Local newcomer David Derman believes that everyone has an ‘old friend’ of some sorts. The idea sparked a song which has started to gain momentum. David explains that ‘Old Friend’ is a poetic encounter of healing and growth through music. The songwriter took to music to try make sense of past hurts and feelings, emotional struggles he eloquently terms ‘old friend’, resulting in a very personal yet relatable cathartic experience.
“I think the most incredible feeling I have experienced as a musician and through my songwriting is allowing people to feel,” he says. “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.”
He continues, “The song serves as a therapeutic exploration of revisiting past trauma that everyone encounters in their own way. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and thereafter addressing these emotional struggles at the right time, as it’s often difficult to rationalize them while they’re in turmoil, or when that ‘old friend’ comes to visit you. The message reflects the emotional highs and lows of life and the importance of preparing yourself with the tools to handle adversity. Many of us tend to compartmentalize negative emotions, only for them to resurface unexpectedly, making it essential to confront them before they overwhelm us.”
The single is his first release of 2025, and is a beautiful introduction to an extensive body of work that explores themes such as love, heartbreak, politics, modern world perceptions and issues. Since music is a universal language and has the ability to cross boundaries, the Cape Town based musician hopes that his music will bring peace and understanding to his listeners across the globe, regardless of stature, ethnicity, age or identity.
Listen to ‘Old Friend’ below and read more music news here.
