. A wholly owned, independently run subsidiary of Nike, Inc., Hurley’s corporate headquarters are located in Costa Mesa, CA, with international offices in Tokyo, Sydney, Barcelona and Bali. www.hurley.com

About Nike 6.0
The Nike 6.0 brand defines innovation and embodies the creativity of youth, united by action. Nike 6.0 delivers footwear and apparel to support the new generation of action sports athletes who are changing the worlds of surf, snow, BMX, moto, wake and freeski. Their unlimited potential and contagious energy deliver the future through performance and lifestyle. www.nike6.com

About Converse
Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports Company”™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Today, Converse offers a diverse portfolio including premium lifestyle men’s and women’s footwear and apparel. Converse product is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries and through 25 company-owned retail locations in the U.S. For more information, visit Converse on the web at www.converse.com

About IMG Sports & Entertainment
Operating in 30 countries, IMG Sports & Entertainment’s diverse businesses include: consulting services; event ownership and management; fashion events and models representation; licensing; golf course design; and client representation in golf, tennis, broadcasting, speakers, European football, rugby, cricket, motor sports, coaching, Olympic and action sports. IMG Academies are the world’s largest, multi-sport training and educational facilities, delivering world-class training experiences to more than 12,000 junior, collegiate, adult, and professional athletes each year. More information is available at: www.imgworld.com

In between surfing sessions and making college kids fall in love with his acoustic jams, Jack Johnson hit the studio to record his fifth album. Entitled To the Sea, this LP is the singer-songwriter’s first in more than two years. Check out an interview with Jack Johnson and MTV about the new album that comes out June st 2010:

The album is called To the Sea. I guess it’s a reference to a father leading his son to the sea, with the water representing the subconscious. So it’s about trying to go beneath the surface and understand yourself,” Johnson told MTV News on Tuesday. “I have three kids … so the album is about that. It’s both me as a son of my own father and me looking down at my kids. I’m 34, right at this transition of still feeling like a child sometimes, but other times feeling like a father, and finding the father in myself. It’s all about those things.”

Recorded in just three weeks in Johnson’s Mango Tree Studios, Sea is meant to capture the man and his band as they’re supposed to be heard: live and loose. It was mainly committed to tape in one room, with minimal use of overdubs, and an increased focus on letting the instruments bleed into one another. It is very much the sound of a band setting up in a room and just playing.

“We don’t need much time. Just four guys in the band, we try to get it live as much as we can, keep as much of it with the bleeds in it,” Johnson smiled. “Three weeks is about as long as we could spend, because we tend to start overthinking things if we go longer than that. We’re a pretty small band, with pretty simple songs.”

Read more of this MTV article at MTV.com

Hayley Williams, the lead singer of the band Paramore is definitely the real deal when it comes to vocal power and stage presence. She is as fierce as the fiery red mane that grows out of  her head. Plus she has an uncanny knack for creating an effortless, skate meets pretty style.

A  sense of style not noticed until after the release of the single Decode from the “Twilight” soundtrack William’s debut rejected the skimpy video girl performance, opting to wear a cold-weather appropriate ensemble, including a striking purple beanie!

O'Neill Lines One Piece, Rusty Striped Shirt Dress, DC Fonzie Dress, Hurley Griffith YC Dress

Keeping her appeal unique, and her everyday style edgy and easy to recreate. Hayley Williams is usually seen adoring something in a nice pattern like the Rusty Told You Long Sleeve Henley, The Ezekiel Lani Dress or The Hurley Griffith YC Dress seen here.

It also looks like she loves solid stripes just as much as we do!  So Check out our top stripey selections like the O’neill lines One Piece ,Rusty Striped Shirt Dress , or The DC Fonzie Dress. All great ways to Get the Hayley Williams look .

-Angelica

James Mercer and Danger Mouse making magic happen.

This week features a few new albums that somehow all came out in the same week. Broken Bells was a long awaited collaboration between James Mercer of The Shins and maestro producer Danger Mouse.

The result is a pretty refreshing sound, mixing mellow Shins vibes with a modern electric twist.

Two other new albums surfaced this week. The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club released “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo” while the Gorillaz came out with “Plastic Beach” on the same day.

