Vans Surf and Mikey February Spotlight the Connection Between Sound, Art, and Surfing in Second Episode of ‘Sonic Souvenirs’
Published: Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Vans Surf proudly presents Volume Two of Sonic Souvenirs, a series focused on the intersection of surf, art and culture told through the lens of one of the world’s most stylish surfers, Mikey February.
In the second instalment of this exploration, Sonic Souvenirs: Cotê d'Ivoire, Mikey is joined by Vans’ LeeAnn Curren and Alex Knost along West Africa’s Ivory Coast. The crew also garnered insights from local musician Steven Amoikon and local surfer, Souleymane Sidibe, on their travels providing an authentic look into the origins of many regions’ cultures and spotlighting a variety of musical styles, instruments, dance and deep-rooted traditions. Nestled in smaller, niche communities, each region has its own ideas and interpretation of surfing, independent of existing perceptions or definitions.
“West Africa as a whole is such a beautiful area, but what is particularly exciting about the Ivory Coast is that a lot of it is undocumented and we were super excited to explore what this part of Africa has on offer,” Mikey said. “There is almost no modern influence on their surfing, so it is unlike most other places in the world that I’ve travelled to surf. From the outside looking in, you know it is only the beginning. The positive effect and endless opportunities that surfing can provide to the youth in these communities are really exciting.”
Immersed in the culture and energy of these communities, Mikey and crew draw inspiration and insight from each location and the people they meet along the way. The result is a beautiful reflection of art, surfing and music, and the interconnectedness of these shared passions that bring people together from different parts of the world.
Launched in 2021, Sonic Souvenirs is a series of visual essays on the influences of music and sound on style-master Mikey February’s surfing. Taking inspiration from music and finding different rhythms within surfing sets the tone for this ongoing series, which documents Mikey’s travels and immersion into local communities around the globe.
Watch Sonic Souvenirs Volume Two: Cotê d'Ivoire now on Vans YouTube channel and learn more at Vans.EU/Surf.
