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COMPOSER - SPEAKER - businesswoman 

"English is my second language. Music is my first..."

 

About

Anisha Thomas

My Composing process is highly intuitive, driven by connecting to ‘music’s source’. What is ‘music’s source’? To me its timbre (electronic and acoustic instruments and sound sources) pitch and frequency.

Focusing on these elements gives me the musical foundation to compose music that can be more connective on a deeper visceral level.

Anisha Thomas is a multi award-winning  composer, music producer, pianist, businesswoman, global keynote speaker and educator, based in Sydney and LA.

With a career spanning over 10 years in the entertainment industry, Anisha has over 40 international film/tv composer credits that include a range of films, documentaries, TV/web shows, and branded/advertising campaigns with clients such as Amazon Web Services and Apple. Her work in the tech industry focuses on composing music and creating soundscapes for XR/Spatial Computing, web3 and gaming platforms and their immersive applications. 


In 2018 Anisha won the Best Original Score award at the Made in the West Festival for her film score for Academy Award Qualifying Film, Three Feet Deep. She is also regularly invited to be an adjudicator for various award-giving panels having judged the APRA AMCOS and AGSC Screen Music Awards since 2019. In 2020 Anisha received a Best Original Score Award nomination  for the multi-award winning short film ‘Display Homes’, at the Changing Face International Film Festival. She was also the recipient of the WIFT Australia Award for Best Australian Female Creative at the SF3 film festival, in recognition of her achievements in film and television and for her advocacy and contribution for women and minorities.

In 2021 Anisha was also nominated for Best TV Theme Music at the 2021 Antenna Awards for her work on the TV/Webseries ‘Welcome to the Family’. She was also nominated for her score for the Award winning film Mungo at the New Creator Film Award.


Anisha’s Film/TV composer credits include So I Married Myself, Get a Life Alright, A Bad Influence, and Equal the Contest, which have been aired and featured on TV and streamed internationally on platforms such as ABC Australia, Channel 9 Australia, CBC Canada, Amazon Prime (US and Australia) and Apple TV (worldwide).

To further her advocacy for greater diversity and inclusivity in the entertainment and tech industry, Anisha founded and also runs Sound-how. Sound-how prides itself as a social enterprise and a platform for minorities and marginalized individuals, to provide world-class sound and music production services and expertise through their outreach, educational and mentorship programs for the wider community.

Through Sound-how she has worked with other social organizations such as Bus Stop Films and Diversity Arts Australia. Anisha is often invited to give talks and masterclasses regarding her work as a minority screen music composer, having also been featured as a guest lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

As a global keynote speaker and educator, Anisha gives talks, seminars and masterclasses regarding her work in the tech and entertainment industry as a minority composer and the founder of Sound-how. She has worked with Sydney Conservatorium of Music (University of Sydney), University of New England and non-profit organizations such as Bus Stop Films and Diversity Arts Australia.  

Anisha has also worked with acclaimed Australian ensembles such as the Australian Art Orchestra and Blush Opera, composing for various government-funded projects. Her music and performances have also been featured at acclaimed venues such as the Sydney Opera House as well as part of various dance projects most notably at the Bangarra Dance Theatre.

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LISTEN - FEATURED SCREEN MUSIC

credits/Projects

FEATURED PROJECTS

Selected Screen Credits

According to Otto (2024)

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Feature Film

Director: Wayne Tunks

Production Company: Tunks Productions

Equal the Contest (2023)

Genre: Documentary, Feature Film

Filmmaker: Mitch Nivalis

Production Company: Umbrella Entertainment

Thru 25 (2023)

Genre: Drama, TV/Webseries

Director: Stephanie McBee

Creator: Marchelle Thurman

Production Companies: McBeeTV, 3rd Culture Productions, Six-twelve productions, Leaving Normal Productions

Connections (2022)

Genre: Drama, Short Film

Director: Rebecca Kirwan

Client: Bus Stop Film

The Career Fight (2022)

Genre: Action, Short Film

Director: Angela Blake

Client: Bus Stop Film

So I Married Myself (2022)

Genre: Documentary

Filmmaker: Amen Jafri

The Society Experiment (2022)

Genre: Psychological Drama

Director: Angela Blake

Client: Bus Stop Film

Mungo (2021)

