A gifted acoustic guitarist and singer as well as a helping hand around our Moliets surf camp, Emma can also be found entertaining our surf holiday guests with a mix of her own music and well-known, sing-along covers. Set against a backdrop of locations varying from sunsets on the beach, to cliff-tops in Biarritz to the magical forest that is Star Surf Camps Moliets itself, her sets are a highlight of each surf camp week’s entertainment!
Why did you decide to work at Star Surf Camps in Moliets this summer surf holiday season, Emma?
I camp to Moliets for a surfing holiday both four and three years ago on a University group surf trip. At the time, there was a band here and everyone was jamming on the beach and I joined in for a few songs myself. I was then asked if I wanted to come back and do some music this year and I said yes because the first year I came here I had one of the best holiday weeks of my life! It would have been stupid to turn the offer down.
What made that first surf camp week so special for you, Emma?
To be honest, I don’t know. Everyone’s just so happy and friendly here. I guess with the surfing, the yoga, the sun, everything’s just so relaxed. Star Surf Camps’ surf camp just breeds happiness!
How flattering! What’s your favourite thing to do around the surf camp other than making music for/ with our surf holiday makers?
Apart from the amazing surf, my favourite thing has probably been the Yoga actually. I think it’s such a good compliment when learning to surf. The Moliets surf camp Yoga teachers, Sarah and Emily, are just lovely, and everyone leaves their Yoga sessions really chilled and with a smile. The skate ramp this year is also amazing! I’ve always been scared to go to skate ramps in England where there’s big crowds but here everyone’s super supportive and helping you learn. In general, there’s just a really open and happy atmosphere among all surfers which is great! The entire surf camp team is fantastic, surf instructors, teamer and other staff instantly became a family to me. I’ve only been here a few weeks and it already feels like I’ve known this surf camp bunch my whole life… so yeah, the openness, the sun, the supportiveness. Love it!
It’s really great to hear you’ve settled into your surf camp home and family well. And how long have you been playing the guitar and making music for?
I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember and then performing for about six years and I guess guitar came with that. It’s hard to say where I get my inspiration from though, I often write when I’m a bit sad! I couldn’t locate one place that gives me inspiration, it’s just when something evokes a strong feeling.
What’s the creative process behind your own songs then?
It depends really. Usually I’ll get sort of a burst of inspiration and that stops at about half a song and I’ll have to add to it as time goes on. Sometimes it starts as me writing a riff on the guitar and then just seeing what words go along with it.
Cool! So finally then, what’s been your best or funniest memory since you’ve arrived in our Moliets surf camp so far?
That’s definitely our day trip away from the surf camp in Biarritz: I always have a glass of wine before a show to ease my nerves a bit and Garth, the camp’s head of entertainment, saw that my glass was empty and very delicately tried to fill it but, in a very Garth fashion, managed to knock over all of the glasses and caused complete chaos in the middle of the performance while I was playing. That was pretty funny!
Thanks, Emma! We’re all looking forward to hearing more of you over our sunny surf camp season here in Moliets!
Robbie & the Star Surf Camps Moliets Team
