AYDA AKBAL
COMPOSER AND SONGWRITER FOR STAGE AND SCREEN
Pre-order Ayda's New Album
Pre-order Ayda Akbal’s next album - Where Do I Belong? Here.
Where Do I Belong? Here. is an exploration of what it means (to her) to grow up as a first-generation Turkish-Australian. After a magical recording session, generously funded by the Angus Gray Piano Project Grant, Ayda is deeply excited to be releasing it into the world soon.
She hopes it will connect with everyone in some way, no matter where they are from.
ABOUT AYDA AKBAL
Ayda Akbal is a composer based in Melbourne, Australia. She is passionate about exploring human emotion, and culture in her work. Her music has created opportunity for her that she is immensely grateful for, including travelling to the US for New York University’s Film-Scoring Summer Intensive, earning a fully funded place at APRA AMCOS’ 2022 Screen Music SongHubs, participating in APRA AMCOS’ HighScore Co-Op 2023 and earning a bursary to participate in the 2023 MESS Game Audio Intensive. She is currently finishing a Double Bachelor’s Degree in Composition & Music Technology and Psychology.
Ayda is proud of her debut cinematic-pop album release in 2021, ‘Magic’, which she composed, performed, produced, and recorded all on her own. After her album release, Ayda was asked to write the feature song for the documentary MY SISTER LIV (2023), directed and produced by Grammy and Oscar-Award winning duo – Alan Hicks and Paula DuPré Pesmen. It is currently nominated in Music+Sound Awards Best Composition for Film Trailer category. Ayda is currently finishing her second album – ‘Where Do I Belong? Here.’ – with the support of the 2023 Angus Gray Piano Project Grant.
Ayda scored her first documentary, ‘Putty’s Pride’, in 2021, where it received national and international recognition in Melbourne, Sydney and California. She has since worked regularly as a composer for short-films, advertisements, theatrical shows, and audiobooks. Ayda has her first international feature films lined up to score for 2024, both currently in pre-production across the globe.
Recently, she started a collaboration with a leading VST companies, such as Spitfire Audio, LABS and Sonixinema – collaborating on educational composer content. Ayda also teaches composing workshops at various institutions, such as running workshops at The Arts Centre Melbourne, Monash University and Balcombe Grammar School
Ayda has arranged and orchestrated for various large-scale performances, including for Jessie Gordon with the Perth Symphony Orchestra Strings, the Dawood Sarkhosh Australian Tour, and the Truman Show Theatrical Show in Madrid. She also works as a band leader, pianist, and vocalist putting on various gigs around the Melbourne music scene, for which she always prepares and formats her scores and parts to (near) perfection.
(October, 2023)
PRESS
Piano Project: Angus Gray Piano Performance Grant Recipient 2023
South Australia Film Corp. Screen Songhubs 2022
Hollywood Reporter Article on 'My Sister Liv'
VoyageLA: Check out Ayda Akbal's Story
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Australian Guild Of Screen Composers
Alliance for Women Film Composers
EDUCATION
2020-2024
Bachelor of Music (Composition and Music Technology) & Psychology at Monash University
2023
2022
August: APRA AMCOS SongHubs for Screen
Mar-May: Composing for TV, Advertising and Film with Catherine Joy (Sponsored by WAM and ESPN).
2021
Estill Level 1&2 Voice Training
2019
Graduated from St Leonard’s College Music Program
2016
Graduated from Yamaha Music and Composition School
Ayda is not only an amazing composer, but also an outstanding artist. She has the ability to bring thoughts on a page to life. Her storytelling abilities through her compositions are completely magical. I would recommend her to anyone trying to make a dream come to life, because she is truly a wonderful musician and composer.
Anmarie D'Ortenzio (Writer & Performer)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
The Brink Of Womanhood: An Original Musical
Ayda is a joy to work with. She’s an expert at extracting the emotions and themes of your project and injecting them into a score. Her attitude is professional and her communication during a project is outstanding. The end results of her work speak for themselves, they’re emotional, distinct, and engaging. Would highly recommend her to those seeking scores for film and video.
Jackson Hayat (Filmmaker)
Melbourne, Australia
Putty's Pride Documentary
Ayda isn't only an imaginative and creative musician. She is adept at translating her clients vision into a musical experience. The work she has done for my book series has been unparalleled by anyone else that I have worked with. She is responsive, professional, and timely. Consulting her for your scoring needs is an obvious choice.
Bryce Walter (Author)
Florida, USA
Brayden's Tale Book One: Manes & Magi
Ayda Akbal has created a sonic landscape which is both independently compelling yet crucial in guiding the emotional arch of the play. It is a blessing to have her angelic, ingenious and carefully composed music underscoring the language.
Olive Weeks (Writer/Director)
Melbourne, Australia
A Play About Ivy, That Is Really About June
Ayda is a very talented composer who approached all my requests with consideration, professionalism and talent. She produced an excellent score under a tight deadline and responded quickly to messages.
Molly Powell (Filmmaker)
Melbourne, Australia
Fractured Short Film