Fourth in our series of Quests & Adventures with remarkable women shaping water and wellness culture, we spoke with Romée Avril — a Dutch singer/songwriter, deejay and beach it-girl, about her journey through surf, fashion, and music.
Romée style reflects her cowboy mentality inspired by the 00s and the flow of the shore, and with that mentality she is motivated to bring waterwear to the streets again as the ocean waves spark her intuition and creativity. In this insightful Q&A, she shares lessons learned from balancing fashion week, to gigs and beaches, tips for staying grounded while traveling, and the inspirations behind her music.
How did you first get into surfing, and what was that initial experience like for you?
My first encounter with surfing was when I was only eight years old. I remember looking at the waves of Muizenberg in Cape Town, South Africa, and imagined the freedom the surfers must be feeling catching one. Coming from a big city like Rotterdam, surfing culture has not been present in my day to day life, but ever since I laid eyes on that surfer floating through the sparkling light the sunlight creates when it hits the water, there was no turning back - I was mesmerized. Five years later in Indonesia I caught my first white wash. The liquid golden combination of feeling the thrill and a peace of mind in that moment in time made me forever sold to chasing that spark.
What draws you to the ocean, and how does it influence your creativity or mood?
Oh my, the oceans are my safe space. I have always been drawn to the ocean, and I wish I could but I cannot explain to you why. Sometimes you don’t have to hold space for an answer when you feel it's a place you are meant to be spending lots of your time. The ocean is the place where my intuition charges instantly like a battery as soon as I feel the energy of the waves. My work can get quite hectic, moving from Fashion Weeks, to music studio’s and underground clubs, and my soul desires a place to cut the noise. I am a woman of extremes, and with my personality there is no in between - i love my life like that. I am happiest when I am with my salt water curls catching waves in my WALLIEN suite, but also feel closest to me when I am caught by a beam of a spotlight on stage in a thrifted designer look. Whenever I am in need to breathe, I take a moment to paddle out, tune in with myself and listen to the depths of my heart. And to be honest, the best hooks for tracks have started in the ocean and not in the studio.
Surfing is often about expecting the unexpected, and finding flow and balance. How does that resonate with the way you work on your music or writing?
What I love about surfing is that you practice nature in motion. It makes you feel alive as you have to be fully aware of all that is happening in the present moment to not miss anything. If you flinch, you fall, and that pressure is the reality check that keeps me on my feet. It might sound crazy, but on stage I take this mentality with me as I face the exact same mental fight. If I am not ready to give it all, and am not connected to my natural instinct, I make choices by head, and not by heart causing a show to not flow or a writing session to fail. Its all about trusting your gut. In terms of finding my flow, I am still very much in the process of figuring that out. I believe that’s actually why I am 25, no?
Do you see any parallels between the freedom you feel while surfing and the freedom you experience when performing or writing?
My freedom is my biggest gift and strongest motivation to go all in to pursue the life that is meant for me. I was never a 9-5 girly, and had trouble understanding how people could be glued to any office desk out of free will. With music I am free: there are no rules or boundaries: every day I can create an entire new universe by listening to what my voice has to say. And those brain waves are translated into music. What is similar to surfing is the intensions in doing it so as you have the power to create that freedom yourself as you can literally draw your own lines. I decide whenever I paddle out, when and if I stand up, and with what intention I face the ocean. By catching a wave, it gives me goosebumps when I say this, but I feel on top of my world. The world that I have created in that moment of time by myself, through my own efforts. And that feeling of freedom is the biggest reward to any accomplishment as you fought passionately for achieving it.
Why waterwear? Where do the opportunities lie in terms of styling?
I am a big big advocate for bringing waterwear to the streets again. Surf-inspired fashion has always been a great inspiration for me as the easy-breezy effortless style of surfers remains one that is difficult to capture for the fashion industry. I don’t know what our secret is, but whenever we touch down at the beach we glow differently. I love the sleek look and in combination with edgy. Is it the tight fit of the wetsuit that makes us feel powerful? Or does the design with the zipper in front make us feel cool? I cannot tell you the answer but I know it instantly boosts my confidence. And that is the power of fashion: your look should enhance your current mood. And so I wore my favorite WALLIEN suit to Copenhagen Fashion Week last season. I styled it with a low rise jeans, butter yellow belt and heeled flip flops. Ready to walk the street inspired by the flow of the shore.
Your style is out there. What inspired that?
Trial and error! haha. I have failed many many looks, but only by doing so I realized what fits my body type and color scheme. As I started my career working in fashion, I was lucky to be in rooms with so much inspiration. I got to experiment with fashion, and was never afraid to try. It helped that I grew up on stage, I learned at an early age that whatever you do, people will be watching. And when you own what you do, you have the power to fail without people realizing. Just put yourself out there, and allow yourself to grow.
You were recently in Morocco. Has being there influenced your creative process at all?
A 100%. Morocco has unleashed the artists in me. That country is just magnetic as it has drawn me to the most beautiful encounters of my life putting my heart in its finest position. For three years now, I have had a tattoo on my arm saying ‘instinct’ in Arabic. And after driving through bumpy streets of Tamraght, and gazing at the sunset from my surfboard at Banana Point, I know why. This country lets you feel anything is possible, as you are the creator of your own life whenever you choose to tune in to what your soul is saying. If you don’t believe me, start with reading the book ‘The Alchemist’, and then book a flight to Agadir. Thank me later.
If your favorite waterwear (or street style combi like in Copenhagen) fit had a soundtrack, what would it sound like?
Oeh!! i love this question. Handsdown ‘IT GIRL’ by Kah-Lo, Associanu and Karma Fields. A forever musical affirmation to play whenever wherever.
What’s one piece from the WALLIEN collection you think everyone should own?
I am forever in awe of the moon spring suit. Every time I wear it in the ocean, women literally paddle out to compliment my waterwear. The color is nothing like I have ever seen before, and with the perfect female fit and edgy design it's to me the essence of perfection. It truly makes me feel so sexy and edgy. And as with hitting the gym in a cute outfit, I simply catch better waves surfing in this suit :)
What has surfing taught you about yourself that you didn’t expect?
The ocean has taught me so much, but if I have to choose one lesson, it is that in the waves you can never fake it until you make it. The ocean is the biggest reality check that puts you in tune with your biggest insecurities, and fears. Never come unprepared and be ready to pay the price when you do. I love that it is that fierce - no exceptions.
With all love,
Romée Avril
