HILMI JAIDIN
musical theatre writer
Hilmi Jaidin is a unique voice in the musical theatre landscape - a vital and disruptive artist whose work has an urgent need to be seen. Hilmi’s arrestingly challenging work demonstrates exactly what new musicals can do.
Sarah Middleton, SHEWOLVES Productions
Kit Buchan & Jim Barne, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
During lockdown we've both fallen for Hilmi Jaidin. He's really smart and his songs are full of vinegary observations and toothsome turns-of-phrase.
Ian Foster, There Ought To Be Clowns
What is great about Jaidin’s writing is how unafraid he is of going dark, touching on subjects that feel so powerfully resonant today.
Neil Bastian, The Rise and Fall of Vinnie & Paul
With killer hooks and sucker punch lyrics, Hilmi's songs grab you by the lapels and won't let go until you're thoroughly shaken up both intellectually and emotionally.
Zoe Morris, The Phase
Hilmi has written some of the most poignant and mesmerising songs that I have ever heard. He always manages to hit you straight in the heart and I sincerely hope that more people have the opportunity to hear his music. He is surely one of the best new musical theatre writers out there.
Dr Joshua Goodman, composer and Broadway historian
Hilmi has a rare gift for capturing the full range of human experience in seemingly simple, economic verse. He's a great collaborator and canny dramatist with a knack for smile-inducing rhyme after rhyme.
Adam Lenson, ALP musicals
HILMI JAIDIN. Everyone needs to know that name. He is one of the bright lights in the future of UK musical theatre.
ABOUT
Hilmi Jaidin is originally from Southeast Asia and his songs have been performed in and off the West End, most recently at the Sondheim Theatre. He has written songs with Gary Barlow and Shaznay Lewis for Gurinder Chadha's upcoming feature film Christmas Karma which will be performed by an ensemble cast including Billy Porter and Boy George and led by Kunal Nayyar.
He provided additional lyrics for the RSC’s original run of My Neighbour Totoro at the Barbican which went on to sweep the Olivier Awards with nine nominations. He was a Stiles and Drewe Best New Song Prize Finalist in 2021 and 2024 and he is in the BOOK Music & Lyrics Advanced Group. He is also one of the writers featured on New UK Musicals, where you can purchase his sheet music.
Hilmi has had two shows produced by ALP musicals - Shift+Alt+Right, a digital musical about tactics used by the alt-right to radicalise angry young men online, and Cruel, Inhuman & Degrading, which is about censorship in Southeast Asia with songs in the style of ‘90s MTV artists. Both cast recordings are available on all streaming platforms.
He is also the co-founder of the Musical Writing subreddit, an open access forum where new musical theatre writers can develop their craft.
AIRBORNE
Airborne is my new album of original musical theatre songs, featuring ten of my favourite performers. A variety of genres, real live instruments and some good old fashioned rhyming, with a modern satirical bite.
In memory of my late father.
Listen to it on Spotify here.
Released on 22 March 2024
Guitar - Sasha Svy
Guitar (track 5) - Max Alexander-Taylor
Piano (track 10) - Emanuele Filippi
Bass - Ivan Krnic
Drums - Samuel X Woolway
Violins and cello - Matthew Dakoutros
Double bass - Tomas Haydu
Ukulele - Simone S.
Cover art - Mirko Cover Art
Mixing and mastering - Joe Fuzz
SHIFT+ALT+RIGHT
On the night of his mother's funeral, Jay escapes into his online gaming community, only to meet a member of the alt-right looking to recruit him...
The Shift+Alt+Right cast recording is available on all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify here.
Produced by ALP musicals in October 2020
Cast - Max Alexander-Taylor, Joanna Clarke, Ashley Goh, Andrew Langtree
Band - Dan Giles, Nathan Gregory, Hilmi Jaidin, Curtis Volp
Technical Production - Christian Czornyj for theatrical.solutions
Video Design - Matt Powell
Assistant Producer - Tanya Truman
Director/Producer - Adam Lenson
CRUEL, INHUMAN AND DEGRADING
When faced with the prospect of going back home to Southeast Asia and having to live under the threat of the death penalty, Riz's psyche implodes into a nostalgic '90s fantasy in which he and his family members are rock stars on MTV Asia...
The Cruel, Inhuman & Degrading cast recording is available on all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify here.
Produced by ALP musicals in March 2022
Cast - Richard P. Peralta, Carmen Law, Yñaqui Tuason-Inocian, Amanda Maud
Band - Dan Giles, Nathan Gregory, Hilmi Jaidin, Curtis Volp
Sound Production - Christian Czornyj
Video Deisgn - Matt Powell
Direction - Adam Lenson
Assistant Direction - Lexine Lee