Sonya Belousova

Sonya Belousova (born February 4, 1990) is a Russian-American composer, music producer, songwriter, and artist whose viral hit ''Toss A Coin To Your Witcher'' reached #1 on the ''Billboard'' charts. Based in Los Angeles, California, Belousova has composed music for some of the most commercially successful television franchises, including ''One Piece'' and ''The Witcher''.

Belousova composed the score and songs for Netflix's live-action adaptation of ''One Piece'', which became a global hit. The soundtrack features the song ''My Sails Are Set'', written and produced by Belousova and her scoring partner Giona Ostinelli, and performed by Aurora. The song has garnered over 20 million streams on Spotify, contributing to the album's overall success with more than 300 million streams worldwide. ''Polygon'' praised the "devilish duo" for their "freewheeling" score, which "swings from symphonic blockbuster cues to hip-hop licks to virtuosic flamenco guitar, jazz funk, big-band brass, and head-spinning circus music." ''ScreenRant'' lauded the soundtrack for its "next-level musical worldbuilding" and "unique character themes and instruments complementing each other perfectly."

Belousova gained widespread recognition for her work on Netflix's hit fantasy series ''The Witcher''. The soundtrack album, featuring songs and score composed and produced by Belousova and Ostinelli, achieved both commercial success and critical acclaim, amassing over half a billion streams worldwide. The single '' Toss a Coin to Your Witcher'' reached #1 on both ''Billboard'' Digital Rock Songs Sales and iTunes Top Soundtrack Songs, and broke into The Billboard 200. The song quickly became a viral sensation, garnering significant media attention. The ''New York Post'' called it "the breakout hit," ''Thrillist'' "the biggest banger of 2020", ''Entertainment Weekly'' "a viral hit", ''Esquire'' "the best part of Netflix's series", ''The Verge'' "the hit song of the season", while ''Forbes'' stated that "the viral earworm became just as famous as the show". The soundtrack album appeared on multiple ''Billboard'' charts, including ''Billboard'' Top Current Albums, ''Billboard'' Top Album Sales, and ''Billboard'' Top Soundtrack Albums. It debuted at #1 on iTunes Top Soundtracks and #4 on iTunes Top Albums, trailing only Eminem, Breaking Benjamin, and Chase Rice, and reached the top ten in every major territory worldwide.

Belousova is recognized for her project ''Player Piano'' (first introduced as ''Cosplay Piano'' from the executive producer Stan Lee of Marvel Comics). She performed at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con, introduced by Stan Lee, and at the 2014 Anime Expo with a 70-piece orchestra and 30-piece choir.

Belousova was commissioned by Festival Ballet Providence to compose three original ballets with choreographer Viktor Plotnikov. Additionally, she is known for her collaboration with 27-time Grammy and 2-time Academy Award nominated producer and arranger Jorge Calandrelli.

Early life and education

Belousova was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She began piano studies at age 5 and composition at 10 under composer Zhanna Metallidi. At 8, she made her debut at the Chamber Hall of Saint Petersburg Philharmonia. At 12, she received a special prize for her original compositions at the Sergei Slonimsky Piano And Composition Competition, and at 13, she won the International Valery Gavrilin Composition Competition. Belousova won the competition twice, in 2003 and 2004. Recognized as a child prodigy, Belousova received the Russian Ministry of Culture Award in 2003. In 2004 she won the International Anton Rubinstein Piano Competition ''Miniatures In Russian Music''.

Belousova continued her training in Moscow, where she was accepted to the Gnessin State Musical College at 15, earning a dual bachelor's degree in music composition and piano performance. At 17, she won the Rodion Shchedrin Piano And Composition Competition and performed at the Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory.

She later attended Berklee College of Music for film scoring and earned a master's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Career

''Film and Television''

Sonya Belousova has composed and produced some of the most commercially successful television soundtracks in recent years, including ''One Piece'' and ''The Witcher'', both of which are global hits on Netflix. She worked alongside her scoring partner, Giona Ostinelli, to create the music for these franchises, with their soundtracks amassing millions of streams and receiving widespread acclaim.

Belousova is known for her collaborations with other artists, such as Norwegian art-pop singer Aurora on ''My Sails Are Set,'' a single Belousova composed and produced for her ''One Piece'' soundtrack. She also collaborated with acoustic guitar virtuoso Marcin and rap artist Flawless Real Talk on the same soundtrack.

