Alumni Spotlight: Ismail Yolay From Turkish House DJ to Producer

Meet Ismail Yolay, a Brighton-based taxi driver with a deep-rooted passion for music. With 17 years of experience as a DJ in Turkey’s progressive house scene and a decade of music production under his belt, Ismail had the creative drive—but he knew something was missing. His mixes lacked the professional polish he aspired to achieve. That’s when Sound Academy became his game-changer.

Choosing Sound Academy

Scrolling through Facebook, Ismail came across an ad for Sound Academy. It immediately sparked his interest. Ismail was given the opportunity to take the course at Snap! Studios in London, which gave him access to state of the art equipment and guidance from experienced engineers. Determined to refine his craft, he enrolled with a clear goal: to elevate his sound quality, master mixing techniques, and gain a deeper understanding of production tools.

The Sound Academy Experience

Describing his time at Sound Academy as “amazing,” Ismail immersed himself in learning the technical aspects of music production. He found the structured approach invaluable, gaining expertise in:

• Mixing and mastering progressive house music to achieve a cleaner, more professional sound.
• Recording techniques for vocals and instruments like piano and guitar, broadening his production skills.

• Plugin applications, reverb, and dynamics, allowing him to shape his sound with precision.
• Simplifying and streamlining production for efficiency without compromising creativity.

While Ismail joined Sound Academy to focus on progressive house mixing, he found himself equally drawn to lessons on vocal and instrumental recording—areas he hadn’t explored before. This newfound knowledge expanded his versatility as a producer and gave him the confidence to experiment beyond his usual style.

One of the biggest revelations for Ismail was grouping instruments to achieve better sound clarity—an approach that completely transformed how he mixed his tracks.

His proudest achievement? Completing and mixing his track "Autistic Dreams" using the techniques he acquired at Sound Academy. This milestone was more than just finishing a song—it was proof of his growth as an artist and producer.

Advice for Future Students

Ismail’s message to aspiring producers is clear:

• “Follow your instructor’s guidance and apply what you learn immediately. The more you practice, the faster you’ll improve.”
• “Stay focused and avoid distractions. Come to class prepared and well-rested to make the most of each session.”

With a sharpened skill set and a renewed sense of direction, Ismail Yolay is no longer just making music—he’s shaping his sound for the world to hear.

What’s Next for Ismail?

Ismail is now actively working on new singles, applying everything he learned to enhance his production quality. His next big goal is to professionally master "Autistic Dreams" and connect with record labels to get his music out to the world. With his refined skills and a deeper understanding of production, he is now in a strong position to take his career to the next level.

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