Not Drowning, Waving

2025-10-06T04:13:08Z

119.18.2.80: Added record labels for 2025 release "Malira"

{{Short description|Australian musical ensemble}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Not Drowning, Waving
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| genre = [[rock and roll|Rock]], [[ambient music|ambient]], [[world music|world]]
| years_active = {{start date|1983}}–{{end date|1994}}, 2001, 2003, 2005–2006, 2025
| label = Rampant, East West, WEA, Mighty Boy, Reprise, Liberation, Rogue's Gallery, White, Mushroom
| spinoffs = [[My Friend the Chocolate Cake]]
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members = [[#Members|see Members section below]]
}}
'''Not Drowning, Waving''' (styled as '''not drowning, waving''') are a musical group formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1983 by [[David Bridie]] and John Phillips. Their music combined elements of [[rock and roll|rock]], [[ambient music]] and [[world music]]; their lyrics dealt with characteristically Australian topics: word-pictures of landscapes and people, the seasons, and some political issues – such as [[Indonesia]]'s invasion of [[East Timor]]. The group released six studio albums and two soundtracks until disbanding in 1994, they briefly reformed in 2001, 2003 and 2005–2006. From 2005 to 2007, they issued three compilation albums. Not Drowning, Waving won the [[ARIA Award for Best Independent Release]] at the [[ARIA Music Awards of 1992]] for ''Proof'', their soundtrack for the 1991 film of the [[Proof (1991 film)|same name]]. In 1991, Bridie and fellow members of Not Drowning, Waving, formed a side-project, [[My Friend the Chocolate Cake]] to play more [[acoustic music|acoustic]]-based material. In 2025, Not Drowning, Waving reformed with [[George Telek]] to produce a series of live shows and a new studio album, ''Malira''.

==History==
===1983–1985: Beginnings and ''Another Pond''===
Not Drowning, Waving were formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1983 by [[David Bridie]] and John Phillips.<ref name="McF"/> Bridie and Phillips are trained in classical music and met when Bridie, on keyboards, was composing a track, "Moving Around" and asked Phillips to provide guitar.<ref name="Howl"/> Their name is derived from [[Stevie Smith]]'s poem "[[Not Waving but Drowning]]".<ref name="Howl"/> Rowan McKinnon soon joined on bass guitar and they recorded "Moving Around" with a drum machine.<ref name="Howl"/> Other atmospheric instrumentals were recorded at the [[LaTrobe University]]'s music department's studio.<ref name="Howl"/> "Moving Around" was released as their debut single in April 1984 on the Rampant Records label.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> Tim Cole on vocals and Russel Bradley on drums joined the group.<ref name="McF"/> ''Another Pond'' was released in January 1985. In September 1985, the band released a dance single, "Mr Pooh, (Do Be a Don't Be)".<ref name="McF"/>

===1986–1992 :''The Little Desert'', ''Cold and the Crackle'', ''Claim'' and ''Tabaran''===
Not Drowning, Waving's second album, ''The Little Desert'' was released in January 1986.<ref name="McF"/> Bridie and Phillips also worked on the soundtrack for ''Canoe Man'', a documentary about canoe makers from [[Manus Island]] in [[Papua New Guinea]].<ref name="McF"/> Their work resulted in a six-track extended play (EP), ''The Sing Sing'', which was released in June.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> Other members of Not Drowning, Waving have included Penny Hewson and Andrew Carswell.

In June 1987, the band released their third studio album, ''Cold and the Crackle'' which was followed in December 1987 with an EP, ''I Did'', recorded with Robby Douglas Turner on vocals.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> By 1989, Not Drowning, Waving left Rampant Records and signed with Mighty Boy to issue their fourth album, ''Claim'' in May.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> The album was voted 'Best Australian Album' on the Australian ''[[Rolling Stone Australia|Rolling Stone]]'' Critics Poll in 1989.<ref name="McF"/> In 1989, Bradley, Bridie and Mountfort formed a side project, [[My Friend the Chocolate Cake]], as an acoustic music group after Bridie took a holiday in [[New Zealand]] and wrote a collection of songs that did not fit into the Not Drowning, Waving style.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Howl"/>

Later in 1989, the group visited Papua New Guinea playing several concerts and meeting [[George Telek]] (Moab Stringband, Painim Wok) with whom they later recorded two tracks for their next album, ''[[Tabaran]]'' which was released late in 1990. ''Tabaran'' was credited to Not Drowning, Waving and the Musicians of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea Featuring Telek.<ref name="McF"/> Helen Mountfort had joined on cello in 1990, and the group covered [[The Reels]] track "Kitchen Man" for a various artists' album, ''Used and Recovered By'' (1990).<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/> Not Drowning, Waving recorded the soundtrack for 1991 film ''[[Proof (1991 film)|Proof]]'' which was released in April 1992.