The ''One Piece'' soundtrack, featuring over 110 musicians, was praised for its rich stylistic variety, imaginative instrumentation, and complex musical world-building. Each character in ''One Piece'' has a unique musical theme with tailored instrumentation. Belousova described the score as "incredibly diverse, spanning a wide array of styles and genres from songs to virtuosic flamenco guitar, hip-hop to big band jazz funk fusion, folk to circus, rap to big epic swashbuckling orchestra." She emphasized that this musical and stylistic diversity was the main priority when approaching music world-building for ''One Piece''. Luffy’s theme, which she described as the "main theme of our show," is a reversed version of Gold Roger’s theme and is led by a hurdy-gurdy. Zoro’s three-sword fighting style is portrayed using bansuri, frame drum, and duduk for his Wado Ichimonji sword, while Nami’s theme features a flute. Usopp's theme is performed by an ukulele, reflecting his ongoing quest for self-confidence, and Sanji’s suave flair is captured by a big band jazz-funk fusion ensemble.

Belousova also created distinct themes for the villains. Buggy’s theme exudes a circus vibe, while Mihawk’s mastery is conveyed through flamenco guitar performed by Marcin.

The soundtrack was recorded across various locations, involving artists from different cultural backgrounds, which contributed to the global flavor of the music and reflected the show's international appeal. The soundtrack was nominated for the International Film Music Critics Association Awards for Best Original Score for Television.

Belousova gained widespread recognition for her work on ''The Witcher'' soundtrack. She also wrote and produced its hit single, ''Toss A Coin To Your Witcher''. The song became a viral sensation immediately after its release. It has also been heavily used in the marketing of the series ever since. On Spotify and other streaming platforms, the song quickly gained millions of streams. Its commercial success cemented it as one of the standout tracks from the series, appealing to both fans of the show and general audiences alike. ''Toss A Coin'' reached #1 on both ''Billboard''’s Digital Rock Songs Sales and iTunes’ Top Soundtrack Songs, while also breaking into The Billboard 200. The song also reached the top ten in every major territory worldwide, reflecting its international success. ''CNN'' described it as "the new year’s earworm," adding: "Just try and not get '' Toss a Coin to Your Witcher'' stuck in your head. The tune from the Netflix series ''The Witcher'' has gone viral."

The song's impact extended far beyond streaming platforms. It became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring viral memes, countless TikTok videos, and YouTube covers and remixes, with notable orchestras and musicians creating covers of the song. Its wide appeal led to '' Toss A Coin'' being adapted into different musical genres and languages, with metal, folk, and orchestral renditions performed globally.

''Toss A Coin To Your Witcher'' was performed live at various events. Notably, Belousova headlined the Krakow Film Music Festival performing her own arrangement of the song featuring a 70-piece orchestra and 30-piece choir, which she later released under Sony Music as part of ''The Witcher Suite''.

Additionally, the soundtrack album, which features '' Toss A Coin To Your Witcher'', broke into several ''Billboard'' charts, including ''Billboard'' Top Current Albums, ''Billboard'' Top Album Sales, and ''Billboard'' Top Soundtrack Albums, and amassed over half a billion streams to date.

The creative process behind the song was a collaboration between Belousova and her scoring partner, Giona Ostinelli. Belousova has said that the song was crafted to have a "medieval, yet modern sound" that could resonate with a wide audience. Ostinelli added that they wanted to capture the essence of the bard character, Jaskier, through the music while creating something timeless and catchy.

The song also became a significant part of ''The Witcher'''s marketing and promotional campaigns. ''The Witcher'' soundtrack, including ''Toss A Coin To Your Witcher'', was nominated for several Hollywood Music In Media Awards.

In 2020, Tesla, Inc. added Belousova's '' Toss a Coin to Your Witcher'' to its software, making it possible to replace the vehicle's horn with Belousova's chorus.

In 2024, it was announced that Belousova will compose and produce the soundtrack for the upcoming ''Red Sonja'' reboot (based on the Marvel character under the same name).

Belousova's work also includes composing the soundtracks for NBC drama '' The Thing About Pam'' starring Renée Zellweger, Matthew Weiner’s ''The Romanoffs,'' featuring a star-studded cast Isabelle Huppert, Amanda Peet, Aaron Eckhart, Diane Lane, Blumhouse’s ''Sacred Lies'', starring Juliette Lewis, Paramount Network’s adaptation of Stephen King’s ''The Mist'', among others.

''A Mighty Heart Beating Like A Drum''

In 2023, Sonya Belousova released the album ''A Mighty Heart Beating Like A Drum'' under Sony Music, featuring guest artists such as Serj Tankian of System of a Down, Tarja, DL of Bad Wolves, Sophia James, and Marcin. Broadway World described the album as "an epic tale of discovery and growth." Belousova explained the album's concept as representing the journey of leaping into the unknown and navigating unexpected twists and turns with "a strong heart and an open mind."

