From Berklee Valencia to the World: Meet the Class of 2024, Part 2
Tun Biever
Program: Global Entertainment and Music Business
Hometown: Dudelange, Luxembourg
Reflecting on your time at Berklee Valencia, what would be your proudest achievement or project, and your most memorable experience?
I am super excited about the research paper I wrote for my Culminating Experience. I studied how much neighboring rights royalties are currently not being collected in Luxembourg and how to possibly implement an efficient collection. It was the exact academic deep dive that I was looking to experience at Berklee.
As you graduate, what are your aspirations and how do you believe Berklee Valencia has prepared you for the future?
I will be doing a six-month internship at Sony Music France in Paris before moving back to Luxembourg and focusing on entrepreneurial projects. I run an indie label called TWO STEPS TWICE and I might continue working on the collective management of neighboring rights in Luxembourg.
Finally, what advice would you like to share with future Berklee Valencia graduates now that you have lived the experience?
Go to the beach more often!
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Hazal Odabasi
Program: Music Production, Technology, and Innovation
Hometown: Diyarbakir, Turkey
Reflecting on your time at Berklee Valencia, what would be your proudest achievement or project, and your most memorable experience?
Reflecting on my time at Berklee Valencia, my proudest achievement would be the entire year itself. I consistently pushed myself to try new things and step out of my comfort zone. I am particularly proud of recording numerous CPPD projects while simultaneously working on my own CE project. Recording and coproducing my friends' projects and albums, alongside developing my own artistry, not only equipped me with valuable technical knowledge but also helped me cultivate a unique taste that others wanted to incorporate into their work.
As you graduate, what are your aspirations and how do you believe Berklee Valencia has prepared you for the future?
As I graduate, my aspirations are to continue evolving as a music producer and artist, utilizing both the technical skills and artistic sensibilities I've developed. Reflecting on this beautiful year, I realize more than ever the importance of the musicality inherent in the technical knowledge we gained at Berklee Valencia. Studying in the music production and technology program can sometimes lead us to view music through a highly technical lens. However, being in an environment like Berklee, where music itself is the most celebrated aspect, ensured that we always learned our technical skills with the understanding that what we are doing is creating art. This balance between technical proficiency and artistic expression is what I believe will guide and shape my future endeavors.
Finally, what advice would you like to share with future Berklee Valencia graduates now that you have lived the experience?
It is a one-year program, and it goes by incredibly quickly. This is a year that we will always remember, so my advice to future Berklee Valencia graduate students is to savor the experience of being surrounded by like-minded individuals. In the real world, finding a community like this is not easy, so take full advantage of it. Collaborate extensively with your peers, but don't be afraid to take risks while doing so. This is a unique time when risks and mistakes are seen as valuable learning experiences and are encouraged. Don't play it safe—experiment with every crazy idea you have alongside your friends. Embrace the opportunity to grow and learn in such a supportive and creative environment.
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Olivier Soudin
Program: Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Reflecting on your time at Berklee Valencia, what would be your proudest achievement or project, and your most memorable experience?
I had a very clear objective when I began my studies at Berklee Valencia: to compose and record orchestral music for an original film for my final project at AIR Studios. Not only did I achieve this, but I also wrote music for five other films outside of my Berklee coursework during my studies. It was a tremendous amount of work, but I am very proud that I was able to achieve what I set out to do. My most memorable experience would be hearing and conducting my music at AIR Studios in London. I still have goosebumps when I think back to that life-changing day.
As you graduate, what are your aspirations and how do you believe Berklee Valencia has prepared you for the future?
I will continue to compose music for film and expand my network. The objective is to work on films of an increasingly larger scale. I also want to continue with cello performance and ultimately release my music compositions. I am looking forward to growing these two aspects of my career. Berklee Valencia opened my eyes regarding how many moving parts are involved in creating a successful score for a film. I had multiple opportunities to sharpen my skills in each step of the process. This experience has definitely prepared me for any future project that comes my way.
Finally, what advice would you like to share with future Berklee Valencia graduates now that you have lived the experience?
Be very clear about what you want to accomplish during your time at Berklee Valencia. Once you have a clear picture, do everything you can to make it a reality. Berklee and the people here will help make it happen. Your time in Valencia will fly by and, before you know it, you will be asked about your experiences and to give advice to future students.
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