In May 1992, they were the support act for [[David Byrne]] at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia, playing: ''Palau'', ''Amidel'', ''The Kiap Song'', ''Crazy Birds'', ''Willow Tree'', ''Terra Nullius'', ''Albert Namatjira'', ''The Migrant'', and ''Sing Sing''.

At the [[ARIA Music Awards of 1992]], ''Tabaran'' was nominated for [[ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release]], while ''Proof'' won [[ARIA Award for Best Independent Release]].<ref name="ARIA1992"/>

===1993–1994 :''Circus'' and break up===
In 1993, the group released their sixth studio album ''Circus'', which was recorded at the [[Rockfield Studios]] in Wales and produced by [[Hugh Jones (producer)|Hugh Jones]].<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Howl"/>

In 1994, they were the support act for [[Peter Gabriel]] on his first tour of Australia.<ref name="Pascoe"/> Late in the year, Bridie and Montfort recorded the soundtrack for the film ''[[Hammers Over the Anvil]]'', they used Jen Anderson on violin (ex-[[The Black Sorrows]]) and the horn section from [[Hunters & Collectors]]. It was released in 1994 as ''Hammers'' under the name Not Drowning, Waving.<ref name="McF"/> The group disbanded in 1994, while Bridie and Mountfort continued with their offshoot venture, My Friend the Chocolate Cake.<ref name="McF"/><ref name="Howl"/>

===2001–2025: Reunions and ''Malira''===
In November 2001, a short reunion of Not Drowning, Waving – consisting of Bradley, Bridie, Mountfort, Phillips and Southall in the line-up – occurred at the Corner Hotel in [[Richmond, Victoria|Richmond]] for the book launch of ''Blunt: A Biased History of Australian Rock''.

In February 2003, they reunited again for The Morning Star Concert for West Papua at [[Hamer Hall, Melbourne|the Melbourne Concert Hall]].

Another reunion, for several months, started in March 2005 when the band, together with Telek, performed twice at the 2005 [[WOMADelaide]] festival. Several other performances followed – at the 10th Fest'Napuan in [[Port Vila|Port Vila, Vanuatu]]; the Corner Hotel; and the Northcote Social Club, [[Northcote, Victoria|Northcote]].<ref name="Vanuatu"/> The band's final show with the full lineup took place at Festival Melbourne 2006 in the Alexandra Gardens, a free concert for Melbourne's [[Commonwealth Games]] celebrations on 25 March 2006. During this time they issued two compilation albums, ''Through the One Last Door – Best Of'' (2005) and ''Maps for Sonic Adventurers'' (2006).<ref name="ARDb"/> A live album of performances from 1986 to 2005 was released as ''Live (At the Butchers' Picnic)'' in 2007.

In January 2025 Not Drowning Waving and George Telek performed for "one night only" at the Sydney festival to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the album Tabaran.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-28 |title=Music review: Not Drowning, Waving & George Telek: Tabaran, City Recital Hall, Sydney Festival |url=https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/music-review-not-drowning-waving-george-telek-tabaran-city-recital-hall-sydney-festival-2772588/ |access-date=2025-09-20 |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chow |first=Presented byJacob McQuireMichael |date=2025-01-22 |title=35 years on, Sir George Telek & Not Drowning, Waving reunite for historic performance |url=https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/nesia-daily/nesia-daily/104832264 |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=ABC Pacific |language=en-AU}}</ref> In September 2025, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea independence, they performed the Tabaran show at the Melbourne Recital Centre.<ref name="Tabaran2025Guardian" />

In September 2025, Not Drowning, Waving released a new studio album, ''Malira'', a set of tracks that arose from playing together to rehearse for Tabaran live shows. George Telek is credited as a member of Not Drowning, Waving for the album, along with PNG-based musicians Ben Hakalitz (drums) and Pius Wasi (bamboo flute). ''Malira ''was recorded in various studios across Australia and Papua New Guinea, including samples from local musicians in PNG and Vanuatu. The album notes describe it as "not Tabaran version two but something different", noting that the album release coincided with celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence.<ref name="Malira" /><ref name="Tabaran2025Guardian" />

