David Ross Hope Bridie is an Australian contemporary musician and songwriter. He was a founding mainstay member of World music band Not Drowning, Waving which released six studio albums to critical acclaim. He also formed a

chamber pop Chamber pop (or Chamber rock; also called baroque pop and sometimes conflated with orchestral pop or symphonic pop) is a music genre that combines rock music with the intricate use of strings, horns, piano, and vocal harmonies, and other compo ...

group,

My Friend the Chocolate Cake My or MY may refer to: Arts and entertainment * My (radio station), a Malaysian radio station * Little My, a fictional character in the Moomins universe * ''My'' (album), by Edyta Górniak * ''My'' (EP), by Cho Mi-yeon Business * Market ...

, which released seven studio albums. During his solo career he has issued five studio albums and worked on soundtracks for Australian films and television like ''

The Man Who Sued God ''The Man Who Sued God'' is a 2001 Australian comedy film starring Billy Connolly and Judy Davis, and directed by Mark Joffe. The film was a financial success, debuting at number one at the Australian box office in the week of its launch. Plot ...

'', '' Remote Area Nurse, Secret City'', and '' The Circuit''. Bridie is the founder and artistic director of Wantok Musik Foundation; a not-for-profit music label that records, releases and promotes culturally infused music from Indigenous Australia, Melanesia and Oceania. In 2019 he received the

Don Banks Music Award The Don Banks Music Award was established in 1984 to publicly honour a senior artist of high distinction who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to music in Australia. It was founded by the Australia Council in honour of Don Banks, ...

Biography

David Bridie was born in 1962 and grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Deepdene with three siblings. He received training in classical music. From 1980 to 1983 Bridie provided keyboards for Misspent Youth, with James Southall on percussion. They travelled to

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...

, after their lead singer convinced them they would earn more money. Bridie had dropped out of his Arts/Law degree course for the venture, but found that Perth bands performed cover versions due to "the city's penchant for Top 40 and retro hits." They returned to Melbourne and he left the group soon after. He was also a member of Go Circus, alongside Rowan McKinnon on bass guitar. Bridie on vocals, piano, synthesiser and percussion formed a World music duo, Not Drowning, Waving in Melbourne in 1983 with fellow classical musician John Phillips on guitar. The pair had met at

La Trobe University La Trobe University is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its main campus is located in the suburb of Bundoora. The university was established in 1964, becoming the third university in the state of Victoria a ...

when Bridie invited Phillips to help record a track, "Moving Around", which had McKinnon providing bass guitar. Initially Not Drowning, Waving was a studio-only project while Bridie, McKinnon, Phillips and Southall formed a performance group, Easter, with Russel Bradley on drums and Tim Cole on lead vocals. "Moving Around" was issued as Not Drowning, Waving's debut single in April 1984. The duo followed with their debut album, ''Another Pond'', in January 1985 via Rampant Records. It was produced by their Easter bandmate, Cole. Easter were performing shows around Melbourne and released their own single, "Cheesecloth", in August 1985. Some of its members joined Not Drowning, Waving and the two groups co-existed with almost the same line-up. Not Drowning, Waving started live shows, while Easter wound down and eventually disbanded. Bridie and Phillips also worked in screen music beginning with the soundtrack for a film documentary, ''Canoe Man'', directed by Mark Worth. To research music for the documentary, Bridie had travelled to Rabaul, Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1986 and first heard George Telek's "amazing song coming out of a recording studio." He returned, with Not Drowning, Waving, to Rabaul in late 1988 to record their fifth album, ''Tabaran'' (1990). Aside from Telek they used other local musicians, and the album was co-credited to The Musicians of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea featuring Telek. They toured PNG together, including a concert at the nation's capital,

Port Moresby (; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New ...

