Berk Yagli
Composer, Music Technologist, Producer, Guitarist
Berk Yagli (b. 1999) is a Cypriot composer, music technologist, producer, researcher, and guitarist based in the UK. His artistic practice explores hybridity between metal and electroacoustic music, using compositional research to build (and, at times, deliberately fracture) relationships between the genres. Through his work, he aims to challenge the notions of “high” and “low” art and criticise the oppressive uniformity that persists even within avant-garde musical cultures. Across his output, Yagli addresses social, political, and philosophical themes, inviting listeners to engage critically with the ideas embedded in sound. Active in the UK since the age of 18, Yagli holds a BSc in Music and Sound Technology (University of Portsmouth) and an MA in Composition (University of Sheffield), including supervision by Adrian Moore. He recently completed his PhD in Music Composition at the University of the Arts London, where his research, Fusion: A Critical and Compositional Investigation of Methods for Electroacoustic and Metal Hybridisation, examined new models for genre hybridisation under the supervision of Adam Stanović. His music has been presented in over 30 countries and more than 150 festivals and conferences worldwide, including Ars Electronica Festival, IRCAM, New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, ICMC, SEAMUS, WOCMAT, MOXSonic, En Chair et en Son, Sonic Matter, SPAM New Media Festival, CCMC, International Confederation of Electroacoustic Music, and the Royal Musical Association. His works have received more than 15 international awards, including the Prix Russolo (France), MusicaAcoustica (China), Uljus (Serbia), New Vision Composition Competition (USA), multiple prizes at Musica Nova (Czech Republic), and the WOCMAT (Taiwan). Yagli composed and continues to compose much of his compositions at studios around the world, undertaking more than ten international residencies, composing in studios such as the MacDowell Colony (USA), EMS (Sweden), Atlantic Center for the Arts (USA), CMMAS (Mexico), VICC (Sweden), Studio Kura (Japan), and NOVARS Research Centre (UK). His music has been released and published by platforms and labels including Cities and Memory, Deep Dive Sound, and Gruenrekorder. Alongside his compositional practice, Yagli is active as a researcher and educator. He regularly presents his work at international conferences and publishes in peer-reviewed journals, including Emille (Korean Electro-Acoustic Music Society) and Sonic Ideas (CMMAS). He has delivered lectures and workshops on composition, electroacoustic practice, and musical hybridity at institutions such as the University of Manchester, Anton Bruckner Privatuniversität, Queen’s University Belfast, Staffordshire University, CMMAS, and the University of the Arts London. Rooted in his background as a performing guitarist and “metalhead at heart,” Yagli also releases music within progressive and cinematic metal contexts. His metal releases include the socially driven concept album Symphony of Humanity (2021) and the collaborative dual-lead guitar EP Düellett – Self Untitled (2021). His work has been featured on Cypriot national television and radio and has received awards including Best Music Video on national programming.
PhD in Composition (passed with minor corrections - 2 months)– University of the Arts London, UK 2026. Thesis: FUSION: A Critical and Compositional Investigation of Methods for Electroacoustic and Metal Hybridisation. Practice-based doctorate examining studio-based composition, musical hybridity, and multichannel diffusion. Includes a portfolio of original works and a written thesis exploring compositional methodology, genre theory, and production practice.
MA in Composition (Distinction)– University of Sheffield, UK 2021. Focus on studio-based composition, film music, electroacoustic practice, and collaborative composition. Produced and released recorded work for collaborative metal project Duellett.
BSc in Music and Sound Technology (First Class) – University of Portsmouth, UK 2020. Training in recording, mixing, mastering, live sound, Max/MSP, game audio, studio production, and music business.
University of the Arts London – Visiting Practitioner / Lecturer London, UK | Nov 2023 – Aug 2024; Nov 2024 – Apr 2025
Delivered lectures and studio-based workshops for BA (Hons) Sound Arts and BA (Hons) Music Production.
Topics included:
Staffordshire University – Part-Time Lecturer Staffordshire, UK | Nov–Dec 2023
CMMAS – Centro Mexicano para la Música y las Artes Sonoras Morelia, Mexico | Jul–Aug 2025
University of Limerick – Guest Lecturer Limerick, Ireland | Feb 2025
Queen’s University Belfast – Guest Lecturer Belfast, Northern Ireland | Jan 2025
Anton Bruckner University – Guest Lecturer Linz, Austria | Mar 2025
University of Manchester (NOVARS Research Centre) – Workshop Facilitator Manchester, UK | Feb 2024
False Awakening on a Mediterranean Island (2025) - Fixed-media, Stereo
Itsumade (2024) - Fixed-media, 5.1
The Cycle of Life and Decay (2023) - Fixed-media, Stereo
Hypnagogic Hallucination Machinery (2023) - Fixed-media, Stereo
Grains of Temporality (2022) - Fixed-media, Stereo
Zen of Aggression (2022) - Fixed-media, Stereo
Unnatural Selection (2021) - Fixed-media, Stereo
A Hybrid Mind (2021) - Fixed-media, Stereo
Transhuman (2021) - Fixed-media, Stereo
Ideological Distortion (2021) - Fixed-media, Stereo