Ian Vargo’s latest single “Surfboard” is a sunlit love letter, to the golden age of pop and the tenderness of fatherhood itself. Released on June 27th, the track rides a wave of nostalgia while carving out its own sincere emotional terrain. With credits alongside major labels like EMI and Capitol, Vargo leans into his strengths as a producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist to make a breezy and heartfelt as a letter written on a sweet summer day.
“Surfboard” opens with a gentle piano line, soon joined by rumbling drums that roll in like waves at low tide. Vargo’s voice carries a sentimental sweetness, understated yet warm, like a father watching his child chase the tide. Inspired by a request from his 8-year-old daughter and heavily influenced by Brian Wilson’s lush harmonic arrangements, Vargo uses the song not only to playfully honor her imagination, but also to quietly brace himself for the future where he might not be there and she may not remember him as often. There’s joy in the music, but also the soft ache of inevitability.
The lyrics manage to be both whimsical and piercing. References like “my California girl” are sweet nods to The Beach Boys, but the line “Just remember my face as smiling” hits with a subtle, emotional gravity. The self-awareness and the unconditional love anchors the otherwise light-soaked tune, reminding us that even the sunniest days carry shadows of change. The harmonies, reminiscent of 60s pop, are layered with modern production polish. A heartfelt guitar solo during the bridge sweeps through like a gust of memory, giving the track its most emotionally stirring moment.
With “Surfboard,” Vargo captures our most favorite and fleeting season of life, all while keeping it playful, melodic, and deeply human. Check it out on Spotify.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
Review by: Naomi Joan