I got the latest record from Johan when he drove me and Roine (www.roinefoto.se) home after a concert with Trubbel and Troublemakers. Johan plays bass in the group and he has answered a lot of questions regarding his group Kahuna Surfers which I really like with their summery surfpunk. By the way, it is Roine who has taken the photos that appear in the interview. August 2024

First, tell us a little about the group. How you met, when you met and why you decided to play surfpunk or what to call the music?

-I ( Johan ) am guilty of this band, I have always liked the mix of Surf, Punk and Powerpop. Listened a lot to our friends in Psychotic Youth and Sonic Surf City from the beginning. SSC recorded their first physical album in Klippan with our friend Micke Gustavsson and of course they got it as a strong inspiration early on. The surf of the 60's has always been nice music with all the nice melodies, harmonies in voices and the myth around this. The mix with the other music styles becomes more impactful and creates nice synergies between heavier guitars and the softness of the vocals. I had had the idea in my head for about 7-8 years and knew roughly how I wanted it to sound and that it was time to lift up the surfpunk genre again, as it had gradually fallen asleep. Then the pandemic came, then my and my wingmate Anders Kroon's other band Love Dolls didn't want to do anything and Anders had been nagging for several years that we should grab that concept band that was in my head. I basically knew who I wanted in the band and everyone said yes when the question came, except Camilla who at first thought that I had sent the question wrong and really had no idea what surfpunk was. Hahaha! Everything just worked out for Jörgen Westman got in touch and thought that Love Dolls and PY should do a Punk split-single together and then I explained to him that Love Dolls is a bit on hold but that we had something new surfy going on. Jörgen got on with the idea and it became a surf split instead, which turned out to be really good for us, so thank you Jörgen kicked in the right direction. All this happened in four months and everything became very urgent all of a sudden. The reason for our LP Kahuna Wave is precisely this split that got rid of Kahuna Surfers instead. We hadn't taken a note on stage before the full-length was available for purchase and now it's time for the next full-length.

Was it obvious that it would be that music?

-It was the clear goal from the beginning that we would play surfpunk. Eventually, however, we realized that we weren't so punky but rather play some kind of surf-punk-power pop. That's why we call our music style "Powersurf"

As I understand it, you all sing in the group, is it only choir or do you sing all by yourself on some songs?

-Except for a couple of instrumental songs we have no songs but choir and parts, but we all sing lead on different songs.

There are some other groups that play surfpunk/pop in this way in Sweden like Sonic Surf City, Psychotic Youth....is there any more you can recommend?

-Randells is a really good band from Blekinge that we have contact with. There is a German band called The Hawaiians and a bunch from Japan called Pelotan who are cool.

You are working on new recordings now from what I understood, what will become of this....physically I hope?

-Oh yes, it will be physical records, we have just come out of the studio where we have recorded three songs for an upcoming vinyl single, and during the fall we plan to record an LP which will also be on vinyl and probably on CD. Partysprenger Records in Germany releases the vinyls and Japanese Waterslide Records releases the CD.

You collect records yourself, so would you think that a group you are with that only releases let's say an LP only digitally that you have released an LP for real?

-For me an LP is a twelve inch vinyl record with a big lovely cardboard cover, hahaha! Sure, we live in a digital world and I think it's practical to be able to listen digitally when I'm traveling etc. but you miss the feeling that is in the physical LP. However, I think that you should support the bands that exist by buying physical records.

What is the favorite format for listening to music?

–Vinyl, and secondarily CD. Music from the Internet is practical but not nearly as fun.

Playing this type of music doesn't give you much room for political songs, is it something that you have discussed or is it completely out of the question?

-We have discussed the matter and decided not to take an official position on political and other sensitive issues. Our attitude is that Kahuna Surfers should deliver good feelings, party atmosphere and clean-up to everyone.

Which is the most fun gig you have had so far?

-It must be Frau Hedi in Hamburg. It is a boat that runs a trip of 2 hours on the Elbe while the band plays and takes about a hundred people in the audience. It was a very odd experience to stand with the audience close by while the boat heeled and rocked along the river between the large cargo ships in the harbor entrance

Which is the biggest band you have played with?

-We've been lucky enough to play with both Sonic Surf City, Psychotic Youth and Yum Yums, but the biggest band we've played together with is Sator.

If you could choose five bands to have a concert with, which ones would you choose if you could choose any five, living and dead bands?

