FRINGE DWELLING MAN
Charlie Trindall

Charlie Trindall is a Gamillaroi man from Western New South Wales. He grew up in Armidale, and has been termed as one of New South Wale’s most prolific Indigenous singer songwriters. Charlie began playing music in his early teens, and admits he wasn’t very good at sport and was later diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. His mum recognized this, and bought him his first guitar, as she knew he liked music. He loved to write poems and listen to the radio; listening to the lyrics of artists such as Bob Marley, Rodriguez, John Lennon, and later Paul Kelly, Archie Roach and Kev Caromdy.  

Charlie has achieved some of his musical dreams by releasing several independent EPs, and two albums as well as being included in various compilation albums and having his songs rerecorded by other Indigenous musicians. 

Asked about how his ideas for songwriting and singing come about, Charlie said, ‘I get an idea or an issue to write about in my head and toss it around for a wile but this could be minutes, days, weeks, or even months depending on how much I am inspired or moved at the time. The words start to flow and some kind of beat or tune, and usually it flows from there’. 

Singer-songwriter Charlie Trindall discusses his journey through songwriting, singing, and ‘getting his voice out’. Performing from the perspective of an Aboriginal person, he performs a story for the lucky people, the not so lucky, and the unfortunate. His first performance is called Fringe-Dweller Man. Charlie’s second performance, Sand Goanna Man, pays tribute to his friend, the Sand Goanna Man. His final performance is about three young women struggling to achieve their dreams to be dancers, and is called Sweet Murri Child.