Not Drowning, Waving

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Not Drowning, Waving was an Australian rock and world music group formed in Melbourne in 1983 by David Bridie and John Phillips. The group's name is derived from Stevie Smith's poem Not Waving but Drowning. Their early work included the single "Moving Around" released in April 1984, followed by their debut album Another Pond in January 1985. Not Drowning, Waving released six studio albums and two soundtracks before disbanding in 1994. Notable releases include The Little Desert (1986), Cold and the Crackle (1987), and the soundtrack Proof, which won the ARIA Award for Best Independent Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 1992. The group also collaborated with George Telek on their album Tabaran (1990) and supported David Byrne in Sydney in May 1992. Not Drowning, Waving briefly reformed in 2001, 2003, and from 2005 to 2006, issuing the compilation albums Through the One Last Door and Maps for Sonic Adventurers during this period. In September 2025, Not Drowning, Waving released a new studio album, Malira.

Top tracks

04	Sing Sing	Not Drowning, Waving	Tabaran			04:51
	Writer: Bridie - Porter / Composers: Bridie - Porter
07	Walk Tired	Not Drowning, Waving	Another Pond			05:44
	Writer: Bridie - Phillips / Composers: Bridie - Phillips

Playlists

Similar artists

Discography

Albums

Malira

2025 Not Drowning, Waving under exclusive license to ORiGiN Recordings Pty Ltd. Distributed by ADA, a division of Warner Music Australia.: 19-09-2025

Malira

01	Alar	Not Drowning, Waving	Malira			04:34
	Composers: George Telek - Russel Bradley - David Bridie - Rowan McKinnon - John Phillips - Ben Hakalitz - Pius Wasi
02	Malira	Not Drowning, Waving	Malira			04:23
	Composers: George Telek - Russel Bradley - David Bridie - Rowan McKinnon - John Phillips - Ben Hakalitz
03	Mangrove	Not Drowning, Waving	Malira			03:57
	Composers: Russel Bradley - David Bridie - Rowan McKinnon - John Phillips
04	Song From The Old Colony	Not Drowning, Waving	Malira			05:24
	Composers: David Bridie - Rowan McKinnon - John Phillips - Ben Hakalitz - Helen Mountfort
05	Maris	Not Drowning, Waving	Malira			05:16
	Composers: George Telek - Russel Bradley - David Bridie - Rowan McKinnon - John Phillips - Ben Hakalitz - Pius Wasi - Helen Mountfort
06	The Dirty Chemist (Raskolore)	Not Drowning, Waving	Malira			03:47
	Composers: Russel Bradley - David Bridie - Rowan McKinnon - John Phillips - Helen Mountfort
07	John Vuia 1950	Not Drowning, Waving	Malira			03:42
	Composers: Russel Bradley - David Bridie - Rowan McKinnon - John Phillips - Helen Mountfort - Natty Dolaisi

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Maps For Sonic Adventurers

℗ 2006 Bloodlines: 21-08-2006

Maps For Sonic Adventurers

01	The Kiap Song	Not Drowning, Waving	Maps For Sonic Adventurers			05:24
	Writer: Bailey - Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - James Freud - Fred Loneragan - Jimmy Manzie - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Bailey - Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - James Freud - Fred Loneragan - Jimmy Manzie - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall
02	Blackwater	Not Drowning, Waving	Maps For Sonic Adventurers			05:26
	Writer: Martin Armiger - Billy Thorpe - Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - Doyle - McKinnon - Moss - Phillips - Southall - Robert Susz / Composers: Martin Armiger - Billy Thorpe - Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - Doyle - McKinnon - Moss - Phillips - Southall - Robert Susz
03	Home On My Own	Not Drowning, Waving	Maps For Sonic Adventurers			01:37
	Writer: Bridie - Carr - Cole - Mark Gable - Chris Langman - Phillips / Composers: Bridie - Carr - Cole - Mark Gable - Chris Langman - Phillips
04	Palau	Not Drowning, Waving	Maps For Sonic Adventurers			05:00
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - Freedman - Kelly - Manning - McKinnon - Phillips - Mark Seymour - Southall - Michael Spiby - Thomas / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - Freedman - Kelly - Manning - McKinnon - Phillips - Mark Seymour - Southall - Michael Spiby - Thomas
05	Thomastown	Not Drowning, Waving	Maps For Sonic Adventurers			04:12
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Linda Bull - Vika Bull - Cole - Conway - Green - David Lewis - McKinnon - Palmer - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Linda Bull - Vika Bull - Cole - Conway - Green - David Lewis - McKinnon - Palmer - Phillips - Southall
06	Willow Tree	Not Drowning, Waving	Maps For Sonic Adventurers			04:05
	Writer: Andre - Mark Bradley - Bridie - Bubbler Ranx - Cole - Goldsmith - Ollie Jacobs - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Andre - Mark Bradley - Bridie - Bubbler Ranx - Cole - Goldsmith - Ollie Jacobs - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall
07	Big Sky	Not Drowning, Waving	Maps For Sonic Adventurers			03:55
	Writer: Brewster - Phillips / Composers: Brewster - Phillips

