Draft:Inal Bilsel

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Inal Bilsel

Inal Bilsel
Birth nameInal Bilsel
Born (1983-10-06) October 6, 1983 (age 41)
Nicosia, Cyprus
GenresInstrumental, Soundtrack, Jazz Fusion, Ambient
Occupation(s)Composer, Musician, Producer, Sound Designer, Academic
Years active2000–present
LabelsSony Music Turkey
Websitewww.inalbilsel.com

Inal Bilsel (born October 6, 1983) is a Cypriot composer and music producer recognized for his diverse musical styles, which encompass orchestral, electronic, and ambient music. His work spans various genres, including soundtrack, jazz fusion, and experimental music. Bilsel’s compositions have been performed by ensembles such as the London Symphony Orchestra,[1] and he has released multiple works through the Epic Istanbul label, a division of Sony Music Turkey.[2]

Early Life and Education

Bilsel was born in Nicosia, Cyprus, and raised in a musically inclined family. His mother played the guitar and sang, while his father was an avid listener of classical music, providing a diverse musical environment. From 2000 to 2005, he studied Music Composition at the Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta, where he worked with lecturers from countries including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. His instructors included Jean-Michel Boulay, Goce Kolarovsi, and Miroslav Spasov, and his influences included composers such as Bohuslav Martinů, Béla Bartók, and Igor Stravinsky. His undergraduate portfolio featured chamber works and a Concerto for Piano and Strings.

In 2005, Bilsel enrolled in a Master’s program in composition at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he studied with Philip Cashian, Tansy Davies, and Brian Lock. His final project, Nilay’s Dream, won the 2007 Notion Composition Competition, resulting in a performance and recording by the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios.[3]

Career

After completing his Master’s degree, Bilsel shifted his focus toward computer-aided music production and released his debut album, A New Beginning, in 2009. The self-released album combined elements of ambient soundscapes, jazz fusion, and electronic music.

In 2011, Bilsel returned to Cyprus, where he took a teaching position at the Eastern Mediterranean University. Concurrently, he pursued a second Master’s degree in Visual Arts and Communication Design. During this time, his work increasingly explored the intersection between music and narrative storytelling. Notably, his three-hour audiovisual performance Tales From The Future was set in a dystopian future and integrated narrative elements, historical references, and mid-20th-century media into an immersive soundscape.[4] In 2011, Bilsel returned to Cyprus and accepted a teaching position at the Eastern Mediterranean University. Alongside his teaching role, he continued to explore the intersection of music and narrative storytelling. His work in Cyprus has been well-received, with local media recognizing his approach to composition and sound design.[5]

Bilsel later returned to Royal Holloway to pursue a PhD in Music Composition. His research investigated the use of music to evoke nostalgia and memory, with a particular focus on fictional worlds. This research has significantly influenced his compositional style, leading him to incorporate themes of hauntology and nostalgia in his work.

In addition to his album work, Bilsel has also contributed to a variety of interdisciplinary projects. One notable example is his composition for the theatrical production Hüzün, Ana ve Çocukları, which explores themes of motherhood, sorrow, and resilience against the backdrop of the Cyprus conflict.[6]

Major Works

Bilsel’s compositions draw from a broad range of influences, blending electronic and acoustic sounds to create atmospheric and narrative-driven pieces. His works have been featured in films, multimedia installations, and live performances.[7] [8] [9]

His 2017 album Paradise Lost, released by Epic Istanbul, received attention for its integration of orchestral and electronic elements and its thematic exploration of dystopian worlds.[10] The album was noted for its complex soundscapes and thematic depth.[11] Bilsel collaborated with various musicians for the album and recorded live string performances in Istanbul.[12] Paradise Lost has been interpreted in terms of its philosophical exploration of the concept of utopia and dystopia.[13]" Bilsel's work reflects a deep concern with the human condition, focusing on the contrasts between the idealized and the harsh realities of modern existence. The album explores the concept of both childhood and Cyprus as lost paradises, using music to probe existential themes of memory, longing, and the disillusionment that comes with the collapse of utopian dreams. Bilsel invites the listener to reflect on the transient nature of happiness and the human tendency to seek perfection in a flawed world, offering a sonic landscape that mirrors this conflict.