, to an audience of 25000; and then they toured Australia. In late 1989 Helen Mountfort joined Not Drowning, Waving after having provided cello on a track on ''Tabaran''. Bridie, with bandmates Bradley and Mountfort formed an acoustic strings-based side project,

, as a

group. Other founders were Andrew Caswell on mandolin, Hope Csutoros on violin and Andrew Richardson on guitar. They released a self-titled album in 1991 with Bridie co-producing alongside Mountfort, Carswell and Cole. Also in that year Not Drowning, Waving provided the soundtrack for comedy-drama film, '' Proof''. Bridie and Mountfort worked with Jen Anderson on violin (ex-

the Black Sorrows The Black Sorrows are an Australian blues rock band formed in 1983 by mainstay vocalist Joe Camilleri (ex-Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons), who also plays saxophone and guitar. Camilleri has used various line-ups to record 17 albums, with five reachi ...

) and members of Hunters & Collectors' horn section on a feature film, ''

Hammers Over the Anvil ''Hammers Over the Anvil'' is a 1993 Australian biographical romantic drama film starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ann Turner, who also co-wrote with Peter Hepworth. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Alan Marshall. Th ...

'' (1993), which was issued in the following year as a soundtrack album, ''Hammers'', credited to Not Drowning, Waving. That group had released their sixth and last studio album, ''Circus'', in 1993 and disbanded by the end of the year.

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

's Australian-based music journalist,

Ed Nimmervoll Edward Charles Nimmervoll (21 September 1947 – 10 October 2014) was an Australian music journalist, author and historian. He worked on rock and pop magazines ''Go-Set'' (1966–1974) and ''Juke Magazine'' (1975–92) both as a journalist ...

, observed that Bridie and Phillips' early work, "sparked the duo's enthusiasm for the sort of free-form ambient soundscapes that would become the basis of their sound as the group Not Drowning Waving and lay the seeds for their interest in film music." Fellow Australian music historian, Ian McFarlane, noticed the influences of Brian Eno and David Byrne on the pair, but "

hey Hey or Hey! may refer to: Music * Hey (band), a Polish rock band Albums * ''Hey'' (Andreas Bourani album) or the title song (see below), 2014 * ''Hey!'' (Julio Iglesias album) or the title song, 1980 * ''Hey!'' (Jullie album) or the title s ...

were not averse to incorporating African and other Third World rhythms into their muse. Likewise, they placed an emphasis on natural acoustic and atmospheric dynamics rather than an electronic approach." My Friend the Chocolate Cake, with Bridie and Mountfort as mainstays, issued seven studio albums before the group took an indefinite hiatus from August 2018. Periodically Not Drowning, Waving have reformed in 1996, 2001, 2003 and 2005 to 2006 and released a live album. Bridie and Phillips have issued two duo albums, ''Projects 1983–1993'' (1994) and ''Projects 2'' (2011). After My Friend the Chocolate Cake's debut album Bridie's further work as a record producer in the mid-1990s includes

Archie Roach Archibald William Roach (8 January 1956 – 30 July 2022) was an Australian singer, songwriter and Aboriginal activist. Often referred to as "Uncle Archie", Roach was a Gunditjmara and Bundjalung elder who campaigned for the rights of Abori ...

's ''

Jamu Dreaming ''Jamu Dreaming'' is the second studio album by Australian singer song writer Archie Roach. The album was released in May 1993 and peaked at number 55 on the ARIA Charts. The album was recorded with musical assistance from David Bridie, Tiddas, ...

'' (1993), Paul Kelly's '' Wanted Man'' (1994) and Christine Anu's '' Stylin' Up'' (1995). He joined Anu's touring band in support of her album's release throughout 1995. At the

ARIA Music Awards of 1995 The Ninth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAS) was held on 20 October 1995 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. There had been a 18-month gap since the ...

