Growing up in Santa Barbara, Southern California, Christian Love has always been immersed in the musical legacy of his father, Mike Love, and his band, The Beach Boys. It’s naturally left an indelible mark on both him and his music, and he celebrates it in his new single, ‘Sum Sum Summer’.
Striking a delicate balance between paying homage to the shimmering harmonies of The Beach Boys and his own musical course, Christian Love’s sound is buoyant and mellow, reflective of the California sunshine. He’s led several bands since he started out in music as a teenager, and his sound blends elements of jangle, reggae, pop, among others. Christian joined The Beach Boys Touring Band in 2005, alongside his father, as well as Bruce Johnston and a rotating lineup of musicians, and together they’ve brought their particular blend of sunshine to cities all over the world.
‘Sum Sum Summer’ contains within it all the sunshine of The Beachboys while showcasing Christian’s talent. Originally featured on his 2023 album, ‘Only Alibis’, this track features not just Christian’s smooth and earnest vocals, but also guitarist Elliot Easton (The Cars), drummer Phil Jones (Tom Petty), and vocalist Matt Jardine – who is not just a childhood friend of Christian’s but also the son of original Beach Boys member Al Jardine, and a former member of The Beach Boys Touring Band. The end result is one of nostalgia, with a modern twist.
The music video for ‘Sum Sum Summer’ is directed by John Stamos. Not just an actor, but also a musician and Beach Boys superfan, who’s been affiliated with the band from as early as 1986, when he performed on stage with them as a guest musician, and featured in and directed a few of their music videos. Speaking about his collaboration with Christian, Stamos said, “Knowing Christian most of his life, it’s been amazing to watch him grow into a talented singer-songwriter and performer”. He took the time to curate, overlay, and re-imagine the aesthetic that’s long been associated with The Beach Boys, giving the video the feel of walking right into the middle of a performance. We see Christian playing his guitar both in the audience, watching himself and his father sharing the mic on stage, interspersed with clips of them laughing and enjoying themselves. It’s both nostalgic and heartwarming at the same time, and the viewer gets the feeling that a baton is being passed on, from father to son.
Watch the music video for ‘Sum Sum Summer’ below, and find out more about Christian Love and his music online on his official website, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
