Inal Bilsel
Inal Bilsel (born October 6, 1983) is a Cypriot composer and music producer known for his eclectic blend of orchestral, electronic, and ambient music. His work spans a variety of genres, including soundtrack, jazz fusion, and experimental music. Bilsel’s compositions have been performed by renowned ensembles, such as the London Symphony Orchestra,[1] and he has garnered recognition for his music productions in the span of several releases through Epic Istanbul (a division of Sony Music Turkey) label. [2]
Early Life and Education
Inal Bilsel was born in Nicosia, Cyprus, and was raised in a musically inclined family. His mother played guitar and sang, while his father was an avid listener of classical music, providing him with a diverse musical environment during his upbringing. Bilsel pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition at the Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta, where he studied from 2000 to 2005. The university’s newly established Music Department was composed of foreign lecturers from countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Makedonia, offering Bilsel exposure to international influences early in his career. During his undergraduate studies, he worked under the guidance of Jean-Michel Boulay, Goce Kolarovsi and Miroslav Spasov. He was influenced by composers such as Bohuslav Martinů, Béla Bartók, and Igor Stravinsky. His portfolio included chamber works and his Concerto for Piano and Strings.
After completing his undergraduate studies in 2005, Bilsel continued his academic journey in the UK, enrolling in a Master’s program in composition at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he studied under Philip Cashian, Tansy Davies, and Brian Lock. His final project, titled Nilay’s Dream, won the Notion Composition Competition in 2007. As part of the award, his composition was performed and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra at the renowned Abbey Road Studios. This early success marked a significant milestone in his career, demonstrating his skill in blending jazz and atonal soundscapes with traditional orchestral elements. [3]
Career
After his master’s degree, Bilsel shifted his focus towards computer-aided music production, releasing his debut album, A New Beginning, in 2009. The self-released album showcased his interest in fusing ambient soundscapes, jazz fusion, and electronic music.
In 2011, Bilsel returned to Cyprus and accepted a teaching position at the Eastern Mediterranean University, where he had previously studied. Alongside his teaching role, he pursued a second Master’s degree in Visual Arts and Communication Design, further deepening his understanding of interdisciplinary approaches to music and visual media.
His work during this time focused on exploring the intersection of music and narrative storytelling. One notable project was Tales From The Future, a three-hour audiovisual performance set in a dystopian future. This concept-driven work involved constructing a fictional world where inhabitants used “SimTapes” to escape their harsh realities. The project intertwined narrative, historical elements, and media from 1950s and 60s America, all set to an immersive soundscape created by Bilsel.[4]
Bilsel later returned to Royal Holloway to pursue a PhD in Music Composition. His research explored the use of music to evoke nostalgia and memory, specifically in the context of fictional worlds. This research informed his compositional style, as he began incorporating elements of hauntology and nostalgia in his works, reflecting his interest in memory and the past.
Major Works
Bilsel's compositions often draw from a wide range of influences, blending electronic and acoustic sounds to create atmospheric and narrative-driven pieces. His works have been featured in film, multimedia installations, and live performances.[5] [6] [7]
His album Paradise Lost (2017) received attention for its cinematic quality and its exploration of dystopian themes. Released under the Epic Istanbul label, the album integrates orchestral sounds with modern electronic elements, further establishing Bilsel’s reputation for innovation in composition.[8] The album was praised for its unique soundscapes, and it was noted for its thematic exploration of human emotions against the backdrop of imagined worlds.[9] Bilsel collaborated with various international musicians on the album, as well as recording live strings in Istanbul.[10]
Bilsel has also been involved in interdisciplinary collaborations, notably providing sound design and music installations for visual art exhibitions.[11] His work often emphasizes the connection between sound and image, employing soundscapes that enhance the emotional and narrative content of visual pieces.
Research and Artistic Approach
Bilsel’s academic research, particularly during his PhD studies at Royal Holloway, has focused on the concept of small worlds, examining how music can create immersive, nostalgia-driven environments.[12] His thesis explored the use of music to construct memory and emotional depth within these fictional worlds. This approach can be seen in his compositions, which often evoke a sense of place and history through their detailed and layered soundscapes.
Bilsel has expressed a deep interest in the role of memory and nostalgia in shaping musical experience, and these themes recur throughout his body of work. His use of field recordings, found sounds, and unconventional musical forms contribute to his distinctive compositional style, which seeks to transport listeners into evocative and dreamlike environments.
Personal Life
Inal Bilsel continues to reside in Cyprus, where he remains active in both teaching and composing. His work is often influenced by his experiences growing up in Nicosia and his connections to the broader Cypriot artistic community.
Selected Discography
- A New Beginning (2009)
- Paradise Lost (2017)
- Once Upon a Cloudtop Meadow (upcoming 2025)
References
- ^ "International Music Competition Sends 23-Year-Old Composer to Record with London Symphony Orchestra". Musewire.
- ^ "İnal Bilsel'in konsept albümü "Paradise Lost" Epic İstanbul etiketiyle yayımlandı". Sony Music.
- ^ Broughton, Simon; Erol, Evagoras Karageorghis (2016). Music in Cyprus. New York: Routledge. ISBN 140946573X.
- ^ "Two Fantastic Nicosians". Avant Garde.
- ^ Inal Bilsel at IMDb
- ^ "Inal Bilsel - Sample and Hold My Heart". Imago Mundi Collection. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Planites Exhibition". Artfacts. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "Inal Bilsel Paradise Lost LP review". Magazine Sixty.
- ^ "Kaybolan Cennet Inal Bilsel". Karakoy Mono.
- ^ "Five of My Life - Inal Bilsel". Tanzgemeinschaft.
- ^ "Ayhan Mentes Art Exhibition - Inal Bilsel Sound Design". Bagimsiz.
- ^ Inal Bilsel (2017). Creating Small Worlds: Approaches to a Nostalgia-Driven Concept Album (Thesis). Royal Holloway, University of London.