==Members==
Band members have included:<ref name="McF"/><ref name="ARDb"/>
*Russel Bradley – drums, percussion (1987–1993, 1996, 2025)
*[[David Bridie]] – piano, keyboards, vocals (1983–1993, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2005–2006, 2025)
*[[Amanda Brotchie]] – vocals (1985–1987)
*Andrew Carswell – mandolin
*Tim Cole – vocals, producer, engineer<ref>https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120726200857/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en2/notdrowningwaving/notdrowningwaving.htm</ref> (1984–1992, 1996)
*Phillip Flinker – (1984–1987)
*Darren Geraghty – (1984–1987)
*Penny Hewson – acoustic guitar
*Rowan McKinnon – bass guitar, guitar (1984–1993, 1996, 2025)
*Helen Mountfort – cello, vocals (1989–1993, 1996, 2025)
*John Phillips – guitar, samples, sounds (1983–1993, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2005–2006, 2025)
*Tanya Plack – flute (1985–1986)
*Jaqui Rutten – vocals (1984–1987)
*Tanya Smith – keyboards (1984–1987)
*James Southall – percussion (1987–1993, 1996)
*Phillip Wale – cello (1985–1986)
*Ben Hakalitz - drums, garamut, kundus (2025)
*George Telek - vocals (2025)
*Pius Wasi - bamboo flute (2025)

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | [[ARIA Charts|AUS]] <ref name="Aus">Peaks in Australia:
* All except noted: {{cite Ryan|page=205}}
* ''Malira'': {{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 29 September 2025|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|issue=1856|page=6|date=29 September 2025}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''Another Pond''
|
* Released: January 1985
* Label: Rampant Releases (RR010)
* Format: LP
| —
|-
! scope="row"| ''The Little Desert''
|
* Released: January 1986
* Label: Rampant Releases (RR020)
* Format: LP, cassette
| —
|-
! scope="row"| ''Cold and the Crackle''
|
* Released: June 1987
* Label: Rampant Releases (RR040)
* Format: LP, cassette
| —
|-
! scope="row"| ''Claim''
|
* Released: May 1989
* Label: Mighty Boy (MBLP7012/MBCD7012)
* Format: LP, CD
| 80
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Tabaran]]'' (credited to Not Drowning, Waving and the Musicians of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, featuring [[George Telek]])
|
* Released: 1990
* Label: [[Warner Music Group|WEA]] (903172999.2)
* Format: LP, CD
| 80
|-
! scope="row"| ''Circus''
|
* Released: 1993
* Label: White / [[Mushroom Records|Mushroom]] (D31029)
* Format: CD
| 64
|-
! scope="row"| ''Malira''
|
* Released: September 2025
* Label: Origin / Wantok (D31029)

* Format: LP, CD, digital
| 77
|}

===Soundtracks===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of soundtracks with selected details
! scope="col" style="width:11em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Details
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Proof (1991 film)|Proof]]''
|
* Released: 1991
* Label: Rogues Gallery (RG001)
* Format: CD
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Hammers Over The Anvil|Hammers]]''
|
* Released: 1994
* Label: Rampant Releases (RG002)
* Format: CD
|}

===Compilation and remix albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of compilation and remix albums with selected details
! scope="col" style="width:11em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Details
|-
! scope="row"| ''Follow the Geography: A Compilation''
|
* Released: 1993
* Label: White / Mushroom (D30998)
* Format: LP
|-
! scope="row"| ''Through the One Last Door''
|
* Released: 2005
* Label: Bloodlines
* Format: CD, digital download
|-
! scope="row"| ''Maps for Sonic Adventurers''
|
* Released: 2006
* Label: Liberation Blue (BLUE118.2)
* Format: CD, digital download
* Note: Remixes
|-
! scope="row"| ''Live at the Butchers' Picnic''
|
* Released: September 2007
* Label: self-released
* Format: digital download
* Note: Compilation of live recordings between 1987 and 2005. Limited to 50 copies
|}

===Extended plays ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of extended plays with selected details
! scope="col" style="width:11em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Details
|-
! scope="row"| ''The Sing Sing''
|
* Released: June 1986
* Label: Rampant Releases (MLRR005)
* Format: LP
|-
! scope="row"| ''I Did'' (with Robby Douglas Turner)
|
* Released: 1987
* Label: Rampant Releases (RR050)
* Format: LP
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title
! scope="col" width="220"| Album
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1984
| align="left"| "Hunting for Nuggets"
| ''Another Pond''
|-
| align="left"| "Moving Around"
| rowspan="2"| non-album singles
|-
| 1985
| align="left"|"Do Be a Don't Be (Mr Pooh)"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1989
| align="left"|"Willow Tree" / "Claim"
| rowspan="2"| ''Claim''
|-
| align="left"|"Fishing Trawler"
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1991
| align="left"|"Pila Pila"
| rowspan="3" | ''Tabaran''
|-
|align="left"|"Blackwater"
|-
| align="left"|"The Kiap Song"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1993
| align="left"|"Spark"
| rowspan="2"| ''Circus''
|-
| align="left"|"Penmon"
|}

==Awards==
===ARIA Music Awards===
The [[ARIA Music Awards]] is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of [[Australian music]]. Not Drowning, Waving has won one award from six nominations.

