David Arden on sharing his song lines and latest project ‘MEERTA’
In the world of music, careers are often born from chance encounters. For Kokatha/Gunditjmara song man David Arden, it was a single album gifted to him in high school that helped set his musical journey in motion.
In this article, David shares his experience of working with students from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music on his project 'Meerta - Rise Up! The Ballad of James Arden' supported by the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development.
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“Music was there from the beginning,” says Kokatha/Gunditjmara song man David Arden.
As a baby, his mother would play the timeless melodies of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Bing Crosby on the wind-up gramophone to soothe him.
As the years unfolded, David's musical horizons expanded, encompassing the rebellious rhythms of Kiss and Iron Maiden.
But David says his family’s deep appreciation for country western music and the heartfelt “love done me wrong songs” had the most influence.
“I first picked up the guitar at twelve and learned to play the songs my mother loved,” he says. “I played her songs like Patsy Kline's 'Your Cheatin' Heart' and Kris Kristofferson's 'Me and Bobby McGee’, because her brother’s name was Bobby.”
While studying at the Collingwood Alternative School, David’s youthful affinity with music evolved into something far more profound.
“I met an incredible teacher there, Graeme Drendel, who bought me an album that changed everything.
“The album was 'From My Eyes' by No Fixed Address. The cover had the [Aboriginal] flag, black fellas in chains, and beautiful First Nations paintings. It blew my mind.”
That moment ignited a flame in David, propelling him to connect with other First Nations musicians.
“I became a bit of a groupie,” he says. “I started learning everything I could from influential figures like Selwyn Burns, who later became the legendary lead guitarist for Coloured Stone, and Bart Willoughby.”
With their wisdom and support, David eventually stepped into the spotlight as the frontman for the Koori Youth Band, collaborating with his brother, who played the drums.
He would eventually meet up with the late music legends Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, forming the Altogether Band before transitioning into a dynamic three-piece group.
His relationship with Archie and Ruby would serve as the foundation for years of collaboration, friendship, and the creation of a musical family.
Reflecting on the significance of his mentors, David says: “Whether we were a garage act, playing in Community, or on main stages of the Australian music scene […] I learned how to write, how to sing, and how to do these things from them."
Now, at a pivotal point in his journey, David says he is ready to shape his own song lines.
“I learned as much as I could so I can craft up what I need to do now – my song lines,” he says. “When I say song lines, I mean my stories and my lineage […] and tell that story.”
David’s desire to share his stories with the next generation has materialised in his latest project, ‘Meerta – Rise Up! The Ballad of James Arden’.
“'Meerta' is the story of my great-grandfather, James Arden. It’s about his journey and the trials and tribulations of what he had to endure throughout his lifetime.
“You don't hear these great Australian love stories as much anymore. So, I wanted to pen it with ‘Meerta’, the title track of this new album.”
Recently launched at the Yirramboi Festival, ‘Meerta’ was a collaborative effort that saw David work closely with students from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM), who had the great fortune to perform alongside him in the show.
The involvement of students in 'Meerta' was made possible through the support of the Wilin Centre, which has been guiding Indigenous artists on their artistic journeys for over two decades.
For David, the Wilin Centre’s role was invaluable. “It was a long-held dream of mine to bring an orchestral component to my work. I thank the Wilin Centre, VCA, MCM staff and students for making it all possible and making my dream become a reality. It was great to work with Wilin and to share our dreams and vision and discuss what we could achieve together,” he says.
The experience of collaborating with students from VCA and MCM has been incredibly fulfilling for David, who finds joy in working with the next generation of musicians.
“To be able to sit there with young people and take that journey together– it’s an honour.”
“They get to sit with us mob and learn the stories of this country and of First Nations peoples. That’s a privilege,” he says.
Looking to the future, David has a clear mission: to continue bringing communities together, amplifying First Nations voices, and sharing stories.
"It’s about bringing Australians together, with First Nations – which are multicultural peoples and communities, to share in each other’s stories. If us mob give ideas to those who want to go down the road with us and do these things to create shared good […] I think that's a great achievement.
“Music has always been a healer, and we have to keep going forward. To those reading this, let's catch up. Let's start the fire – a bonfire.”