David Donaldson (born 1960) is a New Zealand composer and performer. He is principally known for his involvement in film music and as a creator of film soundtrack and musical sound design.
Composing Plan 9 has also been involved in designing the soundtracks of the New Zealand Pavilion at World Expo Shanghai 2010.New Zealand at World Expo Shanghai 2010 . Retrieved 6 October 2010.
Recording David Donaldson, Steve Roche and Janet Roddick have been part of the eclectic Wellington music scene for over twenty five years. They first collaborated as members of the electric 1980s band Six Volts and continued with the Brainchilds. Roche and Donaldson are involved in a band called The Labcoats with David Long, Anthony Donaldson, Riki Gooch and Toby Laing. They also comprise a band called "Thrashing Marlin". The band made a big splash in 1996 with their debut, and was followed by a second release, "Garage Sailors" in 1999. In 2006, they produced their third album, "Wit’s end" which is a collection of lo-fi, experimental pop music which ranges from a take on a Len Lye vocal sample (All You've Got Someday) to a Janet Roddick composition (Sea of Tranquility). "The finished project is always an envelope-pushing but accessible blend of pop songwriting instincts within the sprawl of free-improvisational jazz and collage-rock. Early Split Enz and The Mutton Birds spring to mind as obvious touchstones".Simon Sweetman (25/05/2010) More of the Best Albums I have reviewed - Stuff website (Retrieved 6 October 2010).
Early Life Born in 1960 in the small farming town of Ashburton, New Zealand, Donaldson was the second son of Alistair and Helen Donaldson. He later recalled that one of his earliest significant memories, and an experience that he associated with his lifelong love of music, occurred while attempting to feed a horse a pear. As Donaldson attempted to free his hand, his father intervened, striking the horse's skull with the rake in the process. Donaldson remembered the resulting metallic "boing" as his first memorable musical sound.
Donaldson spoke fondly of his upbringing in the Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, where his family relocated when Donaldson was six years old.
Family Donaldson married screen composer Janet Roddick in January, 2000. The pair soon welcomed twin daughters, Poppy and Jean Donaldson. Donaldson also fathers two burmese cats, Billy and Ivy. In late 2025, Donaldson uploaded a youtube instructional video on the use of the 'OnlyCats' cat door.
References
External links Plan 9 website (archived version at the WayBack Machine)