Hello everyone. I'm a newer musician who's been slowly soaking in the vast ocean of surf music. Last month, while I was stuck at home with COVID, I decided to finally record my first two originals for release!

Fast forward and my first surf release is here: Boardwalk Bop, Vol. 1

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/danyaal/boardwalk-bop-vol-1

I don't know if my two songs will reach many ears, but I'd love any and all feedback you have!

Danyaal
Songwriter & Musician

Boardwalk Bop, Vol. 1

danyaalmusic wrote:

Hello everyone. I'm a newer musician who's been slowly soaking in the vast ocean of surf music. Last month, while I was stuck at home with COVID, I decided to finally record my first two originals for release!

Fast forward and my first surf release is here: Boardwalk Bop, Vol. 1

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/danyaal/boardwalk-bop-vol-1

I don't know if my two songs will reach many ears, but I'd love any and all feedback you have!

Very awesome thanks for the post I like good recorded music I will listen more when I get home from work ............

Thank you to everyone for your kind words!

LittleKahunaCraig wrote:

Nice songs, both of them. Traditional surf music rarely had solos and when they did, like wipe out, they were simple and served the melody. Your melodies are strong but do they get lost in the long solos? I asked John Blakeley of the Sandals (endless summer) to review my music recently and he wanted to make sure I had the melody in my head after the song was over and everything else in the song supported that melody in some way. Listen to the Endless summer soundtrack for more tips on this and see if you’re humming the melodies long after the song is over. That’s the goal…

Thank you for this feedback! This is really helpful. I just listened to the entirety of the Endless Summer Soundtrack and it's spectacular! I can see how I maybe "jammed" more than "composed" the music and the effect that a less intentional melody can have on the memorability of a song.

Also I noticed you mentioned "Traditional surf" music. Could you explain or point me to somewhere that documents the different surf sub-genres? I'd love to know more about the qualities of different styles of surf music.

Danyaal
Songwriter & Musician

Boardwalk Bop, Vol. 1

Last edited: Jan 19, 2023 02:13:15

OK I got a really good listen and yes this is beyond awesome thanks for sharing this it's my YouTube play list for good ........

ArtS wrote:

Listened to Man Overboard/Bail!
Just woke up and gave it a listen. Nice to start the day with some new surf music!

I can see where there is a "jam" quality some are hearing. Not really a jam on this one to me as a lot of different takes on the melody with same chords. Basically a "theme and variation" (I do it a lot myself).

If the opening line is your main melody phrase then I'd suggest that you change the second phrase at 25 seconds (higher notes playing triads??) as the rhythm guitar behind the first phrase for one of the verses.

Use the horn section as a bridge. Coming out of the bridge play first phrase an octave higher. Throw the horn bridge in again somewhere. I like the sudden drum change at 2:28 to break up the song, but maybe return to main phrase or a more recognizable (embellished) variation of it around around 2:54 with horns/rhythm guitar in background so it sounds like you're really building up the song near the end where the gunslingers are getting ready for the shootout! Then end with 1st phrase at 3:09. This is just my take. In music there is no wrong or right, just what you are trying to express. Of course packaging it in a predictable format makes it easier on the initial listen.

One last suggestion for music in general. I'm not a fan of playing the same chord progression over and over throughout a song and just varying the melody line. Others here are. I find that a bridge/middle eight using a different chord pattern shifts the tone of a song well, when done nicely.

FULL DISCLOSURE, I do a lot of "theme and variation of melody lines in my songs too, so don't be afraid to do that just find a way to get back to your strongest part by the end of the song.

Regarding surf music and sub genres, I'll defer to my fellow SG101'ers with more knowledge in this area who can point you to the right post. Good luck! Now I need a cup of coffee to wake up!!!

Thank you so much!! Everything you say makes sense and I'm super excited to start experimenting with it in future songs! I'm starting to listen to your tracks to see if I can spot what you described here in your feedback!

joebonni wrote:

OK I got a really good listen and yes this is beyond awesome thanks for sharing this it's my YouTube play list for good ........

Thank you so much for your kind words!

Samurai wrote:

I like it, great sound and nice tunes.
Could you share how do you record guitars? What drums do you use and what DAW?

Thank you! And yes, of course. I recorded in my apartment by using the bridge pickup of my Fender Strat into Ableton and used a Fender Twin Reverb simulation by Neural DSP.

And I'll ask my friend who performed the drums what he used and get back to you. He was trying to get a vintage '60s style sound though!

Danyaal
Songwriter & Musician

Boardwalk Bop, Vol. 1