Genre: Children’s Drama, Short Film

Director: Leonie Kelly

Production Company: Farmgate Productions

Get a Life, Alright (2021)

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Feature Film

Director: Joy Hopwood

Production Company: Joyhouse Productions

Confessions from the Friendzone (2020)

Genre: Comedy TV/Webseries

Creator: Raychel McKelvey

Director: Marianne Haaland

We Regret to Inform You (2020)

Genre: Branded Documentary webseries

Client: Hudson Recruitment/Amazon Web Services

Production Company: Jaded Belle Production

The Nearing of Jordyn Simmons (2020)

Genre: LGBTI Drama Short Film

Director: Jeremiah Nikols

The Intruders (2020)

Genre: Comedy

Director: Luke Newnham

Production Company: Nighthawk Productions

Meeting Time (2020)

Genre: Campaign Short Film

Director: Elisa Cristallo

Display Homes (2020)

Genre: Psychological Drama/Thriller, Short Film

Director: Dan Walls

Production Company: Whatever Will Be Films

Accolades: Nomination for Best Original Score at Changing Face International Film Festival

A Bad Influence (2020)

Genre: Drama, Feature Film

Director: Andreas Toumbas

Production Company: Bad Seed Pictures

They’re Listening (2019)

Genre: Comedy, Short Film

Director: Rachael Belle Myers

Production Company: Jaded Belle Productions

Through Your Eyes (2019)

Genre: Drama, Short Film.

Director: Eammon Hawke

Welcome to the Family (2019)

Genre: Webseries

Created by: Elisa Cristallo

Produced by: Nuh Productions

Accolades: Nomination for Best TV Theme, Antenna TV Awards.

Forever Love (2019)

Genre: Experimental Short Art Film

Director: Tessa Muskett

Three Feet Deep (2018)

Genre: Thriller/Crime, Short Film

Director: Rachael Belle Myers

Accolades: Best Original Score, Made in the West

My Friend Has a Giant Golden Clitoris (2018)

Genre: Documentary

Director: Julia Landrey

 

Prey (2018)

Genre: Drama, Short film

Director: Joseph Guinto

 

The Bench Series (2017)

Genre: TV series

Created by Tim Fox & Justina Ward

Produced by The Hub Studio

 

Curated Illusions (2017)

Genre: Drama, Short Film

Director: Rachael Belle Myers

 

The Taint (2017)

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Short Film

Directors: Tessa Muskett & Chris Dunstan

 

Vegan is a Dirty Word (2017)

Genre: Documentary

Director: Marie Butler-Cole

 

A Girl Alone (2017)

Genre: Drama, Short Film

Director: Tessa Muskett

  

Jimbra (2016)

Genre: Drama, Short film

Director: Jason Ide

 

Coyotes (2016)

Genre: Drama, Short film

Director: Sinan Cevik

 

Transcending Gender (2016)

Genre: Documentary

Director: Alex Yujin 

 

World Peace and a Pony (2015)

Genre: Comedy, Feature Film

Director: West

 

At Home with the Snarks (2015)

Genre: Comedy, Short film

Director: Suzanne Rath

 

OTHER SELECTED PROJECTS AND CREDITS

2022/23

Papered: based on the life of Australian design icon Florence Broadhurst.

First stage development of a new opera. In partnership with Blush Opera, supported by 2022 CreateNSW Individual/Group Funding | The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre | University of New England

2021

‘12 Threads: Australian art Songs New Work Premier’

In partnership with Blush Opera, supported by the City of Sydney

Local Farey Tales

US Food and Lifestyle Podcast produced and presented by Nora Vetter.

2020

‘Noteworthy Project’

In Partnership with Carnival of the Bold, supported by the City of Sydney. Featured in Peril Magazine.

‘The Compositing Costumier’

Environmental Podcast produced by Rhiannon Irving

2017

'Mirrors'

Composer: Commissioned solo flute work for Australian flautist, Karen Anson.

 

‘Justice4Mums’

Composer: Music for podcast, written by Suzanne Rath. 

 

2016

Creative Forum – ‘I heart my body’ (Celebrating International Women’s Day)

Composer: Supported by the Fairfield City Council with the Social Change through Creativity Grant program. Composed music for dance production of women in the local community.

