 |  |
by Erin Dunigan
Matt Lamkin is a man of many crafts, but all of them share a single, unifying element: the rhythm of creation. Outside a workshop in Baja, the shift from summer to winter reminds him of the seasonal challenges of his newest pursuit: hand-shaping custom surfboards outdoors under the trees. The chilly winter days are a far cry from the sweat-soaked stages of his former life as a touring musician, but it’s a life he wouldn’t trade.
“I make the boards outside, so winter gets a bit rough,” Lamkin admits. “I’m going to start doing them in a shop soon.” It’s a necessary evolution for a craft that demands surgical precision. A professional shaping room uses specialized lighting to reveal every slight imperfection, a level of detail difficult to achieve under the shifting sun.
“I have to stop two-thirds of the way and take it into the room—it takes some restraint to stop,” he says. “You get momentum, you get in a groove. You’re nearing the finish line, and then you have to stop.” This need for self-control, for stepping back to achieve perfection, is a theme that runs through all of his work—whether it’s sanding foam, tending a barrel of Syrah, or composing a song.
Matt’s connection to the region began in 2012, while he was based in Los Angeles. His girlfriend had taken a job in the burgeoning farm-to-table movement of the Valle de Guadalupe. As a touring musician, Lamkin’s home base was naturally flexible. "It didn't matter where I lived when we were on tour," he explains.
For several years, he navigated both worlds, touring with his band and retreating to Mexico for long stays. When the band dissolved in 2014, his ties to the area only deepened. He built strong connections within the local scene, befriending figures like David Martinez of Muelle 3 and Alberto Rubio, the celebrated winemaker behind Fluxus.
Between 2015 and 2019, Lamkin balanced local projects — managing venues like La Concheria and Boules — with audio-visual work for trade shows in Los Angeles. This meant a grueling, constant commute. “That was a grind,” he reflects. “Coming and going. Going up to LA for three to four weeks at a time, then back for a few months. It felt like couch surfing the entire time. I’d come back south and it would just start to feel like home, then I would have to go back to LA.”
When the pandemic hit, the trade show industry and the restaurant world both went quiet. This sudden stillness presented Lamkin with an unexpected gift: the chance for a creative reset. He found himself asking, “What would be something I would enjoy doing? What was available in Ensenada?”
The answers were rooted in the landscape: winemaking and surfing.
The wine project was inspired by his friend (and winemaker) Alberto Rubio. When Matt mentioned he wanted to try making wine, Rubio’s response was immediate. "He said his assistant was going to a vineyard the next day and I should meet up with him.” By the following afternoon, Lamkin was buying grapes.
His first harvest was the 2020 vintage. As the wine aged, he settled on a name that reflected the project’s personal, unpretentious nature: MattsSyrah. “It doesn’t have to be super serious,” he says.
He has also embraced piquette, a light, low-alcohol drink made by rehydrating pressed grape skins. Historically a drink for French farm workers, piquette has seen a modern resurgence. “It tastes like a white wine, so it pairs well, but doesn’t have as much alcohol,” he says. “That has been fun.”
The pandemic also brought Matt back to the water. “I had grown up surfing,” he says, but his music career had often pushed it to the sidelines. With the world on pause, he returned to the rhythm of the ocean and began obsessing over surfboard design.
He discovered that the Ensenada area is a global hub for the craft. Two of North America's major foam core suppliers—Arctic Foam and Millennium Foam—operate there, providing easy local access to the "blanks" needed to build a board.
He started by making paipos—small, traditional Hawaiian-style boards—often salvaging materials from old boards destined for the landfill. What began as a "maybe someday" idea two years ago quickly grew into a legitimate business. Today, he produces custom surfboards for a growing list of friends and locals on both sides of the border.
Reflecting on his path, Lamkin sees a consistent pattern. “The more I think about it, the more I realize I try to be a maker of things.” He didn't just want to listen to music; he wanted to write it. He didn't just want to drink wine or surf; he wanted to understand the alchemy of the barrel and the geometry of the board.
He admits that committing to the life of an artist or maker can be difficult when society emphasizes traditional career paths. Yet, his time in the music industry taught him that the "traditional way" isn't the only way.
Today, Matt Lamkin’s life is a graceful juggling act. The wine provides a steady rhythm, the surfboards offer a growing passion, and music remains his artistic core. By connecting with the land and the ocean, he has proven that you can truly shape your own path.
To connect with Matt, check out his Instagram at @MattLamkinkin
When they say above and beyond they mean do to the good roads I had 2 flat tire wit out a spare...
2nd time I have used this company,, first class service and great price.
Such and easy policy to get and it made my trip to Valle De Guadalupe so much more enjoyable...
