Like a surfer learning to ride a wave, the life of an artist can be a turbulent process punctuated by brief moments of bliss.
Eric Lundholm grew up in Makakilo, Hawaii, where, like many island children, he learned early on to strum basic ukulele songs such as “Surf” by the Ka’au Crater Boys.
Watch Eric Lundholm jam with drummer Elise Trouw
“I just went from there,” says the easygoing musician and board sports enthusiast. “I never really wanted to be a rock star per se.”
“Naturally I’m an introvert, so for me to go out and play music and perform is my way of getting myself out there. It’s my way of living a normal life and expressing myself. So, it’s kind of healing in that sense.”
–Eric Lundholm
When he was 12, Lundholm’s family moved to the northern Idaho city of Coeur D’Alene near mountain resorts Schweitzer Mountain and Lookout Pass. After high school, he followed his twin passions for snowboarding and music while living in Colorado and Montana before eventually returning to the island of Oahu.
The first time he performed on stage was at Duke’s Ukes Contest in Waikiki. This led to the formation of the barhopping Salty String Band and a job with The Ukulele Site instrument builders in Haleiwa.
“I love playing small venues, breweries and bars,” says Lundholm. “That’s a lot of fun for me — sharing my music with people. If I can make a little money doing it that’s cool, too.”
While working at the uke shop one day, Lundholm met local luthiers Tyler Joersz and Devin Price of Tyde Music who inspired him to move to Lake Tahoe. He landed a job as a snowboard instructor at Northstar California Resort until the pandemic closed everything down in March. He wrote and posted the beautifully mellow folk song “Nothing to Do” in response. Then he started recording his debut EP.
“I’m kind of hoping this is a catalyst to getting together with the right people,” says Lundholm. “With the lockdown and being so new in town, it’s been hard to go out and make those connections. Although it’s definitely giving me a lot of time to play on my own.”
Lundholm now works part-time on the dock at Tahoe Watermans Landing in Carnelian Bay while waiting for the mountains to open again. He started his own repair and custom build paddle and surfboard company called ELevate Board Designs.
The album title, “Broke Ass,” is inspired by Lundholm’s penchant for living in expensive beach and mountain towns on a meager income. This challenge grew even bigger last year after he was bitten by a rat while working on a house in Idaho. He developed an infection that required open heart surgery. Without health insurance or workers’ compensation, he was stuck with the bill.
“When I play my instruments, it’s definitely cathartic,” he says. “Naturally I’m an introvert, so for me to go out and play music and perform is my way of getting myself out there. It’s my way of living a normal life and expressing myself. So it’s kind of healing in that sense.”
Island Grown, Mountain Molded
The five-song “Broke Ass” EP is an eclectic assortment of alt-rock, traditional Hawaiian and ambient compositions inspired by sandy beaches and rocky peaks, the highs and the lows of Lundholm’s adventurous lifetime.
Opening track “The Hat Song” recalls the simple, catchy hooks and indie voice of Rivers Cuomo of Weezer while expressing the passions and struggle of an artist/athlete perpetually “broke on stoke.”
“Haleiwa Shuffle” is an upbeat instrumental Lundholm whipped up to show off his formidable ukulele chops. The humorously folky “Broke Ass Theme Song” was written on the beach one day while contemplating what to do between jobs. Hard-rocking “Do What I Can” is about staying positive in the face of adversity.
The authentic EP closes with the wonderfully ambient 7 minutes of “Insomnia.”
“I wrote that the day that I bought my acoustic guitar,” says the artist. “I just sat down started playing chords with my looper and it turned into this. It’s evolved since I first played it. I like where it’s come to.”
As a bonus track, Lundholm is releasing an honest and heartrending acoustic version of Kid Cudi’s ubiquitous 2009 hip-hop anthem “Pursuit of Happiness” on SoundCloud.
“I feel a little bit of connection with that song because that’s what my life has been about, bouncing between surf towns and mountain towns trying to play music,” he says. “As of the last month or two it’s been pretty great. Things are lightening up. I’m hoping to collaborate with some people once life opens up again.” | ELevate Board Designs on Facebook
