Local Sounds recently interviewed Tasmanian artist David Holman to chat about his new release, Yon and Hither. David mentioned that the title is really just a flip of the old saying, hither and yon, because he liked the way it sounded. While he is big on lyrics and how they roll off the tongue, he agreed that for someone living in Tasmania, the flip actually makes a lot of sense. It mirrors a journey from a far, off place to finding a home right here. David sees the title track as a thread for the whole record, reflecting the feeling of wandering through the landscape. He told Local Sounds, "I'm into lyrics; I can rarely enjoy a song if the words don’t resonate. As a singer, I want those words to sound good, to roll off the tongue in a pleasing way".
When it comes to weaving history and activism into his music, David likes to keep things personal. He often starts with a story he has read and then tries to figure out how he feels about it. He takes a lot of inspiration from songwriters like Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. When asked about his process, he explained, "I think the short answer is finding a story, fictional, or based on one I’ve read, and then conveying my feelings about the topic. My favourite songwriters, like Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, do this masterfully. I try to learn from what I love."
One of the most interesting parts is the story of a Scottish shipwright who ended up in Van Diemen’s Land. While David has Scottish roots, he noted that the character is mostly a product of his imagination, though based on real convict history. "The song Yon and Hither is definitely inspired by the tale of a Scotsman and his experience in being deported to Tasmania. However, once inspired, I often expand my understanding of a story to fit rhyme, my feelings about it, and ideas of what it may have been like to live that experience. The rest of the album is loosely influenced by the themes and feeling of the song Yon and Hither but explores other topics."
Many people will recognise David from his time with the band, Wistly, though this project has a different energy. "Wistly played these songs in their earlier forms and then, after members went on to do other things, I decided to record them stripped back with Jethro Pickett at Rolling on the River Studios in Glaziers Bay, Tasmania. As the recordings progressed, some Wisty members and others showed interest in playing on the songs, so they evolved into what you hear on the album."
The album has a distinct Tasmanian feel to it, which was very intentional. "Jethro and I talked a lot about how the music should present, and it centred around the instruments sounding real and maintaining the theme of space that the songs explore. Tassie had it’s own way of creeping in to the recordings. Pardalotes singing, waves lapping under the studio, the accents of the players, all combined to give it that feel. It’s not a compressed, modern sounding recording and hopefully, that’s refreshing to the listener. A bit old school."
With the second single Sarah Island also getting plenty of love from Local Sounds listeners, David is preparing to bring these songs to the stage. "I’m so pleased that the music is getting airplay, thank you, and grateful that people are connecting with the songs. The live show is my Martin acoustic and my voice. It is vulnerable and there is nowhere to hide, but this is how the songs were written and you will get to see them stripped back and bare. I’ve been fortunate to have the album pressed to vinyl, so those attending will get the first public opportunity to grab a copy for themselves."
Listen to Sarah Island by David Holman here;
https://www.localsounds.com.au/song/david-holman/sarah-island