Just for the Weekend, Erykah Badu, Tinashe, and David Oyelowo Took Over Montauk’s Surf Lodge
It’s the end of June in New York City—the air is thick with heat, air conditioning bills skyrocket, and the subway grates’ ventilation starts to smell like it s time to head East. Specifically, so far East until the car pulls into Surf Lodge perched on the shore of Montauk s Fort Pond. Over the past weekend, that’s exactly what Erykah Badu, Tinashe, David Oyelowo, and other fanatics of fun did.
A haven for the relaxed and the rowdy, Surf Lodge boasts a daily music lineup to rival the most popular annual festivals. This weekend saw a particularly star-studded stay, with top-tier musicians, actors, artists, and influencers enjoying what has become a Montauk summer staple.
The festivities began on Saturday night: Erykah Badu took the stage and was immediately recognizable even for the under 5-foot party-goers, thanks to her classic stage hat accessory. Paired with a relaxed grey T-shirt, tattoo sleeves, and thick winged eyeliner showcasing her mesmerizing eyes, Badu commanded the attention of the room. Guests set down their buttery lobster rolls and tequila sodas in favor of throwing their hands in the air, practically bowing down to the Baduizm. While most of her set was focused on spinning tracks, the soul singer blessed the crowd with some vocals, chiming in on the chorus of Lauryn Hill’s “All Falls Down.” She had the whole deck “screlting” (the official term for scream/belting).
Nearing the end of her set, Badu asked the crowd, “Who’s been a nasty girl?” Everyone cheers, partially answering the question and partially in sheer excitement for the next performer: the woman who suddenly has millions on the internet and IRL singing her chorus. Tinashe ascended to the stage, in a full Diesel look, complete with sunglasses and a purse, and was greeted with roaring applause (plus some twerking?).
Bringing the New York City edge to the “edge of the world,” Tinashe danced on the DJ stand, turning the beachy balcony into a full-fledged nightclub. Closing with hits “Nasty Girl” and “2 On,” the performer bonded with the audience, cheers-ing their Aperol spritz’s and playing into the social media frenzy that ensued, every partygoer aiming to get the best angle for their TikTok. Wearing a diamond necklace reading “Nasty”, Tinashe told Vogue “I had the necklace before I had the song! I looked down at it and thought, ‘Wait… I can do something with this…’”
Surveilling her kingdom, Surf Lodge’s fearless leader and owner, Jayma Cardoso, strutted around the deck and restaurant. Summer after summer, Cardoso thoughtfully produces an ambiance that leaves Revolve influencers, sandy surfers, and Surf Lodge veterans feeling like VIPs: she will personally refill any empty Champagne flute.
Rounding out the night, Cardoso, along with actor and producer David Oyelowo, hosted a meaningful beach dinner, raising awareness for the GEANCO Foundation, a philanthropic organization of which Oyelowo is a steadfast supporter and leader of his namesake Leadership Scholarship. The foundation, established in 2005, aims at saving and transforming the lives of children in Nigeria, providing them opportunities through education, mental and physical health rehabilitation.
Oyelowo told Vogue, “I can trace every beautiful thing in my life back to a woman. When I had my daughter, I knew the world had to be different for her. I wanted to see a world in which every opportunity possible is afforded to her.” Oyelowo’s intense passion for the foundation was joined by friends and supporters, such as Flaviana Matata. The Tanzanian supermodel, who has a Girls Leadership Academy of her own in her home country, bonded beachside with Oyelowo, sharing challenges and champions of their missions. “I heard this piece of data that said, ‘The way to end world poverty is to educate girls globally.’” Oyelowo exclaimed. The two are certainly on their way to making that dream a reality.
The dinner was a seafood-lovers paradise, featuring a sky-high seafood tower, miso lobster skewers, tuna tartare topped with tobiko, Montauk striped bass, and bubbly Armand de Brignac champagne. As the Atlantic air grew cooler, guests were draped in custom Surf Lodge towels to stay warm. It took until the darkest hour of the night for guests to return to their habitations, because if there’s one thing Surf Lodge knows how to do, it’s squeezing every drop of fun out of a summer’s day. Is somebody gonna match Surf Lodge’s freak?
Joe Schildhorn/BFA.com1/13Tinashe
Joe Schildhorn/BFA.com2/13Flaviana Matata, David Oyelowo
