Surfboard Surfboard is a new indie synth-pop duo out of Beirut Lebanon, who consist of Michel Maouad and Serge Volant. The project started in 2025 and the songs contained within the new EP titled “Surfboard 1” are reflections on living in the moment and the emotion that comes with it. This collaboration between the two musicians offers a glimpse into how daily life affected their songwriting and compositions. The purpose in their music is to show that amongst the chaos there is so much in life to admire and find joy in, whether this be time spent with friends or long drives along countryside. All of these moments and inspirations are captured and translated sonically onto this wonderfully crafted EP.
“Surfboard 1” was recorded at Tunefork Studios in Beirut by Joy Mouhanni. Volant and Maouad both provide vocals over the course of the EP as well as perform most of the arrangements with Volant contributing a majority of the synth work while Maouad covered bass and drums. The five-track EP alternates between new wave nostalgia and dreamy synth-pop ala Castlebeat and Black Marble. “Surfboard 1” would easily find a home on Spirit Goth Records. Similar to Volant’s LP “Everyday Is All There Is”, the EP incorporates a few field recordings which add subtle textures to the tracks they’re found on. The samples capture our imaginations, creating vivid imagery as we listen along.
“Surfboard 1” opens with the sounds of ocean waves crashing onto the shore, children laughing and playing before new wave-adjacent synths fade in. Like The Sea is lush and cheery; hopeful and lighthearted. It is created by musicians focusing on what gives them joy and happiness instead of dwelling on the hardships the people of Lebanon have had to endure for decades. Singer Julie Abou Kasm makes an appearance on the song, harmonizing during the chorus and adding an additional layer of vocal texture to the track. Like The Sea is a love letter to the Mediterranean and having been to Lebanon in the summer of 2004, I completely understand the feeling.
Flowers and Sun was the first single released by the duo mid-September and it still hits as hard as when I first heard it. The blending of the synth work, baselines and vocal harmonies is infectious and simply perfect. Spring Vanishes Anyway follows and is a melancholic song about the inevitability of change. The tone is a bit somber but this band’s knack crafting catchy song structure is on full display here. It was at this point in my listening that cemented Surfboard Surfboard as one of the best new bands I’d come across this year. I was instantly hooked and this usually isn’t something that happens this quickly when listening to a new artist. There was something special coming from these songs, something I was feeling attachment to.
Thank You First Rain is the only instrumental track found on the EP, but it’s one of my favorites (particularly the later half leading up to the ending). I can easily imagine myself driving through the mountains and cedars of Lebanon with this song playing in the background. Thousands of Beers is the final track and is a slight departure from what has come prior. The tempo is cranked up with a bit of drum and bass thrown in but it perfectly rounds off what has been an incredible 17 minute journey with Surfboard Surfboard. I didn’t want this EP to end. Selfishly, I wanted to explore more of these soundscapes with my eyes closed, holding on to the memories of my time spent in Beirut with family and all the new friends made along the way.
Life has not been easy in this part of the world, particularly for a country that was doing well post-Civil War (1975-1990), only for things to spiral since the horrors during the summer of 2005. If there is one thing I know about Lebanon and the people who live there, it’s resilience and the ability to find the beauty in life; even when darkness rears it’s ugly head. Music has the innate ability to bring people together; to let us share moments together and forget about the ills that plague us. For those few minutes of time, nothing matters besides the music we’re listening and dancing to. Surfboard Surfboard have made something beautiful with their new EP. It brings good feelings and is a pleasure to listen to. It’s an EP that has a lot to say in a short amount of time but the underlying message is revealed as soon as the first wave crashes ashore. Volant and Maouad are encouraging us to look within and find the happiness that is in front of our faces. They’re wanting us to cherish what we find around us.
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