he was nominated for Producer of the Year. During 1998 he recorded a soundtrack album, ''In a Savage Land'' (November 1999), for a feature film of the same name, which was set and partly filmed on PNG's Trobriand Islands. He had collaborated with Musicians from the Trobriand Islands. His score received widespread critical acclaim, Andrew L. Urban of ''Urban Cinefile'' praised the film's "unity of vision", in using "a wide palette of extraordinary music and sound." His work achieved multiple awards, Best Original Score at the 1999 AFI Awards, Best Music Score from the Film Critics Circle of Australia, and Best Original Soundtrack Album at the 2000 ARIA Awards. Upon reflection Bridie explained to Paris Pompor of '' FilmInk'' in 2017 why it was one of his favourite projects, " tallowed me to soak in the Trobriand Islands' culture and stay in a beach shack for eight weeks recording anything that moved and learning about a fascinating part of the world. It was dark, cultural and layered and challenging and I had free reign." His first solo studio album, ''Act of Free Choice'', appeared in May 2000, and "was greeted with critical praise." The album's title refers to the Indonesian

Act of Free Choice The Act of Free Choice ( id, Penentuan Pendapat Rakyat, PEPERA, Determination of the People's Opinion) was a controversial plebiscite held between 14 July and 2 August 1969 in which 1,025 people selected by the Indonesian military in Western New ...

(1969), which was supported by a plebiscite on the incorporation of

Western New Guinea Western New Guinea, also known as Papua, Indonesian New Guinea, or Indonesian Papua, is the western half of the Melanesian island of New Guinea which is administered by Indonesia. Since the island is alternatively named as Papua, the region ...

into

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

. Bridie's ''Act of Free Choice'' reached the top 40 on the

ARIA Albums Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...

. Evan Cater of AllMusic rated it at three-out-of-five stars and explained, " efinds new layers in his well-established gift for moody atmospherics" although "his breathy tenor can be slightly grating", while "his real strength lies in a compositional adventurousness." ''

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...

'' Imran Khan determined, " ecreated a new world of sound to explore, one that would define him as an artist as well as create a sonic visual that would allow the listener to enter that world and immerse himself in the emotional experience created from the album’s imagined realities." In 2019 he received the

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Soundtracks

Over the years, David Bridie has balanced his career as a live musician with the composition of soundtrack music, with credits for over 100 feature films including '' Proof'', ''

Bran Nue Dae __NOTOC__ ''Bran Nue Dae'' is a 1990 musical set in Broome, Western Australia, that tells stories and of issues relating to Indigenous Australians. It was written by Jimmy Chi and his band Kuckles and friends, and was the first Aboriginal Aust ...

'', ''

'' and ''Gone,'' several of which received International release. He also received the ARIA Award for "Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album" for ''Nautical Forlorn'' in 2004. David Bridie has also contributed to many television shows, short films and documentaries soundtracks most notably for ''Remote Area Nurse'' for which he won an AFI Award as well as ''The Straits'', ''Dealine Gallipoli'' and ''Secret City''. The song "Pitjantjara" written and performed with Frank Yamma for ''The Alice'' was awarded an APRA Screen Music Award for "Best Original Song" composed for a 'Feature Film, Telemovie, TV Series or Mini-Series'.

Awards and nominations

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ARIA Award for Producer of the Year The ARIA Music Award for Producer of the Year, is an award presented within the Artisan Awards at the annual ARIA Music Awards. The ARIA Awards recognise "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres", and have been given by t ...

, , , , , - , 1996 , , '' That Eye, the Sky'' (with John Phillips) , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Film Score , , , , , - , 1996 , , " Fool for You" by

Monique Brumby Monique Brumby (born 16 September 1974, in Devonport) is an Australian Indie pop/rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. Her debut single, " Fool for You", peaked into the top 40 in the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) ...

, , ARIA Award for Producer of the Year , , , , , - ,

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, , "

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" by Monique Brumby , , ARIA Award for Producer of the Year , , , , , - , 1999 , , ''

In a Savage Land ''In a Savage Land'' is a 1999 Australian film set in New Guinea just prior to and during World War II. It won the 2000 ARIA Music Award for Best Original Soundtrack. Story The film opens in pre-1938 Adelaide, where Phillip Spence (Donovan) i ...