-Ramones, Beach Boys, Psychotic Youth, The Hawaiians and Pelotan

Kahuna, what is it, tell us about how you came up with your name and was it obvious to have Surfers in the name?

-Kahuna is a Hawaiian word that has a little different meaning such as master, expert and leader etc. There is a movie called Gidget from 1959 where the leader of the surfing gang was called "The Big Kahuna". It was actually the name that I gave the band so that we would have a name in the beginning, but everyone in the band liked it and thought that we can keep it. Surfers almost says itself but is not always an advantage then as for example Morten in Yum Yums said, I thought you were one of those instrumental surfbands only. Hahaha!  

To play this type of music in Sweden, how does it work? Have you played a lot abroad?

-It ́s not a huge genre in Sweden and there are not very many venues that take in our type of band, but it goes home well with the audience that gets to see us. It doesn't get any easier and easier as the number of venues unfortunately shrinks. We did a mini-tour in Germany last spring and have more gigs going on abroad. Germany, Belgium and Italy seem promising. Our style is a hit in Europe, where there is a completely different audience that pours on when we play.

Are you in any other groups than Kahuna Surfers? You share a rehearsal room with Beckmörkt from what I understood, what do you like that group?

-Me and Anders Kroon are in Love Dolls, Anders Kroon has his own band called NoOnes, Anders "Lillpunkarn" Nilsson is in Beckmörkt, Kamellritt and Selfish. We all have a past in different bands and constellations.   Beckmörkt rehearses in the room opposite ours, and our drummer Anders "Lillpunkarn" Nilsson plays in Beckmörkt. We like them, both socially and musically, they are a good band. They will soon release their second album so keep an eye out.

What is the strangest thing that has happened during a gig with you?

-Our props consist of inflatable palm trees, surfboards and now a mascot that is an inflatable shark, the shark we got from a lovely guy from Malmö who follows us, the shark last swam out into the audience where a bunch of girls dry had a cozy time with various nice moves. A guy jumped up on one of our surfboards for some nice dry surfing and slipped so badly that he had to go to the emergency room, but it ended well we were told afterwards. Otherwise, it's probably when people come up and want weird songs by Thomas Ledin or Gyllene Tider and the like. We're not exactly a cover band.

What do you think about living in Sweden today... political etc?

-I/we like Sweden, and politically we do not take a stand.

You are on both a German label for LP and a Japanese label for the CD, how come? Will you continue with those companies?

–We will continue with these labels, as I said the next album is on the way and a new single is soon available to buy. It started with the split single with PY and it landed on a big German rock magazine that reviewed it where we got top ratings and then Partysprenger Records got in touch and wondered if there was more material. There were a few songs recorded that were sent and it was liked. Then it was in a hurry and we had to take another round in the studio to get together for the LP. Waterslide and Partysprenger have a collaboration since before and heard about us via the split single with PY. Everything went very fast and we are running so fast since then and look forward to releasing new material again. It's great that both companies believe in us and like what we do.

Favorite band from abroad?

-Pelotan, The Hawaiians.

What is the most weird thing (embarrassing) that you like musically that no one thought you listened to?

-Mahna Mahna with the Muppets. Hahaha! Does  even have it on LP.....

First, last and the most expensive record you ever bought?

-My first record was an Elvis Presley live album, the latest purchase was a 12" single with the Ramones and the most expensive I own is probably Keriminella Gitarrers Vårdad Klädsel single and a missprint-LP with Motörhead. There are probably some other small and good things in the stash....

Have you done any covers? Do you play any live?

-We do some covers but the emphasis is on our own material. "Goodbye Hawaii" which is on the Kahuna Wave LP is a Riptides cover and live we do a couple of Beach Boys covers, among others.

Future plans with music?

-The futureplans are like most bands- More gigs in Europe and more records. Wear out as much gig as possible and be seen on different stages.  An LP is in the works and a tour of Germany is being planned right now. We have also established good contacts with several punk festivals down in Europe.

Futureplans for yourself? –

For my part, it is to see more live music, it adds a lot of positives. Develop Kahuna Surfers and make plans for future collaborations, especially abroad. Try to help my boy release their band's debut album with the metal band Static Confusion, young people with a lot of energy. Heavy so to the bench!

Words of wisdom?

-Wake up, Kick Ass, Repeat! Haha!

What is the strangest question you have ever been asked in an interview?

-We were asked if Hawaiian  shirts are cultural appropriation. A very strange thought...

Thanks for a nice interview, keep on surfin'!

Something to add?

-Surf on