Manduway Dutton has a knack for experimenting with sound.
The Gumbaynggirr and Barkindji musician, from the New South Wales mid-north coast, began playing the didgeridoo when he was about 13 years old.
It ignited a passion for music that has seen him master the piano, guitar, ukulele, and in his latest triumph, classical composition incorporating the didgeridoo.
In November, Manduway was commissioned by the Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium to write a piece of music to open the city's Festival of Chamber Music in 2022.
Thoughtless Dreams premiered at the opening of the festival this month, with Manduway performing the piece, on country, alongside Adelaide's Australian String Quartet.
Rhythmical, low and guttural
Manduway said he was trying to emulate the depth of a bigger band in a "different" way.
"There's a bit of experimentation involved with doing this kind of stuff," he said.
"The strings will do … the more pretty and warm chords."
Manduway's love for music is grounded in his love for the piano, the instrument on which he first composed Thoughtless Dreams.
He later workshopped how to introduce the traditional sounds of a didgeridoo throughout the string composition.
"I used the didgeridoo in a more rhythmic sense," Manduway said.
Manduway said he was "thinking about dreaming a lot" at the time of writing Thoughtless Dreams.
"That realisation, in the morning [when] sometimes you forget what you dreamt about," he said.
"It's kind of like a thoughtless process, where you were really invested at the time, and then when you've woken up, you just can't remember anymore."
Manduway draws his inspiration from life experiences, relationships, and his home: Coffs Harbour.
"Just being in the area is pretty inspirational … the countryside and the ocean," he said.
Elevating local talent
Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium executive director Pat Brearley said he was thrilled Manduway agreed to write a a piece to open the festival.
"It's incredible that we have so much talent on the coast," Mr Brearley said.
"It's a great opportunity to showcase a local Gumbaynggirr man who's just an incredible musician and a beautiful person."