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Through The One Last Door

℗ 2005 Bloodlines: 06-03-2005

Through The One Last Door

01	Overlay	Not Drowning, Waving	Through The One Last Door			04:00
	Writer: Luke Henery - Not Drowning, Waving / Composers: Luke Henery - Not Drowning, Waving
02	Norman Young	Not Drowning, Waving	Through The One Last Door			03:53
	Writer: Not Drowning, Waving - Michael Richards / Composers: Not Drowning, Waving - Michael Richards
03	A Selling Of The Rock	Not Drowning, Waving	Through The One Last Door			03:18
	Writer: Luke Boerdam - Bridie - Phillips - James Tidswell / Composers: Luke Boerdam - Bridie - Phillips - James Tidswell
04	Azahe	Not Drowning, Waving	Through The One Last Door			02:16
	Writer: Luke Henery - Not Drowning, Waving - Ponam Garramut Drummers - Michael Richards / Composers: Luke Henery - Not Drowning, Waving - Ponam Garramut Drummers - Michael Richards
05	Big Sky	Not Drowning, Waving	Through The One Last Door			02:49
	Writer: Phillips - Josh Pyke / Composers: Phillips - Josh Pyke
06	Plog	Not Drowning, Waving	Through The One Last Door			03:19
	Writer: Not Drowning, Waving - Josh Pyke / Composers: Not Drowning, Waving - Josh Pyke
07	Sweat	Not Drowning, Waving	Through The One Last Door			05:45
	Writer: Not Drowning, Waving - Josh Pyke / Composers: Not Drowning, Waving - Josh Pyke

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Circus

℗ 2009 Bloodlines: 28-08-1993

Circus

01	Crazy Birds	Not Drowning, Waving	Circus			04:32
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall
02	Spark	Not Drowning, Waving	Circus			04:38
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall
03	The Magician	Not Drowning, Waving	Circus			05:33
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall
04	Teteko (Aotearoa)	Not Drowning, Waving	Circus			04:00
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall
05	Wonder	Not Drowning, Waving	Circus			04:18
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall
06	Slumber In Tumbleland	Not Drowning, Waving	Circus			02:00
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall
07	Albert Namatjira	Not Drowning, Waving	Circus			05:50
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Mountfort - Phillips - Southall

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Proof

℗ 2009 Bloodlines: 01-01-1991

Proof

01	Walk	Not Drowning, Waving	Proof			03:03
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall
02	Sunday	Not Drowning, Waving	Proof			05:36
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall
03	Sad	Not Drowning, Waving	Proof			02:52
	Writer: Mark Bradley / Composers: Mark Bradley
04	Happy	Not Drowning, Waving	Proof			03:45
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall
05	Fun	Not Drowning, Waving	Proof			01:25
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall
06	Sad (II)	Not Drowning, Waving	Proof			01:14
	Writer: Mark Bradley / Composers: Mark Bradley
07	The Garden	Not Drowning, Waving	Proof			03:52
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall

