SURF ROOTS GIRL   

Featured Artists: 

 ANUHEA, TRISTAN PRETTYMAN, COLBIE CAILLAT, IRIE LOVE, MEIKO, BLUE KING BROWN, KAT, AIME ALLEN, SAMANTHA, KIMIE, ALOHA RADIO, HAYLEY SALES + pro surfers ERICA HOSSEINI & HOLLY BECK & surf artist HEATHER BROWN

Check out KAYLA'S CORNER from college reporter Kayla Kuhn, featuring interviews with IRATION, TRIBAL SEEDS & THROUGH THE ROOTS! (click the banner)

ALOHA RADIO's Lauren Mulderrig - Article

Aloha! My name is Lauren and I am really excited to be writing a post for Resin Music's Surf Roots Girl. I am currently the singer/songwriter for Aloha Radio. We are a Surf Pop band from Orange County, CA. My band members and I got together a year ago to start working on this new music venture. We set out to be a Surf band which confuses some people when they don't hear an acoustic guitar and Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz. To clarify, Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, pioneered by acts such as Dick Dale and the Del-Tones. This style of music is dominated by electric guitars and distinctive reverb.



I fell in love with music when I was 14, since then I have felt a deep passion and determination to make music my life. When I made this decision, I tried to learn as much as I could about music, singing, guitar, and the music industry. My early influences were either country or indie bands. My influences today are Dick Dale, Jenny Lewis, The Ventures, The Beach Boys, and Linda Dela Cruz to name a few. When I was 15 I recorded my first acoustic album, "Stability." I actually met my band mate's parents at a dinner with my mom. Their son had a recording studio and i was looking for a place to record my first set of songs. My mom bought me some recording time for my birthday and that is how Alex Barnett and I met. He helped record and produce my first album. After working together, Alex and I sparked up a great friendship, we became close through music. After a year we talked about doing an album with a full band. I had written a bunch of new songs so we got together and began to work. We wrote and recorded my second album,"Plains, Trains, and Clean Getaways." This album featured a full band which was really Alex and I. His Brother, Jessie Barnett of Stick to Your Guns also helped us out on drums. This album was released when I was 17 years old.  I recorded "Deep Blue Ocean " for "Planes, Trains, and Clean Getaways." I wrote this song in Maui, Hawaii. It was my single and we made a music video for the song at Laguna Beach. "Deep Blue Ocean," was Aloha Radio's inspiration for becoming a surf band. We still use the music video and play the song at shows. We also plan on re-recording it in the future.



I am very proud of the fact that I have recorded and released two albums completely independently. Alex and I also went on 4 U.S. tours in a Scion with a trailer for our last album. We played acoustic sets at coffee shops, bars, and music venues across the country. Alex and I also booked all of these tours ourselves. A lot of musicians wait around for someone to "discover" them, this is not likely. You can make a successful living in music even if you do everything yourself, it is possible.

Looking back I would have never guessed I would be in a surf band, but now it seems obvious! When I was 14, I had also joined my high school's surf team. That should have been a red flag, but it wasn't until my manager, Mark Eddinger pointed out the truth that I realized I'm not really a country girl? I grew up surfing and going to the beach, surf music was more "me" and fit my personalty better than the music I was previously playing. All of our songs are influenced by surf guitar, or hawaiian roots, most of my lyrics are also beach and surf themed. It feels good to have found myself in music and be able to share Aloha Radio's surf style with others. I know there are probably other girls out there who also want to get into music, if it is what you really love to do, go for it 110%.

Some tips I have for other female musicians are:

1. Practice! You need the skills to back up your dreams. You probably aren't going to be THE best unless you are a child prodigy, but you always need to be YOUR best. 2. Take advice and criticism with an open mind. Obviously you aren't going to listen to the regulars that heckle you at that dive bar you play but if someone inside the industry makes a suggestion remember they are in the industry for a reason they could have some good ideas. 3. Don't get scammed! If someone is interested in managing, signing, or working with you remember one rule of thumb: If they ask you for money before they actually work for you, it's a scam. Also avoid ticketing schemes run by music venues and booking agents. 4. Don't Give Up! Sometimes you won't have the support you need, or money to pay your rent, but if you are serious about becoming a musician don't give up. You have to pay your dues! 5. DIY Do it Yourself. If you are serious go for it make things happen, release your own record, book your own tour. Artists that are making things happen themselves are more likely to attract representation, especially if you have set up your own tour or released your own album, labels and industry insiders are looking for musicians with experience and understanding of the industry. As November approaches, I am anxiously awaiting the release of Aloha Radio's EP. It is currently in the artwork stage but should be sent to the duplication company soon. Next month I will post on how to release your own album and share how we made the new Aloha Radio "Big Wave Madness" EP. Mahalo to Resin Music for asking me to write for Surf Roots Girl. Thank YOU for reading it!

☀Lauren

Interview with Roots Rocker KAT 

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