 

2015

Bangarra Dance Theatre

Composer & Performer: ‘Naayika’ – Collaboration with Dancer Aruna Ghandi.

 

Parramatta Lanes Festival

Composer & Performer: ‘Naayika’ – Collaboration with Dancer Aruna Ghandi.

 

Australian Art Orchestra Residency

Composer & Performer: Collaborated, performed and composed with international artists from India and Australia

 

2014

Sydney Popcorn Festival

Composer & Performer: Performed and composed for local cultural festival.

 

2013 & 2014

Parramasla

Sound Artist/Composer/Performer:

Sound Installation 'Kundalikrta' exhibited. Also performed and composed for international cultural festival.

 

2013

Vivid

Sound Artist/Composer:

Sound Installation 'Kundalikrta' exhibited.

 

2012

Selves

Composer:

Wrote music for You Move Company’s dance production

 

2011

Premier of Emerging Composers

Composer:

'Rasa Lila' - Original Work for Flute Ensemble premiered at the Opera House.

 

 

 

 

Testimonials

“Anisha followed up with me after a networking event to inquire further about my mention of needing music for a podcast I was working on. And I’m so happy she did! Not only did her reach out nudge me to take further action on my podcast idea but it also allowed me to discover how wonderful she is to work with! I was incredibly impressed with her professionalism, clear communication, kindness, creativity, flexibility and even encouragement during the development process. And the resulting whimsical original tracks were the cherry on top! If you are in need of original music for Film, TV, Advertising, Podcasts, Corporate, VR/AR, Gaming, etc. I can’t recommend Anisha Thomas enough!”
— Nora Vetter, Writer and Podcast Producer of Local Farey Tales
“Anisha joined the A Bad Influence team at the beginning of 2020. She has brought so much energy and passion into the film, with her incredible dedication and professional attitude. Thank you for being such an invaluable part of the team!”
— Andreas Toumbas, Director, Writer and Producer (Bad Seed Pictures)
“Anisha was the composer on Welcome to the Family and she created a wonderful score that so perfectly captured the tone and feel we were hoping for. Anisha was professional, passionate and lovely to work with!”
— Elisa Cristalo, Creator of 'Welcome to the Family'.
Anisha is an outstanding young composer with an original voice in acoustic and electro-acoustic music. Her music is wonderfully direct, touching the deepest core of human expression. Anisha is not afraid to take risks, guided by an innate musicality that ensures that her music is fresh and satisfying.

— Sandy Evans OAM, Internationally Renowned Saxophonist and Composer.
Anisha Thomas is a talented film composer and a consummate industry professional. I had the pleasure of working with her on ‘The Taint’, a short film I directed for my Masters in Media Arts and Production at UTS. Anisha brought great skill and sensitivity to the project, delivering a beautiful score that worked to heighten the suspense needed for the film, contributing to its success as a psychological thriller. She easily met all deadlines and was open to making any adjustments required. I would strongly recommend her to anyone needing a music professional for their film or TV project.
— Tessa Muskett, Director, 'The Taint'
Thank you Anisha for your creative work. Your understanding of music composition has benefited the work. Looking forward to working with you again.
— Sinan Cevik, Writer & Director, 'Coyotes'.
Anisha Thomas is a very talented and dedicated composer and performer. I have worked with her on my dance projects and we had a great working relationship, most importantly we enjoyed creating and performing together! She understands and appreciates the nuances of composing music for dance, especially in the context of a cross-cultural project. She brings in immense value and is highly focussed and committed to making any of the projects she undertakes a success. Strongly recommend her if you’re looking for some great music.
— Aruna Gandhi, Dancer, Choreographer & Educator
Anisha has worked for me as a composer for a short film produced last year. She is professional to work with, prompt with delivering on tasks required of her, but most importantly an extremely talented musician. I consider myself extremely lucky to have her music as part of my project, and hope to have her on board again in the future.
— Alex Yujin, Writer, Director & Journalist, 'Transcending Gender'.
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CONTACT

Film/TV/Screen Media Music Composition REPRESENTATION:

KATHRYN COOK

KMC Talent Agency

kate@kmctagency.com

For ALl enquiries:

please use the contact form!