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Tabaran

℗ 2005 Bloodlines: 01-01-1990

Tabaran

01	Tabaran	Not Drowning, Waving	Tabaran			05:06
	Writer: Mitchell - Telek / Composers: Mitchell - Telek
02	The Kiap Song	Not Drowning, Waving	Tabaran			04:33
	Writer: Bridie - Porter / Composers: Bridie - Porter
03	Pila Pila	Not Drowning, Waving	Tabaran			02:24
	Writer: Bridie - Mitchell / Composers: Bridie - Mitchell
04	Sing Sing	Not Drowning, Waving	Tabaran			04:51
	Writer: Bridie - Porter / Composers: Bridie - Porter
05	Rain	Not Drowning, Waving	Tabaran			03:57
	Writer: Bridie - Mitchell / Composers: Bridie - Mitchell
06	Feast	Not Drowning, Waving	Tabaran			02:30
	Writer: Bridie - Alan Sandow / Composers: Bridie - Alan Sandow
07	Boys On Beach	Not Drowning, Waving	Tabaran			00:56
	Writer: Bridie - Porter / Composers: Bridie - Porter

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Claim

℗ 2008 Bloodlines: 03-05-1989

Claim

01	Willow Tree	Not Drowning, Waving	Claim			04:09
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall
02	Fishing Trawler	Not Drowning, Waving	Claim			04:01
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall
03	Wobble	Not Drowning, Waving	Claim			03:48
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall
04	Thomastown	Not Drowning, Waving	Claim			04:07
	Writer: Bridie / Composers: Bridie
05	Maroon Rust	Not Drowning, Waving	Claim			04:02
	Writer: Bridie - Phillips / Composers: Bridie - Phillips
06	Palau	Not Drowning, Waving	Claim			05:34
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall
07	Yellow Earth	Not Drowning, Waving	Claim			04:52
	Writer: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Mark Bradley - Bridie - Cole - McKinnon - Phillips - Southall

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Cold And The Crackle

℗ 2006 Bloodlines: 05-08-1987

Cold And The Crackle

01	Yes Sir I Can Boogie	Not Drowning, Waving	Cold And The Crackle			04:45
	Writer: Bridie - Steve Kilbey / Composers: Bridie - Steve Kilbey
02	Cold And The Crackle	Not Drowning, Waving	Cold And The Crackle			05:00
	Writer: Bridie - Marty Willson-Piper / Composers: Bridie - Marty Willson-Piper
03	Plog	Not Drowning, Waving	Cold And The Crackle			03:13
	Writer: Bridie - Steve Kilbey / Composers: Bridie - Steve Kilbey
04	The Marriage Is A Mess	Not Drowning, Waving	Cold And The Crackle			03:47
	Writer: Bridie - Koppes / Composers: Bridie - Koppes
05	Brother Norbert	Not Drowning, Waving	Cold And The Crackle			05:10
	Writer: Bridie - Marty Willson-Piper / Composers: Bridie - Marty Willson-Piper
06	Little King	Not Drowning, Waving	Cold And The Crackle			02:28
	Writer: Bridie - Robby Douglas-Turner - Steve Kilbey - Powles / Composers: Bridie - Robby Douglas-Turner - Steve Kilbey - Powles
07	Sing Sing	Not Drowning, Waving	Cold And The Crackle			04:51
	Writer: Bridie - Koppes / Composers: Bridie - Koppes

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Little Desert

℗ 2007 Bloodlines: 18-08-1985

Little Desert

01	The Same Heat	Not Drowning, Waving	Little Desert			05:25
	Writer: Bridie - Phillips / Composers: Bridie - Phillips
02	Through The One Last Door	Not Drowning, Waving	Little Desert			04:14
	Writer: Bridie - Phillips / Composers: Bridie - Phillips
03	Blackfish Creek	Not Drowning, Waving	Little Desert			04:52
	Writer: Bridie / Composers: Bridie
04	Wilma's Dream	Not Drowning, Waving	Little Desert			03:44
	Writer: Bridie / Composers: Bridie
05	Storm	Not Drowning, Waving	Little Desert			05:52
	Writer: Bridie - McKinnon - Phillips / Composers: Bridie - McKinnon - Phillips
06	Tide	Not Drowning, Waving	Little Desert			07:16
	Writer: Bridie - Phillips - Southall / Composers: Bridie - Phillips - Southall
07	Old Wobbly Man	Not Drowning, Waving	Little Desert			04:19
	Writer: Bridie - Phillips / Composers: Bridie - Phillips

