Nomi Abadi
Nomi Abadi | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Genres | |
| Website | nomiabadi |
Nomi Abadiis an American born Syrian-Egyptian Jewish pianist, vocalist, actor and activist.[1]In November 2019, she played piano on theGrammy Awardnominated albumSekou Andrews & The String Theorynominated in 2020 in the category ofBest Spoken Word Album.
Early life
[edit]A piano prodigy born of four generations of piano teachers, Abadi's musical career began with a concert with the Orange County Chamber Orchestra as their youngest soloist ever at age 5, playing aMozartconcerto.[2]Growing up inOrange County,California, Abadi was homeschooled by her mother and taught piano by her father, the late classical and ragtime pianist Marden Abadi. At age 8, she began professional training in classical piano at theMannes School of Musicafter auditioning atJuilliard.She graduated early from theOrange County School of the Artsat age 16 and attended theAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Music career
[edit]Abadi has composed original music for concerts and more than 20 video games and films, includingSebastian(2023), starringDarius McCrary,andGothic Springs(2019), starringPeyton List.[3]
Her video game work includes original music, sound design and voicing three characters inThe Clairvoyant AR,and music forStar Twin Locator,both produced by Weird Sisters.[4][5]The Clairvoyant ARwas featured at the San Diego Game Jam and invited via the Playcrafting organization to participate in the Bose Game Jam at theBoseAR Platform atPAX Westin 2019.[6]
Abadi has composed and performed her own solo projects since 2012. She received praise from buzzbands.la for her 2016 release "Omega", who called the song, "a lush, cascading pop track built around an acrobatic piano line".[7]
Her vocals are featured on Satanic Planet's 2021 self-titled LP release on the track "Devil in Me", which she co-wrote, singing poetry bySatanic TemplefounderLucien Greaves.[8]Following the success ofSekou Andrews and the String Theory(2019),[9][10]Abadi joinedString Theoryon their albumThe Los Angeles Suite(2020), featuring artistsJens Kuross,SORNE,Shana Halligan,Vōx and Addie Hamilton.
NORY double synth/keytar
[edit]In 2017, Abadi invented the doublekeytar.The NORY Double Synth was approved for aUS Patentin 2019.[11]Nomi premiered herQuartet for NORY® in E Minorat Video Game Music Con Puerto Rico in 2023.
Discography
[edit]- 2012:Chase/No Running
- 2015:Nomi Abadi
- 2016: "Omega"
- 2020: "Animals"
- 2023:Heavy Reign
Activism
[edit]In 2020, Abadi founded the Female Composer Safety League (FCSL), a public charity under IRC code 501(c)(3), which states that its mission is to provide networking, resources, community, support and allyship to up-and-coming women composers.[12]According to a 2023 article inThe Guardian,FCSL was launched after Nomi held two gender safety panels atGameSoundConand has attracted hundreds of members.The Guardianstated that "Nomi vowed to expose the toxic, abusive work conditions that run rampant behind the closed doors of soundtrack composing studios" as "one of Hollywood's last dirty secrets".[13]Ahead of theMusiCaresgala preceding the65th Annual Grammy Awards,Nomi spoke at a press conference in Downtown Los Angeles, stating that the time for sexual predators in music is "over."[14][15][16]
In 2022, Abadi led a coalition against the sexual abuse of students by faculty members of theOrange County School of the Arts,[17]gaining the support of local residents, alumni and parents, and organizations, including the chairwoman and dozens of members of the Orange County Democratic Party.[18]After three appearances by the coalition at the Orange County Board of Education public board meetings,[19]the OCBE agreed to issue an investigation into OCSA.[20]TheOrange County Registerhas reported on at least three lawsuits involving OCSA faculty, including Ralph Opacic, OCSA's founder.
In 2023,Rolling Stonereported that Abadi had accused composerDanny Elfmanof sexually harassing her between 2015 and 2017. According to the magazine's reporting, Abadi and Elfman signed anon-disclosure agreementin 2018, with Elfman agreeing to pay Abadi $830,000 if she did not publicize her allegations against him. AfterRolling Stonepublicly revealed the existence of this agreement, Elfman denied the allegations, and said that he only agreed to the settlement because he feared that his "50-year career may be destroyed in one news cycle" if the claims had been published. In accordance with Abadi's wishes, part of the settlement helped establish hernonprofit foundation,the Female Composer Safety League. Elfman had defaulted on payments to the League, causing Abadi to file a breach of contract suit in Los Angeles Superior Court.[21][22]
A second accuser filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Elfman on October 19, 2023.[23]However, the case was dismissed on September 4, 2024.[24]
On July 10, 2024, Abadi sued Elfman for defamation.[25]The lawsuit, published byVariety,alleges that "Defendant Danny Elfman peddled appalling lies for publication to Rolling Stone about Nomi, who had previously, truthfully relayed facts corroborating his penchant to sexually abuse women... Why? As part of a harebrained ‘zero sum' scheme by Elfman to prop up his checkered reputation by destroying Nomi's credibility."[26][27][28][29]
References
[edit]- ^"Home".Nomi Abadi.Retrieved2 January2024.
