Beastie Boy/Surfer Mike D Gets Philosophical on Wave Riding | “Surfing is a simile for that experience. You’re getting the same sort of energy in a totally different form. Do I sound like a West Coast douche?”
How good is Mike D’s Echo Chamber Apple Music show? It is the most fabulous thing on Apple Music by far. Guests include Kelly Slater, Steph Gilmore, Tony Alva, Luke Stedman, and also some of the most famous musicians and producers of all time. Also John C. Reilly. All just playing the jams and talking shit.
Not too mention Mike’s stint as 1/3rd of the Beastie Boys have changed your world whether you know it or not. Much like MCA before him infiltrated the snowboard world in the most credible way possible, Mike now lives quite the surf life. Too bad he missed decades of firing surf in New York. Really kicking yourself now aren’t ya Mike!
He’s got a memoir coming out that was co-written with Ad-Rock, which we cannot wait for. There’s going to be some stories in that one. For now read this interview…
Sample:
What’s something in your life today that gives you same the thrill as the one you get from music?
I’d put surfing in that category. It truly is intoxicating — it’s probably the endorphins that does it. One of the most profound things about it for me is that in this era when we are all connected all the time, [surfing] is time out of the day where not only are you not connected to any device, you are connected to the ocean, a power far, far greater than you. You become this little speck, and if you are not present and don’t respect the ocean, you will be demolished by a wave.
Are there emotions common to surfing and making music?
Yeah. I think musicians can become addicted to surfing very quickly because there’s overlap. Musicians are always chasing this fleeting transcendental feeling in the writing or playing of music where the rest of the world ceases to exist. Surfing is a simile for that experience. You’re getting the same sort of energy in a totally different form. Do I sound like a West Coast douche?
Because you’re describing the cosmic qualities of surfing?
[Laughs] “Wow, I helmed this wave and I was just going and I was connected to it and there were three dolphins swimming face to the wave. And then I turned into a moon maiden …”
Click to VULTURE for a discussion that involves a bit of surfing and other cool shit w/ Mike D
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