The rest is a little inspiration from Modern Collective (which no one at Killer Dana has stopped watching since it came out), and a couple other random jams to round it up.

One way to break down the genre barrier in music is to simply explore how a particular song or band makes you feel when listening to it. When you play a Marc B song, you feel good. This is most likely the reason Marc and his band (bassist and vocalist, Yoni Berk and percussionist, Maxx Ferris) have developed such a core following.

It is the kind of music that you can move to – at the very least, in your mind – or simply close your eyes, put your head back and take it in.

What really shines through in his music is the lifestyle, the same lifestyle that reigns supreme here at Killer Dana. Marc has grown up with surfing and music being the core of everything else in life. The unique thing about this is that it’s obvious in his music; it’s real, straight forward and clean.

Marc, Yoni and Maxx do this because it is simply the life they live.

We caught up with Marc a few days after his band’s performance at the OC Music awards ceremony. He filled us in where it all comes from, surfing, traveling, making music and connecting with people on a real level.

-Drew

-Last time I saw you was on the North Shore with your new band mates, Yoni and Maxx. How is the three piece going and how is it different from your music career up to now?

I’m used to playing alone, now I play with two Jews. Major change. The first three years of my career was solo, but this trio is just so comfortable. It’s the right, rootsy vibe, and our live shows have been upgraded, since there’s now three of us who get to vibe off of each other. We’re always bringing up new instruments, guest musicians from each city, and trying new things on stage…our music always changes.

-Where are you right now? What are you going to do after you finish answering these questions?

Right now I’m in Santa Barbara at my bass player’s house on top of a hill sitting outside drinking a mate latte. I can see the ocean, and I can see a round, super tan woman power-walking in the street. After this I’m going for a quick surf, then it’s off to the label’s office for a meeting, then a meeting with the producer, and later to an impromptu concert downtown.

Feeling it. Photo: Jshipley

-Can you explain a bit about your band’s role in the OC Music awards and how that all works?

Sure, we were nominees for “Best Surf” again this year. We were also in the top 5 Best “Live Acoustic” bands which was awesome. We had an amazing time.

-Killer Dana is a company that truly lives the lifestyle they sell. Would you say the same about your lifestyle and the way it translates into your music?

Sure. I just grew up surfing and making music. Those were the only two things I’ve ever done, and they still are the only two things I’ve ever done. Most of our musical inspirations comes from the ocean, traveling, and personal highs and lows, which are pretty well documented throughout my music.

-How has traveling/surfing effected your attitude towards making music and where you ultimately want it to take you?

Travelling and surfing new breaks is my preferred method of clarity. It’s like Drain-O for the mind. It expands my outlook in ways far greater than anything else I’ve ever experienced. It translates directly into the music. My music and my life and my travels are one in the same.

-I know you, Max and Yoni like to jam. Is that how you come up with a lot of your songs or do you spend a lot of time writing stuff as well?

Originally I was writing most of the material on my own. Now with the trio, we’re able to combine forces, which ultimately leads to better music. Each of us has something special, something different, that adds to the sound. During rehearsals we spend a lot of time focusing and working on certain parts, but then we just let loooooose and jam on some groovy thing for an hour. Many of our songs come from that.

-You guys are heading into the studio soon? Can you tell us anything about your next album? Sounds, styles, songs, guest appearances?

We’re releasing our debut full length this summer. Expect a rootsy, very vibey, laid back, spread out, vanilla-milk-shake type sound. We’ve got a new and improved rhythm section, and a few real heavy beats dropping into the mix, on a few. All together, its just fun! Guest appearances I can’t tell about yet, but we’ve got some epic surprises in store…keep in touch.

Marc rips on all kinds of shapes and sizes.

-If there is ever a time when you aren’t in the water or playing music, what are you doing?

Moving. Seriously, I switch cities like every 6 months. Honestly I try to keep as busy as possible, since I get really restless and depressed when I’m not busy doing things. In my spare time I’m usually planning my next run of adventure/shows/travels. I thrive off of new and uncomfortable situations. I’m moving Friday.

-Killer Dana recently teamed up with Surfaid where we learned that you are a Surfaid ambassador. Tell us a little bit about your relationship with them.

