At 16, he brought home his first sponsorship contract with Billabong as a pro surfer, and at 18 he played in the band "Peanut Butter and Jam". Donavon Frankenreiter is both a surfer and a musician. His debut album "Donavon Frankenreiter" was released in 2004 on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label. His musical style is also similar to that of his co-producer Jack Johnson, but Frankenreiter is far less well known in Germany. Donavon is currently on tour in Europe, surf Magazine was able to attend his concert in Munich and conduct an exclusive interview with him.
Kelly Slater has just become world champion for the seventh time, what do you think about that?
I think it's incredible and I think it's a huge achievement for a surfer. It's kind of shocking, but I thought if he doesn't win this year, he'll definitely win next year or the year after. I don't know if he wants to, but if he wants to win again, he probably can because he's just soooo good.
Germany is the land of windsurfers, does surfing only mean riding waves for you, or have you ever stood on a windsurfing board?
Yes, I tried it once. On a very old board, I think it was called a "windsurfer". There was a harbour where I lived, the water was very calm there and the wind wasn't so strong. It was really exciting and a lot of fun. But I'd never stood on a high-tech board like the ones they have today. Only on this old one, but it was fun because it was so big, it was like sailing on a boat.
Where did you surf your biggest wave?
I would say in Hawaii. In Sunset Beach. The wave was really big, ten or twelve feet. (The ed.: about 4 metres - Hawaiian measurement! The boys measure at the back of the wave, we would give such a wave six to seven metres on the face)
Your best spot in the world?
I can't say, it's a secret spot.... There are a few spots in front of my house in Laguna Beach. I think I'm one of those people who find the spot where they're surfing the best. That could be in France, California or Hawaii, wherever I am. But I like it when there are few people in the water. That's the best situation for me.
On the beach the boys listen to music like yours, what music do you listen to?
It's crazy, I can listen to any music. From the band Wilco to Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Sade, Norah Jones. But also new bands like Franz Ferdinand. There are so many different styles of music. I also listen to a lot of music from the past, there were great musicians like Jimmy Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Bob Marley....
A new album by Donavon is expected to be released in June/July 2006. For all those who can't wait, live recordings of the European tour are available in advance on iTunes.
Interview: Verena Mühlegger
