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A multi-instrumentalist and descendant of the Eastern European music tradition, Oleg is a versatile composer and music producer whose work combines stylistic diversity with deep insight, sensitivity, and attention to detail. His compositions have been featured in film, television, radio, and theater, showcased at 16 international festivals, and covered by major media including Billboard. His diverse body of work spans from scoring animation pilots for Disney to advertising campaigns for leading global brands.
Smirnov’s latest release, the chamber single PLA:CH, was recorded by members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Riverside Philharmonic strings at the legendary Village Studios in Los Angeles.
In 2020, Smirnov produced the world-music hybrid EP Amrita with Indian traditional kirtan singer Kamini Natarajan, a Grammy® contender in the Best New Age Album category. The following year, he composed two soundtracks for theater productions Fish Don’t Melt and God Rides a Bicycle, produced a contemporary jazz fusion album Kindness, featuring Dave Koz, Michael Lington, and Sergey Chipenko, with 23 stellar international musicians. These projects became contenders for Grammy® Awards in various categories.
His earlier works include the multimedia project Son Cherished Most (2012), an interdisciplinary exploration of music, visual art, and philosophy, and an acclaimed arrangement of John Zorn’s “Meholalot” (2011), praised by the New York avant-garde guru himself. Smirnov also contributed to the British avant-pop icon Marc Almond (Soft Cell) on the album Orpheus in Exile (2009) and produced several albums for EXIT Project, released on major Eastern European labels CD Land and Soyuz Records, with total sales exceeding one million copies.
He is a nomination participant of the Hollywood Music in Media Award (2021) and recipient of Berklee’s Outstanding Musicianship Award (2016). In addition to a degree with honors from Berklee College of Music, Smirnov holds a graduate degree in Psychology, as well as certifications from Harvard University and UCLA.
Oleg Smirnov is also a prominent academic and educator, formerly a faculty member at Los Angeles College of Music and currently an Assistant Chair of the Screen Scoring Department at Berklee College of Music. His contribution to the musicians' community is realized through serving as a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammy Awards), the Society of Composers and Lyricists, and a expert and judge for the Coliseum Music Convention (Eastern Europe).
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Please view the selected portfolio here
Oleg Smirnov is a composer, arranger, and music producer; a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammy Awards) and the Society of Composers and Lyricists, and an educator at Berklee College of Music.
"His work is informed by a deep personal commitment
and understanding of art and contemporary culture."
— Matthew Nicholl, Berklee
"Oleg is an excellent collaborator and a true wizard
when it comes to scoring to picture"
— Natalia Stoltidis, film director
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SELECTED INTERVIEWS:
Interview for Vents Magazine (English)
Interview for Radio Mediametrics (Russian)
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Interview for Jazz Convention Magazine (Italian)
AWARDS:
HOLLYWOOD MUSIC IN MEDIA AWARD 2021
Official nomination in the Jazz category for the single "Africa" from the album "Kindness" (music producer)
BERKLEE Outstanding Musicianship Award 2016
by Berklee Professional Writing Division
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FILM / THEATER
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"FISH DON'T MELT"
The New Theater
Jef Aertz, playwright
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"GOD RIDES A BICYCLE"
The New Theater
Victoria Shalamova, director
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"ANCESTORS' DAY"
Drama, Thriller
Natalia Stoltidis, director
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"SON CHERISHED MOST"
NOOM Films
Zhenya Lutsenko, director
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TELEVISION / ADVERTISEMENT:
"THE CHICKEN SQUAD"
Disney Junior, pilot scoring
"HONOR YOUR DAYS"
Advertisement campaign by Reebok
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"A TICKET TO THE BOLSHOY"
TV Kultura network
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"NATIONAL PARKS OF SIBERIA"
Documentary series by Greenpeace
"EARTH HOUR"
Advertisement campaign by WWF
"GREEN FINGER"
Advertisement campaign by WWF
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DISCOGRAPHY:
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2023
- "PLACH" acoustic chamber work feat. LA Philarmonic and Riverside Philharmonic strings
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2021
- "KINDNESS" for Sergey Chipenko and various artists
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2021
- "FISH DON'T MELT" original theater soundtrack
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2020
- “AMRITA” by Oleg Smirnov & Kamini Natarajan, EP
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2015
- “COLOR SPLASHES” by EXIT project, (CD, Vykhod Records)
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2012
- “SON CHERISHED MOST” by Oleg Smirnov & Kirill Parenchuk,
(CD, Tunguska EMS, 3plet publishing)
2011
- “LIVE AT GOLDEN MASK” by EXIT project feat. Sergey Letov (CD, Soyuz Records)
2011
- “LIVESPLASHES” by EXIT project (CD, Soyuz Records, 3plet Publishing)
2009
- “ORPHEUS IN EXILE” by Mark Almond (CD, Strike Force Entertainment UK)
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2008
- “LIVE AT O2 TV" by EXIT project (DVD, O2TV Publishing)
2008
- "ZHIVU LIVE" by Personal EXIT (CD, Sonic Space Records)
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2007
- “A MYSTERY JOURNEY...” by EXIT project (CD, Digital, Free! Music Publishing)
PRESS CLIPPINGS:
"Oleg writes in a wide variety of styles authentically and with deep understanding. His writing and production are first-rate. His background, coupled with his deep study of a wide variety of music from around the world, makes him uniquely poised to deliver a highly personal yet universal artistic statement. "
- Matthew Nicholl, Berklee
“This artistic band sounds like nothing you’ve ever heard before. Sephardic grooves and jazz-based compositions mix the energy of a rock show with the subtlety of a performance recital...”
– Alex Brown, SplintersAndCandy.com
“EXIT project delivers cosmic musical harmony with an eclectic approach. Where else can you hear a funked-out dub version of John Zorn’s “Meholalot” complete with heavy bass and screeching violins?”
– WVKR FM Poughkeepsie, NY Radio Review
“The genre-bending styles and musical exploits of the EXIT project traverse the world of nu-jazz, electronica, downtempo, fusion, and experimental realms. Tangerine Dream-like percussion displays and ambient washes combine with evocative club-beats and groovy melodies to provide an extremely engaging result; ...morsel-filled with scrumptious delights of ear candy for the heart, soul, and everything in-between.”
– Matthew Forss, World Music News Network
“The globally inflicted music, dubbed “art-fusion,” belongs to the underground scene happening in the Eastern Europe. Their extended live pieces take you on a journey, twisting and turning with violin, saxophones, flute, didgeridoo, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums and tabla, displaying a wide range of musical influences...”
– Review, WVKR FM, NY Radio
“...The art scene pops up and draws on all the international down tempo touchstones as well as an Art of Noise meets AEC vibe. Suppose Ibiza was closer to Siberia. This crew is an amalgam of hot players from other crews and the super jam yields a soundtrack for art chicks everywhere...”
– Midwest Records
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