Ayhan Sahin (Producer and Songwriter)

Ayhan Sahin (born Oct. 16, 1967 in Ankara, Turkey) is a musician who produces and writes in a wide range of genres, from pop, dance and rock to MusicAL theater. He has worked with Melba Moore, Phoebe Snow, Sezen Aksu, Sandra Bernhard, the Beu Sisters, "American Idol" finalists Vonzell Solomon and Jon Peter Lewis, "Rockstar Supernova" contestant Jill Gioia, Lina Koutrakos, Matt Zarley and Tinatin.

Sahin collaborated on a full-length album with Eve Nelson, co-writing and producing for Karine Hannah's conceptual project of new arrangements and English lyrics based on the songs of Turkey's most-acclaimed female singer/songwriter, Sezen Aksu. The single from that project, "Dance," reached the top 40 at pop radio in Turkey.

In 2008, Sahin produced, arranged And Co-wrote the fourth album for Chilean-American singer/songwriter Promis. "Life Is Grand!" was released in Turkey and North America in the first week 2009. Their music has been featured on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, and in a number of live venues in Los Angeles and Paris.

In first-quarter 2009, “Karine,” another collaboration with Karine Hannah, will also be released in Turkey and North America. The 15-song collection gathers songs recorded by Hannah and produced by Sahin over the past nine years. Coming up is a mixed English- and Spanish-language producer/songwriter project with Puerto Rican artist Mitch Zorba.

Sahin came to the United States in 2000, after spending a decade in his native Turkey as a civil engineer, where he also formed acclaimed theater group Young Pals. The ensemble performed his original works—including Turkey's first rock opera "Gods" and the ABBA-influenced musical "Swedish Style"—across Turkey, as well as in Denmark, Sweden and Iceland. Those accomplishments earned Sahin frequent global print press, as well as radio and TV exposure.

With his goal to devote his career to music, Sahin moved to New York, where he studied at New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. He earned a Master's Degree there in 2002. Since, his theatrical achievements include "The Conqueror," a musical with David Keeley, which deals with Middle Eastern conflict.

In 2008, he was also featured in three one-hour documentaries devoted to three of his musicals, which aired on Turkey's national network radio. His music was featured in episodes of MTV's "Made" and in a documentary celebrating Fox cult favorite "Arrested Development" (due in 2009) and in an online promotion for Seiko watches.

Sahin is a BMI-affiliated songwriter, with his own Young Pals Music Publishing. He has a Web site at www.ayhanonline.com.