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Another Pond

℗ 2007 Bloodlines: 01-01-1984

Another Pond

01	Making a Desert and Calling it Peace	Not Drowning, Waving	Another Pond			01:24
	Writer: Bridie / Composers: Bridie
02	Another Pond	Not Drowning, Waving	Another Pond			04:12
	Writer: Bridie / Composers: Bridie
03	Hibakusha	Not Drowning, Waving	Another Pond			00:44
	Writer: Daren Geraghty - Phillips / Composers: Daren Geraghty - Phillips
04	Moving Around	Not Drowning, Waving	Another Pond			07:30
	Writer: Bridie - Phillips / Composers: Bridie - Phillips
05	Dare Not Say a Word	Not Drowning, Waving	Another Pond			03:20
	Writer: Bridie - Phillips / Composers: Bridie - Phillips
06	Frogs	Not Drowning, Waving	Another Pond			01:38
	Writer: Bridie - Phillips / Composers: Bridie - Phillips
07	Walk Tired	Not Drowning, Waving	Another Pond			05:44
	Writer: Bridie - Phillips / Composers: Bridie - Phillips

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Singles

Sing Sing (Mortlock Remix)

2026 Not Drowning, Waving under exclusive license to ORiGiN Recordings Pty Ltd. Distributed by ADA, a division of Warner Music Australia.: 25-03-2026

Sing Sing (Mortlock Remix)

01	Sing Sing (Mortlock Remix)	Not Drowning, Waving	Sing Sing (Mortlock Remix)			05:24
	Composers: David Bridie

Mangrove

2025 Not Drowning, Waving under exclusive license to ORiGiN Recordings Pty Ltd. Distributed by ADA, a division of Warner Music Australia.: 12-09-2025

Mangrove

01	Mangrove	Not Drowning, Waving	Mangrove			03:57
	Composers: Russel Bradley - David Bridie - Rowan McKinnon - John Phillips

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Midday Moon

(P) 2018 Bedroom Suck Records: 02-11-2018

Midday Moon

01	Frogs	Not Drowning, Waving	Midday Moon			01:37
	Composers: D. Bridie - J. Phillips
02	Quinque II	Mark Pollard	Midday Moon			09:43
	Composers: M. Pollard
03	Beach	Blair Greenberg	Midday Moon			03:41
	Composers: B. Greenberg
04	Sawan	John Heussenstamm	Midday Moon			04:36
	Composers: J. Heussenstamm
05	Guitar Fantasia	Beyond The Fringe	Midday Moon			01:19
	Composers: Beyond The Fringe
06	White	Meera Atkinson	Midday Moon			01:03
	Composers: M. Atkinson
07	My Lips Are Moving	Free Radicals	Midday Moon			04:29
	Composers: Free Radicals

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Nova Natura 2

(P) 2006 Cosmicleaf Records: 20-10-2006

Nova Natura 2

01	Reconditus	Minos	Nova Natura 2			06:12
	Composers: Minos Fitsanakis
02	Cold and the Crackle (Arcane Trickster Remix)	Not Drowning, Waving	Nova Natura 2			07:08
	Composers: David Bridie - Russel Bradley - Timothy Cole - John Phillips - David McKinnon - James Southall - Christopher Innes - Damiano Verna
03	Soul Path	Side Liner	Nova Natura 2			06:52
	Composers: Nikolaos Miamis - Vasileios Miamis
04	Sparclin' Coconuts	D. Batistatos	Nova Natura 2			04:38
	Composers: Dimitrios Batistatos
05	Blur (Original Mix)	Zero Cult	Nova Natura 2			06:33
	Composers: Emil Ilyayev
06	Crazy Sick Monkeys	D. Batistatos	Nova Natura 2			04:12
	Composers: Dimitrios Batistatos
07	Echoing Melodies	Will O' The Wisp	Nova Natura 2			06:03
	Composers: Vasileios Miamis

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