They are great. What they’re doing is so crucial, it’s so human. I did a SurfAid event in San Francisco, and they asked if I’d like to become an ambassador. I’m honored to take on the added responsibility of carrying out the good word of their non-profit. We’ve also got some events planned this month, and some ideas for trips with some of the best surfers in the world.

-Do you try and convey a message in your music or do you rely on the audience to take what they will?

We do. We’re given the opportunity to have our voice be heard, and I’m conscious of that. Each song is written for a different reason, but we’ve found that people relate to the words, and bob their heads to the music. Can’t really ask for much more than that, right?

-What are a couple bands you have been listening to a lot lately?

I don’t listen to music.

-What kind of boards are you riding right now?

Lately I’ve been really into my 6’0” Channel Islands T. Knox…which is weird, cuz normally in California I surf one of my weird short fishes, but I think since we’ve had a really good winter, I’ve been going to my thruster a lot. But I forever love my 5’10” Dano fish and my 9’4” Dano single-fin log when its smaller. When I saw you last in Hawaii I was borrowing Leah Dawson’s 6’6” single fin…the thing was awesome.

North Shore livin. Photo: Cindy Santini

-What is your next travel destination? Where is one of your favorite places to be?

Next destination?  Straight up the west coast, and to Hawaii.  We’re also doing an inland tour! Salt Lake City, Aspen Colorado, etc. This month we’ve got shows in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara.

-If you could jam with any music figure in history who would it be and why?

I’d like to sing with James Taylor, I’d like to play uke with Iz, and it would’ve been pretty alright to be in Neil Young’s band somehow.  It would have also been cool to change it to Simon, Marc, and Garfunkel.

-What is on the agenda for Marc B and the boys for the rest of 2010?

We’re recording through the winter, shooting a music video all spring, and releasing our album and going on a huge tour through summer. Lately everything has been such a whirlwind, and amazing and beautiful whirlwind! Look out for us, visit our www.marcbmusic.com and find us on www.facebook.com/marcbmusic. If you talk to us we’ll send you some new music.  Oh, and by all means get out to our live shows! We’ve got some REALLY fun ones in store, and we always make sure to have way too much fun. We only work with friendly and talented bands, bookers, and venues. It’s all good vibes, so if you’ve got some, bring ‘em! Cheers mates.

Get the weekend started right. This week features a solid mix of ampers for whatever your weekend has in store. Inspiration came from the new Scratching the Surface trailer and a couple names off the Coachella line up.

Enjoy.

So Reilly and I were getting kinda homesick and starved for good waves so we decided it was time for a trip up to Santa Cruz…

The trip started out a little rough.

After working from 7:30am-6pm down in San Diego we got on the road. 10 and a half hours at work and an 8 hour car ride make for a long day. Oh ya….we had some car trouble on the way too. No worries tho, we  got that thang fixed up and we still made it there around 2am.

Just another sunny day in Santa Cruz.

The following day was epic! Blue sky, crisp Fall air AND THERE WERE WAVES!!!

Bet you didn't know Reilly could rollerblade???

We went out at a little wedge called NattyB’s and scored some little nuggets!

You like to party???

We lucked out cuz’ our buddy was throwing his annual ‘Creepy Mustache Party’! Like a miracle, we found a nice little bag of hair in the backseat of the car. Took us 10 minutes to twist up some epic faux facial hair. What do ya think??? Creepy enough??

All in all, Santa was a BLAST… as always.

-Garret

Mr. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam is no stranger to the San Diego area. Along with drummer Mike Cameron who hails from Chula Vista, the band has over twenty years in the the better half of Southern California.

Pearl Jam’s performances usually have a family type atmosphere, with the steel piped Vedder carrying on conversations with the audience and always giving his appreciation for the fans. For this Diego stint, held at the Viejas Arena, Vedder and the rest of the 90′s punk rock inspired Pearl Jam took this atmosphere to the next level.

It showed in their set (two sets would be more applicable to the lengthy performance), playing an abundance of classics that kept the audience on fire all night long. The first part of the show got the momentum going with a quick but hard version of Corduroy.

