As an artist surviving and striving in the hard industry of the arts, David draws his inspiration from being connected to country. “You only have to walk on country to see scar tree’s, rock art and in the river beds there are thousands of rock grooves where my mob used to sharpen stone axes and spear heads. One has to get their head around it to fully appreciate how many years it took to make these grooves. We are not talking 1000 years old but countless generations. I am happiest on country where I draw on anything I do, be it music, art and dance,” David explains.
“I acknowledge everyone because I was surrounded by such incredible creative people who played music, danced, painted and carved. I was fortunate I grew up in the years where we were taught to respect out Elder. In respects to traditional lore I will always pay homage to my Mookai’s and Gums from Laura, Kuranda and surrounding area’s.
My inspiration for Yigi Yigi comes from Gooblanthaldin from Mornington Island, Koominjai Blanasi from Bimyilli and Ernie for lending me his didge whilst I was in Perth. These men taught me to play the traditional way. I learnt kit drums growing up and that helped me create new rhythms and to explore new musical horizons. I had older brothers and sister, but my brothers also taught me to play guitar, so I grew up on their musical tastes from the 60’s, CCR, Sam Cooke, Country music and Slim Dusty.” David says.
2017 to date has seen David perform at four different countries, the future looks promising and busy, “I don’t know where I may rock up next”.
David is looking forward to Cairns hosting the National NAIDOC awards on the 1st July, and at the end of the month the Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair where he normally plays MC, and hopes to get reinvited back this year. “The event is very popular and here you will see arts and crafts from Torres Strait, Cape York, and local regions. The weather will be perfect and if anyone has not experienced a Cairns winter before, then I suggest you head our way. Geez I ought to be in tourism haha.” Laughs David.