- ^Moehringer, J.R. (13 August 1995)."All Keyed Up: Two Orange County Siblings With Striking Piano Skills Prepare for Juilliard School".Los Angeles Times.
- ^"Gothic Springs (2019)".Radio Times.Archived fromthe originalon 28 November 2021.Retrieved11 September2024.
- ^"HOME".Weirdsisters.
- ^"Star Twin Locator by avalkyrie".itch.io.
- ^Popescu, Iulia (29 October 2019)."Only All-Women Team at San Diego Game Jam Defies Odds".Nicholson School of Communication and Media.
- ^Bronson, Kevin (18 August 2017)."Video premiere: Nomi Abadi 'Omega'".buzzbands.la.
- ^La Carmina (28 May 2021)."Satanic Planet Collaborators Shiva Honey and Nomi Abadi On The Satanic Temple's Activism for Women".
- ^"CREDITS".String Theory.
- ^"Sekou Andrews".Grammy Awards.15 December 2020.
- ^"Double-ended keyboard device".Google Patents.
- ^Keegan, Rebecca (10 December 2021)."#MeToo Missed Us: Female Composers Speak Out".The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^Gumbel, Andrew (21 February 2023)."The Hollywood crisis #MeToo missed: 'Every female composer has been through it'".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved8 May2023.
- ^Newman, Jason (4 February 2023)."Sexual Assault Survivors Call Out Music Industry Ahead of Grammys".Rolling Stone.Retrieved8 May2023.
- ^Keegan, Rebecca (4 February 2023)."Sexual Assault Survivors Head to MusiCares Gala".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved8 May2023.
- ^Wagmeister, Elizabeth (4 February 2023)."Sexual Assault Survivors Speak Out on Grammy Weekend: 'The Music Industry is the Catholic Church on Steroids'".Variety.Retrieved8 May2023.
- ^Kopetman, Roxana (3 November 2022)."OCSA lunch break met by demonstrators alleging sexual misconduct".The Orange County Register.
- ^Elattar, Hosam (5 January 2023)."Residents Demand Investigation into Sexual Abuse Allegations at OC School of the Arts".Voice of OC.
- ^Elattar, Hosam (6 February 2023)."Will the OC Board of Education Investigate Sexual Abuse Claims at a Prominent Arts School?".Voice of OC.
- ^Kopetman, Roxana (18 February 2023)."Orange County Board of Education calls for investigation into OCSA".The Orange County Register.
- ^Millman, Ethan (19 July 2023)."Danny Elfman Settled a Sexual-Harassment Allegation for $830,000".Rolling Stone.Retrieved29 July2023.
- ^Wagmeister, Elizabeth (19 July 2023)."Danny Elfman Accused of Sexual Harassment by Female Composer He Agreed to Pay $830K Settlement".Variety.Retrieved29 July2023.
- ^Millman, Ethan (19 October 2023)."Danny Elfman: Second Woman Accuses Composer of Sexual Misconduct".Rolling Stone.Retrieved17 January2024.
- ^Dillon, Nancy (5 September 2024)."Danny Elfman Sexual Assault Accuser Has Lawsuit Tossed in New Ruling".Rolling Stone.Retrieved11 September2024.
- ^Millman, Ethan (11 July 2024)."Danny Elfman Sexual Misconduct Accuser Sues Film Composer for Defamation".Rolling Stone.
- ^Siegel, Tatiana (11 July 2024)."Danny Elfman Hit With Defamation Lawsuit by Fellow Composer Who Accuses Him of Egregious Sexual Harassment".Variety.
- ^Irvin, Jack (11 July 2024)."Danny Elfman Sued for Defamation by Composer Nomi Abadi After She Previously Accused Him of Sexual Harassment".People.
- ^Haring, Bruce (11 July 2024)."Danny Elfman Sued For Defamation By Composer Who Previously Sued Him For Sexual Misconduct – Reports".Deadline Hollywood.
- ^Kennelly, Greg (12 July 2024)."DANNY ELFMAN Sued For Defamation Over 2023 Rolling Stone Story".Metal Injection.Retrieved12 August2024.