We’ve been kicking around this concept for a while now of how surfing and music were once so very much intertwined. And not just any music but the music that truly inspired the youth generations of various periods.

In turn, surfing was often seen as an important culturally relevant influence as well simply because it was often paired with the same music of which was also influencing youth culture of that time.

This interesting clip of Mikey Feb might not necessarily be seen as one which directly speaks to the youth of today but it does tie into the importance of music as a huge part of our overall culture.

From the early ’60s and up and through the 2000s, music was a key element to the surf lifestyle. Unfortunately, it was also probably responsible for an alienation to many other ethnic groups from feeling part of the surf scene.

Yes, there might have been a little reggae in there, some Jimi, and perhaps some jazz-based stuff as well, but the music most surfers were tuned into was simply good ‘ol rock and roll, which eventually gave way to Punk. Or, in other words, pretty much “white people music.” That said, it’s probably no big surprise when global youth culture began to be dominated by hip hop and rap, guess who was left standing in the corner trying to keep a beat?

Yep, us dorky jock surfers.

You’d be hard-pressed today to say that surfing is even slightly influencing youth culture as it had during various periods in the past and there’s a good chance the music of today has something to do with that.

Mr. February has and continues to surf for himself and to a soundtrack of which most of us cannot hear. Of which we thank him for.

Keep riffing Mikey.

What Youth

Directed by Kai Neville

Produced by We’re Free Radicals

Cinematography Paul Daniel 16mm Cinematography Fabian Vettiger

Still Photography Alan Van Gysen

Art Direction Callum Abbott

Colourist Fergus Rotherham

Original Music by Madala Kunene and Friends

Sound Design Thom Pringle