The Surfrider Foundation network is made up of a collection of activists and passionate ocean enthusiasts from all backgrounds and fields of interest. We are honored to have participation and support from a diverse group of individuals from all around the country. Recently, we caught up with a pair of talented, rising musicians from the town where Surfrider was founded, Malibu, California. We’re pleased to introduce you to Skyler and Davis of the band Very Nice Person in celebration of their new song “Plastic”, which aims to raise awareness about pollution and inspire people to take personal responsibility for protecting the environment.
Thanks for joining us, Skyler and Davis! To dive into your background, please tell us about your upbringing and the impact the coast has had on you.
We grew up living primarily between Malibu and New York City but have spent stretches of time traveling and living in places like Hawaii and Bali. Growing up in these coastal environments has really connected us to the ocean and sparked such a huge passion for it. The ocean is one of the most foundational and important things to us. It is inspiring to us and very synergistic to our music in a way.
How did you get started creating music?
Our dad is a musician so we grew up in a very music oriented environment, going on tour as little kids and always listening to and loving music. Although music has been a huge part of our life, we didn’t start making music until about 4 years ago. As young teenagers, we were exploring different interests and passions of ours, and music just seemed to click.
What does your creative process look like?
Our creative process usually starts with some type of music, sound, or something like a song, topic, etc. that is really cool and inspiring to us. This could come about from messing around and experimenting with beats, vocals, etc. or it can be something that just randomly pops up. This inspiration sparks our motivation and drives us into the studio to express this feeling and turn an idea into a good song. Then, bringing this energy to other musicians and collaborating helps us bring this inspiration into fruition and reach the song's full potential.
How did the idea come about to write your song, “Plastic”? What inspired you?
We actually wrote “Plastic” after being hit by a recent deluge of plastic pollution while surfing in Malibu. After living around coastal environments that face plastic pollution like Bali, we had already experienced the harshness of plastic pollution first hand, but this recent experience was the trigger that really pushed us to express this frustration. We used the song and its sound to embody our emotion towards this issue and attempt to raise awareness about plastic pollution in our ocean.
Why do you think it's important for artists to use their platforms to help raise awareness, take action and encourage others to do the same?
It is so important for us to spread awareness about the problems facing our environment, so we can all work together to try to help bring our planet back into harmony. An issue such as plastic pollution is so present to us and damaging to our environment, we really wanted to bring attention to this mess and try to change our ways as a whole. We are all part of this planet and it’s time we start caring for each other and taking responsibility for our actions.
Being accountable for our impacts is so important. Are there any habits you’ve picked up, music-related or otherwise, to help reduce your own environmental footprint, or give back to your local beach?
Some of the biggest things we've picked up in our own life to reduce our waste and negative impact on the environment are 1. Simply being aware of how our actions impact the environment 2. Reducing, Reusing and Recycling, and 3. Eating consciously sourced food. Of course there are a lot more but these are some of the main, heavy hitters.
For folks who are interested in taking action, how would you describe the role of individuals in the larger movement to protect our ocean and coasts? How would you encourage them to get involved?
The main roles we envision our society should take to protect our oceans and change our ways are by changing the system and making better decisions. First, civic engagement is crucial and starts from the source, improving waste management laws and targeting the companies that produce wasteful goods. And second, making a conscious effort to pick up more environmentally friendly habits is also super important. Implementing small things like reducing waste and supporting regenerative agriculture can have huge impacts on the whole.
We are so grateful for The Surfrider Foundation and organizations like it that address these environmental issues and contribute to the change we would like to see in the world. We love to see others joining us in this message and working to protect our oceans and change the system. We hope that others enjoy the music/message, join us in this movement, and that we can inspire them to get creative with whatever motivates them in a positive way.
Thanks to Skyler and Davis for chatting with us, and for the ongoing support of our mission!
Listen to “Plastic” by Very Nice Person on any streaming platform now.
Keep up with Skyler and Davis by following Very Nice Person on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
Take Action by encouraging your representatives to pass the Federal Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act.
Become a Surfrider member today!
