Daniel Holdsworth

Daniel Holdsworth is an Australian musician and composer. He is a co-creator of the music-theatre production, Tubular Bells for Two, releases music as a solo artist, and has performed in bands such as Darks Common Underground, The Maple Trail and The Saturns. He has also composed music for film, television, theatre and dance.

Biography Daniel Holdsworth was born on 22 May 1981, in Penrith NSW, Australia, and has lived most of his life in the Blue Mountains. He began playing music at a young age and attended Blaxland High School where he was heavily involved in school productions and other music programs, performing several times at the Sydney Opera House. During this period he also began formal training as a classical guitarist.

At the age of fifteen, Daniel began professional work within the music industry as a session musician, notably recording with Yothu Yindi for the closing ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta paralympics, and singing a duet for the same ceremony composed by Garry Hardman from Australian Screen Music.

After high school, Holdsworth attended the University of Western Sydney where he studied with Bruce Crossman as a post-graduate in composition and music technology. During his university years he worked as a music teacher in the Blue Mountains, He recorded and toured with other bands, including The Maple Trail. During this period Daniel began composing music for theatre and dance productions, leading to a position as musical director and performer in William Yang's My Generation, which was commissioned for the opening of the National Portrait Gallery (Australia) in Canberra in 2008.

In 2009, Holdsworth premiered a music-theatre collaboration with Aidan Roberts, Tubular Bells for Two. The duo have since gone on to tour the show internationally, winning a Herald Angel Award and a Sixth Star Bobby Award at the Edinburgh Fringe 2012, a Weekly Award and BankSA Best Music Award at the Adelaide Fringe 2015.

In 2013 Daniel composed the music for the feature film, William Yang: My Generation which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival.

In 2015 Holdsworth formed a new group, Darks Common Underground, working on his first original material as a songwriter since the Saturns broke up in 2010. The band released their debut self-titled album in 2020.

In 2024 Holdsworth started releasing new music as a solo artist.

Awards Year Award Category For 2015 Adelaide Fringe Award BankSA Best Music Award Tubular Bells for Two

Recordings Year Band/artist Title Label Release Role 2025 Daniel Holdsworth The Storm Independent Single Songwriter/producer/performer 2024 Daniel Holdsworth Empty Rooms Independent Single Songwriter/producer/performer 2024 Daniel Holdsworth Morning Star Independent Single Songwriter/producer/performer 2024 Daniel Holdsworth Close Encounters Independent Single Songwriter/producer/performer 2024 Daniel Holdsworth Memory Dust Independent Single Songwriter/producer/performer 2024 Daniel Holdsworth The First Song On Spotify Independent Single Songwriter/producer/performer 2023 The Absolutely Incredibly Amazing Penrith Band Sam Delivers Independent Album Songwriter, engineer, vocals, guitars, drums, keys, percussion, recorders 2020 Darks Common Underground Darks Common Underground Independent Album Songwriter, engineer, vocals, guitars, bouzouki, banjo, mandolin, organ 2019 Yeevs Yeevs Independent Album Producer, engineer 2017 Darks Common Underground Meteorites and Other Things Independent Single Songwriter, engineer, vocals, guitars, banjo, mandolin 2012 The Maple Trail Cable Mount Warning Broken Stone Records Album Drums, Guitar 2009 The Saturns Sweet Distractions Snare Music Album Songwriter, Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Bass, Synthesizers, Harmonica 2008 The Maple Trail Dirty Echo Spark Broken Stone Records Album Drums 2007 The Saturns Here's The Saturns Snare Music EP Songwriter, vocals, guitars 2003 T. Malfroy & The Guests T. Malfroy & The Guests Independent EP Engineer, bass guitar, vocals 2002 Snare See You Somewhere Thin Annoying Blokes EP Songwriter, engineer, vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards 2001 Snare Never See The Sun Thin Annoying Blokes EP Songwriter, vocals, guitars, drums, bass, keyboards 1996 Yothu Yindi World Turning: In Celebration of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games Birdland Records Performer

Theatre Year Production Producer Role 2009–2023 Tubular Bells for Two Shortwalk / Craft Music / The Leighton Pope Organisation Co-creator and performer 2009–10 Hansel and Gretel The Acting Factory Narrator and Musical Director 2008–10 William Yang's My Generation Feature-Documentary Anne-Marrie Hess Assistant composer to Andree Greenwell with Tim Malfory

Television Year Program Producer Network Director Role 2013 William Yang: My Generation Felix Media ABC William Yang Composer