Imagine the timeless melodies of The Beatles… Read Full Bio ↴Cape Town, South Africa
Imagine the timeless melodies of The Beatles combined with the soul-stirring lyrics of The Lumineers. If that thought is an enjoyable one, the musical creations of David Meulen might just be your cup of tea.
David Meulen picks up his scratched, road-worn acoustic guitar. The poor thing takes a beating every time it’s picked up; but it’s used to it – he’s been playing it for a long time now. The sound it emits is both percussive and melodic all at once, the perfect combination for his unique hard-hitting acoustic rock style. This is the sound he has found, and he’s ready to share it with the world.
At age 17 David started alternative rock band Dividable Grand with high school friends, and performed with the group for a couple of years. A fair amount of success followed with DG performing alongside some of the biggest acts in South Africa, including Prime Circle, aKing, Taxi Violence and many more. Television appearances, festival performances and extensive radio play followed and led to the band recording with top South African producer Theo Crous.
Using the experience gained from this, David branched out to other genres and started focusing on his solo career. The first thing he did was embark on a lone road trip, bringing only his guitar and essentials. The purpose of this? Songwriting. Starting again from scratch, building up from nothing. Poor guitar!
Preparations for live shows followed, and you could feel the excitement building. He is a man on a mission, and that mission is music.
Once he was sure he had the tracks perfected, he approached Brendyn Rossouw of Heritage Sound studios, and together they crafted an album that would do the songs justice. The minimalistic @davidmeulen features an eclectic mix of well-known artists. Legendary Johnny Clegg Band drummer Barry Van Zyl and virtuoso Dirty Skirts bassist Maurice Paliaga came in to provide rhythm sections for a few of the tracks. The lonesome Blues Harp king Dave Ferguson appears on the bluesy tracks. Double-bass, piano and accordion add to the unique sound of the album, which is scheduled for release in April, 2014.
David’s passion for music can be traced back to when he discovered The Beatles at the age of six. “I love The Beatles. They make me utterly happy. I first heard a song of theirs on the radio and I was sold – this was a good 30 years after they broke up! I started playing guitar a week later. This is what I’d love to create, I thought – something that lasts and inspires.”
He should probably have been a sixties man. Walking into his home you’ll often hear the turntable belting out Hendrix or Dylan while he jams happily along, the greats watching from the psychedelic posters that cover his walls. Occasionally he grabs his Gibson Les Paul, nudging the volume knob up suspiciously often, singing along as loud as humanly possible.
And this is what you can expect from a live show by David Meulen. Joining him on stage, drummer Jay Latter and bassist Kyle Dijkstra provide a vibe leaving you with a strong urge to sing, dance, and no choice but to have a good time. The trio will be gigging throughout 2014.
Keep watching out for David Meulen and his crew – there’s plenty more on the way.
Losing Touch
David Meulen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When your heart beats nothing at all
A body that's cold and contemptuous
Squeezing the life from us all
Scaring the life out of everyone
The outline of bones against skin
Nobody knows who you are
Words they're coming out backwards
And nothing is making much sense
Just stare at the back of your eyelids
And wait to become past tense
Smelling of roses and vinegar
Dressed like an actress on drugs
Clothes must have cost her a fortune
But the stains say all too much
And when you look back on tonight
Maybe it will have changed
With different eyes
Try again
And I'm losing touch
Losing touch
The lyrics of "Losing Touch" by David Meulen delve into the theme of emptiness and how it affects one's life. The opening lines, "Smiling is empty and poisonous when your heart beats nothing at all," suggest that outward appearances can be deceiving and that even a smile could be a mask for personal struggles. The line "A body that's cold and contemptuous squeezing the life from us all" further emphasizes this message. It implies that a person who is emotionally disconnected can have a negative impact on others around them.
The stanza "Words they're coming out backwards and nothing is making much sense, just stare at the back of your eyelids and wait to become past tense" portrays a sense of lostness, confusion, and despair. The feeling of being lost and not knowing where to go is pervasive throughout the song. The stanza "Smelling of roses and vinegar, dressed like an actress on drugs, clothes must have cost her a fortune, but the stains say all too much," evoke an image of a person who is trying to hide their inner turmoil through their appearance. This portrayal is similar to what we see in the public eye, where celebrities' physical appearance does not portray issues of mental or emotional turmoil.
The chorus of "Losing Touch" reinforces the theme of disconnection and alienation from oneself and others. The line "And I'm losing touch, losing touch" is a poignant reminder of how hollow we can be without a deeper connection to ourselves, others, and the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Smiling is empty and poisonous
Putting on a fake smile is detrimental and unhealthy
When your heart beats nothing at all
Lacking passion and emotion leads to a numb existence
A body that's cold and contemptuous
Being disconnected and indifferent to others is unappealing and unwelcoming
Squeezing the life from us all
A negative presence can drain the energy and happiness from those around them
Scaring the life out of everyone
Filling others with fear and anxiety is harmful and destructive
The outline of bones against skin
The physical manifestation of an unhealthy and malnourished body
Nobody knows who you are
A lack of meaningful connections and transparency can result in feeling isolated and alone
And nobody knows who you've been
Your past can remain a mystery to others which can cause disconnection and distrust
Words they're coming out backwards
Struggling to communicate effectively can lead to frustration and misunderstanding
And nothing is making much sense
Feeling lost and confused can make it difficult to find direction and purpose
Just stare at the back of your eyelids
Mental exhaustion can lead to a lack of motivation and drive
And wait to become past tense
Expecting the end before it arrives can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair
Smelling of roses and vinegar
Appearance can be deceiving and hide the unattractive truth beneath the surface
Dressed like an actress on drugs
A false sense of glamour and excitement can mask the reality of a harmful lifestyle
Clothes must have cost her a fortune
Material possessions can appear impressive but ultimately hold little value
But the stains say all too much
The appearance of imperfection and damage reveals the truth behind the facade
And when you look back on tonight
Reflecting on the past can provide insight and understanding
Maybe it will have changed
Change is inevitable and can sometimes bring growth and improvement
With different eyes
Gaining new perspectives and changing one's mindset can lead to transformative experiences
Try again
Giving oneself another chance to succeed or make things right can be valuable
And I'm losing touch
Feeling disconnected and losing one's grasp on reality and purpose
Contributed by Adrian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.