JONNY PAYNE

AND THE THUNDER

SANTA CRUZ

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OUT NOW

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SANTA CRUZ 〰️ OUT NOW 〰️



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Surf-rocker trying to surf and trying to rock.

SANTA CRUZ VIDEO

In creating the music video for Santa Cruz, our goal was to encapsulate a sun-soaked California summer. Due to our budget constraints, Director AJ Stark, and camera operator Amanda Leipina, armed themselves with a VHS Camcorder and we headed to the picturesque riverbanks of Oxford. Here, we replaced the California coastline with the serene backdrop of the River Thames, infusing the video with a distinctive, dreamy charm that offers a perspective on the classic skate and surf culture.

MERCHANDISE

Santa Cruz T-shirt

Santa Cruz T-shirt

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Surf's Up T-shirt

Surf's Up T-shirt

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Big Wave Hat

Big Wave Hat

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END OF SUMMER VIDEO

Growing up watching surf and skate videos, my dream has always been to have my song soundtrack a skater or surfer. After attending London Surf Film Festival in 2022, I was blown away by Seth Hughes’ award-winning short film “Amble”, and approached him to create a video for new song “End of Summer”. Seth teamed up with free-surfer Mike Lay to perfectly capture the laid-back nature of the track.

BEING SOCIAL

SANTA CRUZ EP

My Santa Cruz EP is a culmination of songs carefully crafted over the past two years, each track meticulously recorded in various locations across the UK. Inspired by the essence of a road trip playlist for surf adventures, these songs aim to resonate seamlessly with the feeling of cruising along coastal roads. The Thunder project, which I passionately spearhead, thrives on collaboration, involving talented musicians like Chris Barker, Willie J Healey, Mike Monaghan, Tomas Greenhalf, Isobel Hambleton, Ash Cooke, Ian Budd and Mark Franklin. Throughout this musical journey, I've traversed the country, recording with friends, capturing vocals, and layering instrumental elements. One sun-drenched afternoon in my garden sparked the creation of the title track, "Santa Cruz." Its core phrase, "Right On Santa Cruz," was inspired by a laid-back encounter with a motel attendant savouring a banana smoothie, exuding a carefree aura with every "right on" he uttered. The verses of the song encapsulate the allure of exploring the sun-kissed coastline, etching those vibrant experiences into musical notes and lyrics.