Bilsel has also worked in sound design for visual art exhibitions, providing music and sound installations for various projects.[14]

Research and Artistic Approach

Bilsel’s academic research, especially during his PhD studies at Royal Holloway, has centered on nostalgia and hauntology, exploring how music can evoke memory and emotional depth. His thesis, Creating Small Worlds: Approaches to a Nostalgia-Driven Concept Album, focused on the role of music in creating immersive environments.[15] His work frequently involves field recordings, found sounds, and experimental musical forms.

Bilsel's work often explores the creation of intricate, immersive worlds within his compositions. In an interview, he elaborated on how each of his projects forms its own "small world," reflecting a deeply personal yet universal journey through soundscapes and narrative structures. This approach is evident in his various works where music serves as a vessel for emotional storytelling.[16]

Bilsel’s work frequently seeks to preserve and reinterpret Famagusta’s past for future generations, utilizing both digital and artistic mediums, thereby reinforcing his engagement with the region’s historical narrative. In addition to his academic exploration of nostalgia and memory, Bilsel has actively contributed to various cultural events and festivals centered on these themes. One such event was the Famagusta Museum Festival, where his work examined the intersection of personal and collective memory in the context of the region’s complex history.[17] [18]

In interviews, Bilsel has articulated his view that music acts as a crucial stabilizing force which underscores the role of music in maintaining balance and insight in a world that can often feel disordered and overwhelming.[19]

Throughout his career, Bilsel has drawn inspiration from a variety of influential artists and genres. In an interview, Bilsel discussed how legendary composer Vangelis has played a significant role in shaping his approach to music composition, especially with his work on immersive and cinematic soundscapes, which has inspired him to design unique compositions for events such as the Feggaro Festival.[20]

Personal Life

Inal Bilsel continues to reside in Cyprus, where he remains active in both teaching and composing. His work is deeply influenced by his experiences growing up near the Varosha border in Famagusta, a site of significant historical and emotional weight due to the unresolved Cyprus conflict. The deserted town, once a thriving center, now serves as a poignant reminder of the divisions on the island. In an interview, Bilsel discussed how the haunting presence of Varosha and the ongoing conflict deeply shape his artistic vision, where themes of memory, loss, and identity are recurrent.[21]

Discography

  • A New Beginning (2015)
  • Paradise Lost (2018)
  • Transmissions (2020)

References

  1. ^ "International Music Competition Sends 23-Year-Old Composer to Record with London Symphony Orchestra". Musewire.
  2. ^ "İnal Bilsel'in konsept albümü "Paradise Lost" Epic İstanbul etiketiyle yayımlandı". Sony Music.
  3. ^ Broughton, Simon; Erol, Evagoras Karageorghis (2016). Music in Cyprus. New York: Routledge. ISBN 140946573X.
  4. ^ "Two Fantastic Nicosians". Avant Garde.
  5. ^ "Inal Bilsel ile Röportaj". Yeniduzen. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Hüzün, Ana ve Çocukları". Havadis Kıbrıs. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  7. ^ Inal Bilsel at IMDb
  8. ^ "Inal Bilsel - Sample and Hold My Heart". Imago Mundi Collection. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Planites Exhibition". Artfacts. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Inal Bilsel Paradise Lost LP review". Magazine Sixty.
  11. ^ "Kaybolan Cennet Inal Bilsel". Karakoy Mono.
  12. ^ "Five of My Life - Inal Bilsel". Tanzgemeinschaft.
  13. ^ "Yitirilmiş Cennet: Inal Bilsel'in Son Albümü Üzerine". Yeniduzen. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Ayhan Mentes Art Exhibition - Inal Bilsel Sound Design". Bagimsiz.
  15. ^ Inal Bilsel (2017). Creating Small Worlds: Approaches to a Nostalgia-Driven Concept Album (Thesis). Royal Holloway, University of London.
  16. ^ "Her Bir Üretim Kendi İçinde Küçük Bir Dünya". Yenidüzen. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Cabinet of Lost Memories at the Famagusta Museum Festival". New Cyprus Magazine. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Famagusta New Museum Festival Celebrated Cultural Revival and Social Reconciliation". In-Cyprus. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Inal Bilsel: Η μουσική κρατά το λογικό σε έναν τα άλλα παράφρονα". Dialogos. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Σχεδιάζω ένα κομμάτι έκπληξη στον Φεγγάρο, εμπνευσμένο από τον Vangelis". Avant-Garde. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Muhteşem Varosha". Yeniduzen. Retrieved 13 September 2024.

Official website Inal Bilsel on IMDb Inal Bilsel at Royal Holloway