''Ballet''

In 2013, Sonya Belousova was commissioned by Festival Ballet Providence to compose music for the new ballet ''Orchis'', in collaboration with choreographer Viktor Plotnikov. Plotnikov, referring to his collaboration with Belousova, remarked, "I listen to the music, what it tells me…and I have the piece."

''Orchis'' premiered on March 8, 2013, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium alongside Igor Stravinsky's '' Agon.'' Described as "a big hit" and "stunning collaboration," ''Orchis'' returned to the stage the following season as a part of the ''Boundless Plotnkov'' program. "Audiences were blown away by the eccentric, wide range of Sonya Belousova's original score, striking a rich parallel to Viktor Plotnikov’s unique choreography". In recognition of her achievements "throughout the international music world," Belousova received an honorary citation from the Mayor of Providence.

In 2014, Belousova was commissioned for another ballet, ''Surrogate'', which premiered in November as part of the ''Up Close On Hope'' series. "Accompanied by Sonya Belousova’s techno sounding original score, this thought-provoking piece questions whether we have all become 'surrogates,' unable to think and act for ourselves. Wearing tutus, three female dancers are accompanied by their male partners who move them about by grabbing hold of their ponytails."

In 2016, Belousova composed the score for ''The House of Bernarda Alba'', an adaptation of Federico García Lorca's play. "There is very little that is pretty about this piece, but it is thoroughly compelling. The movements are large, but awkward, and the daughters almost resemble marionettes manipulated by their controlling matriarch. Despite this, there is nothing that feels cartoonish, thanks in large part to the fantastic original score by Sonya Belousova. The visuals, dance and music all come together to create something that will linger in the viewer's mind for a long time." – ''Broadway World''.

''Player Piano''

Belousova gained public recognition for her music project ''Player Piano''. The project was first introduced in 2013 as ''Cosplay Piano'' with Marvel's Stan Lee as the executive producer, featured on ''Stan Lee’s World of Heroes'' YouTube channel. In 2014 Belousova formed ''Player Piano'', blending virtuosic piano performances with her creative reimaginings of iconic themes. The project has received multiple awards and garnered extensive media coverage, including features in ''MTV'', ''Forbes'', ''USA Today'', and ''Entertainment Weekly''.

Belousova crafted and performed original arrangements, showcasing her versatility from virtuosic solo piano to large ensemble works, often reimagining iconic themes with "a new unique spin". Tom Grey directed her music videos.

Belousova's ''Player Piano'' performances include San Diego Comic-Con, where she opened her panel with Stan Lee, and Anime Expo, where she performed as a soloist with a 70-piece orchestra and 30-piece choir to a sold-out crowd.

''Collaboration with Jorge Calandrelli''

Belousova is known for her collaboration with 27-time Grammy 2-time Academy Award nominated producer, arranger, and composer Jorge Calandrelli, who described her as "one of the most talented musicians I have met". Calandrelli produced Belousova's solo piano album, which featured her performing piano pieces he had written. The recording sessions took place at Capitol Records.

Belousova collaborated with Calandrelli on Roberto Iarussi's 2013 album ''I Believe'', recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. In 2014, she arranged and orchestrated ''Jingle Bells'', ''Panis Angelicus,'' ''All Creatures of God, Carpe Diem'', and ''Nature Boy'' for Mario Frangoulis’s album ''Tales of Christmas''. The album was recorded by the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios and featured duets with Grammy winners Sarah Brightman and Marilyn Horne, and George Perris. Belousova also recorded piano for ''Jingle Bells'' and ''Panis Angelicus''.

In 2014, Belousova performed Calandrelli’s piano pieces at the ASMAC Golden Score Awards, honoring Maestro Calandrelli and Academy Award winning composer Michael Giacchino. Special guests for the event included Grammy winners Arturo Sandoval, Walter Afanasieff, and Kenny G.

Awards and nominations

Works

Films and television

Ballet

References

External links

Official website
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Belousova, Sonya
1990 births
Living people
Berklee College of Music alumni
American film score composers
American women film score composers
Gnessin State Musical College alumni
Musicians from Los Angeles
Russian women pianists
Russian classical pianists
Russian women composers
University of California, Los Angeles alumni
American women classical pianists
21st-century American women pianists
21st-century American classical pianists
Russian emigrants to the United States
Musicians from Saint Petersburg
Children's and Family Emmy Award winners