The popularisation of indie folk in the late ’00s was a swift one, internationally with the likes of Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers and locally with strong solo acts like Matthew Mole and Majozi, but as quickly as it came so too did it disappear in a banjo-wielding cloud of smoke save for a few diehards.
Capetonian singer-songwriter, David Derman, is by no means an indie diehard, but his new single “Old Friend” taps into that old school indie folk vein in a way that I haven’t heard in a while. Inspired by pop giant Ed Sheeran and folk singer-songwriter Ziggy Alberts, Derman’s lyrical prowess is weighty beyond his young years
“I think the most incredible feeling I have experienced as a musician and through my songwriting is allowing people to feel,” he tells me. “Both poetry and music are catalysts of deep thought, and I hope that my music will induce a therapeutic experience, whether it’s through catharsis, self-identity, or personal growth, or simply relating to human experiences that we all share but are often not spoken about.”
And so “Old Friend” was written as a way for Derman to make sense of past trauma and emotional struggles, which resulted in a very personal yet relatable cathartic experience. With a string of releases to come that he explains will “explore themes of love, heartbreak, politics, modern world perceptions and issues” I’m keen to see how he carves his own path.
