Donavon Frankenreiter is known in the surf world as a classic throwback to the simpler days of single-fin surfboards and stylish turns, a prankster and, well, a hippie. Another everlasting Frankenreiter trademark is a guitar always in hand and a song on the lips. In the music industry, Donavon's apple didn't fall far from the surfing tree, and Frankenreiter has become a successful artist, strumming his guitar with a carefree, bluesy style all his own. His raw, yet soothing voice is the perfect match for his melodic high jinks.
In 2004 he got his big break from friend Jack Johnson, who produced Donavon's first self-titled album and released it on Brushfire Records. After five more releases, the improvisational singer-songwriter is literally revisiting his first album and has rerecorded 10 of the tracks with a new Hawai'i-inspired tone and feel, staying true to the ukulele, lap steel and slack key guitars, among other instruments.
"After moving to Hawai'i two years ago, I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the Hawaiian music was that I kept hearing everywhere," Frankenreiter reminisces. "I wanted to try and make something with the same instruments that I was hearing on all those great tracks. We headed into the studio in Kaua'i with a friend of mine, Kirk Smart, picked 10 songs off my first album and Kirk brought to life all those instruments that I was hearing in my head."
Revisited is available at all Hawai'i Billabong stores, indie retailers and digitally. Also, look for Frankenreiter's brand new full-length album, Glow.