Not Drowning, Waving provide guitar. Their name is derived from Stevie Smith's poem "Not Waving but Drowning". Rowan McKinnon soon joined on bass guitar and they recorded "Moving Around" with a drum machine. Other atmospheric instrumentals were recorded at the LaTrobe University's music department's studio. "Moving Around" was released as their debut single in April 1984 on the Rampant Records label. While recording tracks for the debut album, "Another Pond", Bridie and Phillips joined McKinnon (also on guitar) in the ambient pop band, Easter, with Russel Bradley on drums and percussion, and Tim Cole on vocals. Cole became sound engineer and recording producer
Not Waving but Drowning experience of Indian refugees during their arrest and detention by the harbour police in Zeebruges, Belgium. Composer Nina C. Young set the poem in a piece scored for solo viola, piano, and mixed choir. English experimental post-punk band This Heat paraphrase the title and theme of the poem in their song "Not Waving" off of their 1979 self-titled debut. Canadian filmmaker Lindsay McIntyre made a film in 2005 called "Not Waving But Drowning" wherein a character reflects on the poem, its origins and meaning. Filmmaker Devyn Waitt wrote and directed a film called "Not Waving But Drowning" that stars Adam