The energy went on a roller coaster ride from there, with a version of Even Flow mixed in to a steady stream of back to back bangers. Before anyone realized it was only ten o’clock, the band threw out a 12 minute pyschodelic/punk metal rendition of Rear View Mirror that kept the crowd buzzing during a short break before a complete second set.

Vedder came back with a solo version of The End that almost left everyone in tears before the rest of the band rejoined him for Red Mosquito. Ben Harper came out to lay down some slide to the classic from No Code. Watching Mike McCready’s hard, fast and scattered soloing feed off of Harper’s smooth slide mastery was a potluck for the ears that left everyone satisfied.

The family environment of Pearl Jam’s crew was put on display as Vedder got the whole audience to sing happy birthday to Lulu, the daughter of light engineer Kieth Wismar (Now with Ben Harper). Keeping the vibe going, the band members paid their usual tribute to the audience behind the stage, turning things around for Last Kiss, the popular Wayne Cochran cover.

Wayne wasn’t the only cover to grace the set, nor the best. This would have to go to the fast as hell version of The Byrds’ Rock N Roll Star; a rare song out of the deep bag of tunes that even the most frequent Pearl Jam rockers were sure to be surprised by. It was a good mix in to the rest of the second encore which featured nothing but the hits. Why Go, Black, Better Man, Alive and Yellow Ledbetter rounded it all up in a power packed end to the show.

With all the lights on, Vedder finished his bottle of wine, tossed out a couple tambourines and left McCreedy wailing the National Anthem as Pearl Jam finished the home leg of their tour.

The iconic group is one of those bands that has to be witnessed live to appreciate what goes into their music. Much like seeing any good band live, the experience will leave Pearl Jam higher on your play list for a long time to come. Usually until the next time you see them, when you experience it all over again.

Photo: Billabong

If there is one good example of the many boundaries that surfing crosses, it would have to be the world of music. It may have to do with the similarities in rhythm and style that are so essential to both worlds, or simply the fact that every visual display of surfing is accompanied by some kind of soundtrack that at the very least is an attempt to accentuate the esoteric feeling of riding a wave.

It is really a testament to the power of music that it is the go to device for translating this feeling. Perhaps surfing musicians are so abundant for this very reason. Of course, much like the differences in surfing soundtracks, certain surfing musicians contribute a little more to the futile goal of translating these feelings into a universal understanding.

Whether or not Donovan Frankenreiter is a surfer, a musician, both at the same time or everything all at once, the one certainty in it all is that he is really, really good at both. He first proved this on Saturday night in Laguna Beach where he rocked two sets to a stoked crowd, and again showcased what he is all about the following day by making the final of the pro division at the Cosmic Creek.

Diamond Donny has been a staple figure in the ten year history of the Cosmic Creek and was once again the highlight of the event’s benefit concert. His set included a number of his hits, a couple new jams and some killer guest appearances. Any show that sends it out with The Weight by The Band is a good show in my book and Donny and his guests did the classic tune justice as the crowd begged for more while they packed it up.

The decision to not play an encore was most likely merited on more than a few valid reasons, but if the only bad thing about a show is that you wanted more and didn’t get it, well then it wasn’t bad at all.

The venue at 7 Degrees isn’t a venue as much as it is an art studio that provided a cool setting for the evening. It featured insane art by Wolfgang Bloch, John Van Hamersveld, Alex Weinstein, Art Brewer, Andy Davis and many others. The theme was painted guitars and ukuleles that provided a truly unique visual experience and added to the overall vibes of the great party that went down. Everything was up for the silent auction that contributed all earnings to the Surfrider Foundation.

In case you missed it, Killer Dana provided a live webcast of the entire event. It included interviews with artist Wolfgang Bloch, Billabongs GT and Surfrider’s Rick Erkeneff, not to mention a two camera shoot of the entire concert. Definitely look forward to more Killer Dana webcasts in the future.

The benefit concert for the Cosmic Creek is another aspect to the event’s ability to capture a side of surf culture that more often than not falls through the cracks. People come together for good food, drink, music, art, community and waves all for a greater cause than just the good time that it all offers. But of course it is the good times that keep us all looking forward to next year.