'' , , AFI Award for Best Original Score , , , , , - , 1999 , , ''In a Savage Land'' , , Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Music Score , , , , , - , rowspan="4",

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, , ''In a Savage Land'' , , ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack Album , , , , rowspan="4", , - , rowspan="3", ''Act of Free Choice'' , ,

ARIA Award for Album of the Year The ARIA Music Award for Album of the Year, is an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards, which recognises "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres", since 1987. It is handed out by the Australian Recording Indu ...

, , , - , ARIA Award for Best Male Artist , , , - , ARIA Award for Best Alternative Release , , , - , rowspan="2", 2003 , , ''Hotel Radio'' , , ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album , , , , rowspan="2", , - , ''West Papua: Sound of the Morning Star'' , ,

ARIA Award for Best World Music Album The ARIA Music Award for Best World Music Album, is an award presented within the Fine Arts Awards at the annual ARIA Music Awards. It was inaugurated in 1995 as Best Folk/World/Traditional Release. The ARIA Awards recognise "the many achieveme ...

, , , - , 2004 , , ''Nautical Forlorn'' , , ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album , , , , , - , 2004 , , ''Land of the Morning Star'' , , AACTA Awards for Best Sound in a Non-Feature Film , , , , , - , rowspan="2", 2005 , , '' The Alice'': "Pitjantjara" (with Frank Yamma) , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Original Song composed for a Feature Film, Telemovie, TV Series or Mini-Series , , , , rowspan="2",
, - , ''The Alice'' , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie , , , - , 2006 , , '' Remote Area Nurse'' (with Albert David, Kadu, Key Torres Strait Island Composers) , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Soundtrack Album , , , , , - , 2006 , , ''Remote Area Nurse'' , , ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album , , , , , - , rowspan="2", 2007 , , '' The Circuit'' , , ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album , , , , rowspan="2", , - , ''Gone'' , , ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album , , , - , 2009 , , '' Two Fists, One Heart'' , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Feature Film Score , , , , , - , 2011 , , '' Strange Birds in Paradise: A West Papuan Soundtrack'' , , ARIA Award for Best World Music Album , , , , , - ,

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, , ''

The Straits ''The Straits'' is an Australian television drama series for ABC1 filmed in Cairns, the Torres Strait Islands and other Far North Queensland locations. The series is based on an idea by actor Aaron Fa'aoso and produced by Penny Chapman and He ...

'' , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Soundtrack Album , , , , , - ,

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, , '' Satellite Boy'' , , ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album , , , , , - ,

, , David Bridie , , Music Victoria Awards Best Male , , , , , - , rowspan="2",

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, , ''Putuparri and the Rainmakers'' , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Music for a Documentary , , , , , - , '' Secret City'' , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie , , , , , - ,

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, , Music project: ''a Bit na Ta'' , , APRA Art Music Award for Excellence by an Individual , , , , , - ,

, , ''A Bit na Ta'' (with George Telek & Musicians of the Gunantuna) , ,

Music Victoria Awards The Music Victoria Awards (previously known as The Age EG Awards and The Age Music Victoria Awards) are an annual awards night celebrating music from the Australian state of Victoria. They commenced in 2006 and are awarded in Melbourne Music W ...

Best Global or Reggae Album , , , , , - , rowspan="3",

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, , '' Australia's Lost Impressionist'' , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Music for a Documentary , , , , , - , '' Secret City: Under the Eagle'': "Run Little Rabbit" , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Music for a Television Series or Serial , , , , , - , ''The Merger'' , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Soundtrack Album , , , , , - , 2019 , , himself , ,

, , , , , - ,

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, , ''The Skin of Others'': "Ballad of the Bridge-Builders" (with Tom Murray) , , APRA Screen Music Award for Best Original Song Composed for the Screen , , , , , -

References

;General * Note: Archived n-linecopy has limited functionality. ;Specific

External links

*
Follow the Geography
a website devoted to all of David Bridie's projects
My Friend the Chocolate Cake
*
2007 interview with David Bridie
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridie, David 1960s births APRA Award winners ARIA Award winners Australian songwriters Living people Musicians from Melbourne