Bundaberg academic now a movie composer
Published on 16 June, 2004
CQU Bundaberg academic Dr Karl Neuenfeldt's interest in the music of the Torres Strait has led to a credit on a new surfing movie.
Dr Neuenfeldt co-wrote a song called 'Somewhere There's An Island', which is performed by Seaman Dan on the soundtrack of Blue Horizon.
Other artists featured on the movie soundtrack include Robbie Williams, The Foo Fighters, Powerfinger and Cold Play.
Dr Neuenfeldt, from the School of Contemporary Communication, has combined his research interests with his love of music performance and production.
'Somewhere There's An Island' is a track on the Hot Records Seaman Dan album 'Steady Steady'.
Dr Neunenfeldt got involved with Seaman Dan about five years ago when he was doing music research in Torres Strait.
At that time, Seaman was 70 years old and had never been recorded professionally.
"We started working together on his first CD, 'Follow the Sun', and eventually had enough success to record 'Steady, Steady' and his latest 'Perfect Pearl'," Dr Neuenfelt said.
"Because he was a deep-water pearl shell diver and skippered pearl and trochus shell harvesting boats in the Coral, Arafura and Timor Seas, he has a vast knowledge of tropical Australia.
"He had always sung maritime songs but we started collaborating on songs as I did more historical research. We decided to write new songs that encapsulated the experiences of many Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal men and women of his generation.".
Dr Neuenfelt said the genesis of 'Somewhere There's an Island' began with him strumming ukulele chords while sitting at the beach near Bundaberg.
"We finished it in Torres Strait. All the salt air and trade winds kept us on focus," he said.
"Simple songs are not always easy to write. 'Somewhere There's an Island' may seem simple but its production is complex, trying to capture the essence of a place through sounds, instruments and singing. And of course it helps immensely that Seaman Dan sings it really well, because it comes from the heart.
"It is one of our favorite tracks on 'Steady, Steady' and that is why it starts off the album. It sums up the life Seaman Dan lived and still lives at his home on Horn Island in Torres Strait.".