Classical sounds. Shaped by technology.
Adina Nelu is a classically-trained film composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist based in Manchester, UK, whose narrative-driven work focuses on sound as a means of storytelling and music as metaphor in media. Her highly tailored approach leads to a unique sonic identity exploring the line between aesthetically pleasing and sonically challenging, inviting the listener to temporarily adjust to a different norm of beauty in music.
Specialising in music for film and media, Adina studied Popular Music Composition at the National University of Music in Bucharest, and has completed her MA(Dist) in Music Composition at The University of Salford, Manchester.
Adina has created bespoke music for various brands and clients such as Amazon Books, Dove, Johnnie Walker, Checkatrade, Spitfire Audio, BBC Arts, Tibi Clenci, Stil Diamonds, Glamour Romania, GMCA. Her arrangement of Pure Imagination featuring Victoria Canal for Dove’s global campaign The Code was nominated for a Music and Sound Award in the Best Re-record in Broadcast Advertising category in 2024 and the campaign won a Grand Prix in Media, as well as two Silver Lions at Cannes Lions 2025.
Her music has been synced to promos for FX’s documentary series Social Studies, AMC’s supernatural hit show Mayfair Witches, Sky History’s documentary series Ghost Ships, Wicked The Musical for Telemundo 47, Play4’s Assisen and Borgo for French network Canal+, as well as featured in Bertrand Bonello’s award winning sci-fi drama feature film The Beast (2023), in TV programmes such as BBC Three TV mini series Paranormal: The Girl, the Ghost & the Gravestone and Sky Arts TV Special Dickens: Phantoms and Fiction and in shows like ARTE’s Arte Regards (Italie: L’avortement, ma batallie), Sky’s Forensics: Cathing the Killer, TV2‘s Spillet and Forræder (Danish edition of The Traitors), M6’s Top Chef, RTL2‘s Love Island VIP, TV3’s Paradise Hotel, Univision’s ¡Siéntese Quien Pueda!, RTL’s Power Couples, Joyn’s Reality Backpackers.
She is an awardee of Sound and Music’s Francis Chagrin Award, HMUK Do it Differently Fund and a BAFTA Crew member. Her fourth feature film The Wishing Tree — Romania’s first charitable feature film — was shortlisted for Romania’s entry for the Academy Awards Best International Film category and in 2023 she was awarded with the Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice grant.
She is currently signed to 515 — a new London-based composer agency focused on women and gender minority composers. Through her work, Adina aims to address the issue of gender representation within the creative industries and amplify female-led stories.