story by Kymber Berson
photo by Scott Soens

In the past it has been Donavon Frankenreiter's surfing that has allowed him to travel to some of the most spectacular places in the world. Now touring to promote his self-titled album, Donavon is on his way to hang out in Chi-town's frigid winter wonderland…but he doesn't mind. "I've been surfing my whole life and surfing never took me to spots like Chicago. Now my music is taking me to places I've always wanted to go. It's incredible, until I started playing music I never really got to see America. It's wonderful to tour thorough the Midwest, the East Coast and down South, and actually see where we live."

Being on Jack Johnson's label Brushfire Records isn't a coincidence. Donavon met Jack when he was 15 years old surfing in Hawaii. Shortly after, he ended up renting a room in Jack's parents' home. "Ever since we've been friends and kept in touch, I would see him in different places around the world. I was surfing in Australia working on a movie when his first record came out and he'd be over there playing. It was great timing for me; I couldn't think of a better person to make a record with. I gave him my songs and he said 'let's go for it, let's make a record'."

Donavon recognizes that Johnson's influence can be heard throughout his album, and for good reason. Not only did Jack produce and play on the album, they also used his equipment and recorded at his studio in Hawaii, The Mango Tree. "I think it's heavily sprinkled with Jack Johnson - he played one form or another of an instrument on pretty much every song [ukulele, acoustic or electric guitar, piano]. We jammed out on every song and a lot of times we thought we wouldn't keep it but it sounded great, so we did."

FRANKENREITER'S INNER VIEW "There was no pressure; it felt like we were just jamming for three weeks and at the end of it we had an album."

Other friends stopped by the studio to contribute to the album including G. Love and surfer buddy Rob Machado. "I wanted recording my first record to be a great experience, so it was wonderful to be in that element and go surfing every day. There was no pressure; it felt like we were just jamming for three weeks and at the end of it we had an album."

Don't get the wrong impression, music isn't a new endeavor for Frankenreiter, but being the frontman is. It was a little inspiration from his wife that pushed him to concentrate on his singing and songwriting abilities. "I started a band called Sunchild in high school. It's strange, I did it for 10 years and all I did was play rhythm guitar. I never sang and there were other guys who wrote the songs."

Around the time he met his wife about four years ago, Donavon said he had peaked in Sunchild and knew he couldn't keep playing the same songs over and over. "I used to play acoustic and sing for my wife at home. She really pushed me and said I should go out and sing."

His wife continues to inspire as she and their two year-old son are on the road whenever Donavon goes. "I travel so much that I can't just wave to my wife and my baby and say 'I'll see ya when I get back'. I feel really fortunate to be able to bring them on the road everywhere I go. I think it would be unhealthy not to have that tight bond and relationship with the family. And for me, I don't want to have to come home and explain to my wife what it was like. I want her to experience all these moments with me."

Donavon Frankenreiter :: Double Door :: February 2.