So, I want to hear about this topic, and I had no luck with the search function, (though I did read some interesting threads on what defines 'surf' music) so here goes a new topic from a new user, whee!

I want to hear your attitudes towards mixing Surf and it's various elements and/or 'Sound', (whatever you consider those/that to be) into and with other genres. Both with the intent of creating a new genre, and incorporating originality into an existing one that isn't Surf.

Do you not really care? Are you of the opinion that all things evolve with time and Surf being joined with other influences will only create more awesome surf music to listen to? Or are you a believer in the purity of Surf, and that it should remain in it's beloved, classical form and not be squandered or experimented upon, as it is perfect the way is?

Tell me what you think and why - don't be afraid to be brutal if you have strong feelings, HOWEVER this does not grant anyone free reign to argue. I want to hear what you think, the person who posted above you who is so obviously wrong, probably doesn't care. Discuss, not diss Gus, I once heard on a forum long ago. It's a cheesy pun, but you get the point.

Surf X Punk,
Surf X 'Garage Rock'
Surf X Rockabilly (& Psychobilly)
Surf X Psychedelia (Could be read as; adding a Delay before your tank)
Surf X Flamenco/Classical Guitar
Surf X Ukelele Tunes
Surf X [Insert Vocal Style]

These are common, and have been done before, and I've personally seen, having lurked around the forum without an account for a few months, them all come up regularly in positive light. (Well, except Surf & Vocals, that I have not seen regularly. Ya'll tend to stick with your Instrumental bands, I guess) Thus, they aren't being included in this discussion, necessarily, (there are exceptions to every rule, use your own discretion) But I'm particularly talking, and wanting to hear about, drastic mashes, not just influences or an added, uncommon-for-the-genre, instrument or effect)

For example, the fusion of Punk and Surf and whatever the hell else those kids were listening to, that turned into, (Some) Ska. (Reel Big Fish, and some Save Ferris, come to mind)

Really excited to hear what you guys think~!

JakeDobner wrote:

I'm pretty against classifying music into genres. I have no problem referring to the music I play and this music here that I like as Instrumental Surf Music. Really, I have no connection to the surf community so in that way I am merely classifying myself into a purely musical genre. What started as a result of a lifestyle/movement became something for people with no connection...

Classifying things isn't inherently bad for people have have an interest in a topic but too often 'the public' or less informed, yet potentially brilliant, musical journalists/scholars/etc really get things wrong just because they aren't as schooled in an area of music.

My favorite genres: Surf Music, Shoegaze, New Wave, and Classical. Shoegaze, what a ridiculous misnomer to put on a group of bands that don't sound all that much alike. New Wave... New Wave of what? Bands begat by the Sex Pistols got this name? Classical... you mean Western Art Music?

All good points, certainly! A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. In using genre specific terms in this instance, I was referring to mixing the artistic styles typically associated with the labels, though I agree with you, a lot of them can become very vague - New Wave and Shoegaze are great examples.

Music in practice, the living process of art, typically doesn't work very well with a priori doctrines. Recursivity tends to obsessive compulsion more than musical creation and enjoyment.
I think most 1st wave bands didn't even think about surf as a genre. They were living the moment full of hormones and desire. Perhaps when Jon Blair resurrected the form in 1980 we can begin to see the concept of genre emerge since he was purposefully reviving a dormant form. A lot of the elements of the original iteration fell away - things like R&B covers (most of the Sentinels rep), vocal tunes, and interminable I-IV-V ruminations, and we were left with a hotrodded neosurf animal.

Surf has always been an eclectic blend of disparate elements, a hybrid art form from inception. Too much worry about naming a thing gets in the way of breathing life into it. Every player has to make his or her aesthetic decisions and live with the consequences. Either oblivion or fame, irrelevance or salience. I guess this is where talent comes into play.

Squink Out!

arny wrote:

Although I never heard a technosurfband. Hmmm... a new niche to explore

Fun fact, I'm actually working on writing a fusion between heavy modern Drum and Bass/Breakbeat music and Grunge/Punk, with a Surf guitar tone for the clean sounds, and lots of palm muted, hard picking of fat strings all over the place. It would rad to rig up my drum machine to a 4x4 beat out my bass amp and just jam over that, though. Stechnurf or something.

I prefer listening to bands or artists that have their own style or take on Instro/Surf to bands or artists that just imitate the old styles.
We have wonderful documents, records of the previous 50 or so years of the genre that inspire us all in sounds, melody and musicianship but to plainly impersonate that doesn't do much for me. I like originality and identity that is not based on specific styles or previous artists but on individual inspiration.
To get too specific about what fits or is appropriate for a genre can, in my opinion, lead to the "experts" condemning or excluding artists, writers and players and can actually hurt such a small, DIY community, not help it.

Cheers,
Jeff

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

It's been said many times, but one of surf's biggest strengths is the way it so easily incorporates many other genres, or adds its distinct flavor to them. Surf itself started as a combination of existing forms, all held together with electric guitar and reverb. In my view, surf lives and gains strength as that basic sonic idea continually finds relevance in new contexts.

Personally, my band uses our sense of surf music to explore Japanese taiko, Russian folk songs, micro-house techno, cinematic music, samba and punk/psych, and wherever else we end up. I definitely approach all this with a "surf" mindset, because that's my guitar-playing paradigm, but I don't think it's beholden to genre expectations at all.

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