{{awards table}}
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1990|1990]]
| ''Claim''
| [[ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album|Best Adult Contemporary Album]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="3"| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1992|1992]]
| ''Proof''
| [[ARIA Award for Best Independent Release|Best Independent Release]]
| {{won}}
|-
| ''Proof''
| [[ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album|Best Original Soundtrack / Cast / Show Recording]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| ''Tabaran''
| [[ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release|Best Indigenous Release]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 1994|1994]]
| ''Circus''
| [[ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release|Best Indigenous Release]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2007|2007]]
| ''Maps for Sonic Adventures''
| [[ARIA Award for Best World Music Album|Best World Music Album]]
| {{nom}}
|-
{{end}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
;General
* {{Cite encyclopedia | last = McFarlane | first = Ian | authorlink = Ian McFarlane | encyclopedia = [[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]] | title = Whammo Homepage | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040405231007/http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp | url = http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp | archivedate = 5 April 2004 | accessdate = 16 July 2011 | year = 1999 | publisher = [[Allen & Unwin]] | location = [[St Leonards, New South Wales|St Leonards, NSW]] | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }} Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
;Specific
{{Refend}}
{{Reflist|colwidth=25em|refs=

<ref name="McF">McFarlane, [https://web.archive.org/web/20040419063525/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=545 'not drowning, waving'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=545 the original] on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 16 July 2011.</ref>

<ref name="Howl">{{Cite web | archiveurl = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120726191200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en2/notdrowningwaving/notdrowningwaving.htm | url = http://www.howlspace.com.au/en2/notdrowningwaving/notdrowningwaving.htm | title = Not Drowning Waving | last = Nimmervoll | first = Ed | author-link = Ed Nimmervoll | publisher = Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd (Ed Nimmervoll) | archivedate = 26 July 2012 | accessdate = 23 January 2014 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

<ref name="ARDb">{{Cite web | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/n/notdrowningwaving.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010104011300/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/n/notdrowningwaving.html | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 4 January 2001 | work = [[Australian Rock Database]] | title = Not Drowning, Waving | publisher = hem.passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren) | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | last2 = Bridie | first2 = David | accessdate = 16 July 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name="ARIA1992">{{Cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1992 | work = [[ARIA Music Awards]] | title = History: Winners by Year: 1992: 6th Annual ARIA Awards | publisher = [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) | accessdate = 19 July 2011 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235813/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1992 | archivedate = 26 September 2007}}</ref>

<ref name="Pascoe">{{Cite web | url = http://www.infinidim.org/2011/05/29/my-friend-the-chocolate-cake-21-years-and-counting/ | title = My Friend the Chocolate Cake – 21 Years and Counting | last1 = Pascoe | first1 = Ken | work = Infidim.org | publisher = Infidim | date = 29 May 2011 | accessdate = 19 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120326002219/http://www.infinidim.org/2011/05/29/my-friend-the-chocolate-cake-21-years-and-counting/ | archive-date = 26 March 2012 | url-status = dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Vanuatu">{{Cite web | url = http://www.vanuatuculture.org/site-bm2/contemporary/20070211_krk.shtml | title = Kalja Riddim Klan Recording New Album ''Long Taem Bifo'' | work = [[Vanuatu Cultural Centre]]: Contemporary Arts/Music | publisher = [[Politics of Vanuatu|Government of Vanuatu]] | year = 2007 | accessdate = 21 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111004151720/http://www.vanuatuculture.org/site-bm2/contemporary/20070211_krk.shtml | archive-date = 4 October 2011 | url-status = dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Malira">{{Cite web | url = https://notdrowningwaving.bandcamp.com/album/malira | title = Malira | publisher = [[Bandcamp]] | year = 2025 | accessdate = 20 September 2025 }}</ref>

<ref name="Tabaran2025Guardian">{{Cite news| url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/sep/18/david-bridie-not-drowning-waving-george-telek-interview-tabaran-friendship-new-album | title = David Bridie and George Telek on the life-changing friendship that led to one of Australia’s best albums | last = Stafford | first = Andrew | work = [[The Guardian]] | date = 2025-09-18 | accessdate = 2025-09-21 | language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 }}</ref>

}}

==External links==
*[http://www.followthegeography.com/ Follow The Geography]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:ARIA Award winners]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1983]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Not Drowning, Waving