Check Out Ganna Sorbat David Majzlin’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ganna Sorbat David Majzlin.

Ganna Sorbat, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Like many Ukrainians living abroad due to war, I feel like I live in two realities at once. The first is in Los Angeles – a legendary, diverse city filled with dreamers and creators. My life here is made up of nonstop performing, composing, recording, and of course…traffic.

The other reality is internal and never fully quiet – messages from home, memories, grief, and the emotional weight of watching your country go through conflict – the distance doesn’t make it feel any less powerful – the war simply moves inside you. I was born in Kharkiv, a city on the border with Russia, where I was classically trained in piano and composition from the age of seven through University. An opportunity to work as a performer full-time took me to Abu Dhabi for many wonderful years before I made the journey to Los Angeles. But when my niece was born as bombs were exploding back home, I had to do everything I could to get my parents and family out. I am eternally grateful that they are currently safe here in Los Angeles.

There were moments where I felt suspended between worlds — not fully belonging anywhere, rebuilding life from zero while carrying the emotional weight of home. At times, I felt guilty about creating while others are putting their lives on the line. Over time I’ve come to realize that everyone has a personal calling – a challenge they were born to meet. When we are brave enough to answer that personal calling, incredible and surprising things can happen.

My life changed in dramatic fashion when I met my husband, composer and music producer, David Majzlin – at, of all events, a private screening of the film Maestro. So, we have to give a shout-out to the Society of Composers and Lyricists and Netflix for [technically] introducing us!

Working with David helped me navigate these emotionally complex feelings through music. The act of creating no longer felt like a career ambition but a reason to keep moving forward, stay positive, and connect with others. When everything around you feels fragile, music acts like a spiritual bond that holds everything together with a much larger perspective.

Music was always part of my identity, but over time, my relationship with it changed. It became less about perfection and more about emotional truth.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think artists are entrepreneurs by nature. Our art is our business and unlike many traditional jobs, our personal lives are very much intertwined with our ability to produce economically. One challenge has been learning how to stay emotionally open without becoming overwhelmed by the world around you. There were years where survival came before creativity — financially, emotionally and psychologically. It’s also easy to see a world with so many problems and think – “Who am I to create while so much is going on?”

In addition, rebuilding life in a new country while trying to preserve your sense of self can feel incredibly lonely. There were moments when I questioned whether I could continue pursuing music at all. I continued writing, performing, and rehearsing, taking meetings, etc. while at the same time carrying the emotions of fear, grief, helplessness, and guilt all at once. For a long time, I struggled with how to respond artistically to that experience because I never wanted to turn pain into spectacle.

While working with composer Katya Richardson on the film Match In A Haystack, a story about an incredibly talented group of Ukrainian dancers who are driven to create regardless of the war around them, I started to understand how tremendously important the arts truly are as means of survival, strength, and identity. What started as negative, fearful energy led to a burst of creative inspiration.

Creating from this place of vulnerability is extremely powerful. It strengthens and inspires. Working with David became a huge part of surviving emotionally through that process. Music gave us a sense of purpose and connection — a feeling that even from far away, we could still tell stories and create something meaningful that is connective and universal.

In this way, I think art and artists rise to the challenges of war by declaring resilience without apology. It feels essential to a sense of well-being amidst the chaos. It reminds us that there are still human beings who care deeply about others and the world.

On the other side of this coin is rejection. The decades-old dream of moving to LA and “making it” is still very much alive today. At the same time, living in a city as creatively vibrant as Los Angeles comes with a healthy dose of rejection. Learning that rejection is part of the process has been incredibly empowering and taught us that staying the course and keeping true to oneself is essential to moving forward in a creative field – you never know when opportunity will appear around the corner.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are sonic storytellers. Our work often exists between the cinematic and popular and each project has its own unique palette, especially when we are writing for Film or TV, where we are helping others achieve their vision.

David and I compose and produce music for film, television, choreographers, artists, and more. Whether writing to picture or collaborating with other artists, our work always begins from the same mantra: create something honest, original, and emotionally transporting.

A large part of my vocal style comes from a traditional Slavic “open throat” type of singing that incorporates folk, layered harmonies, and sometimes invokes a “wailing woman” kind of sound often heard in epic film scores. I’m deeply drawn to sounds that feel ancient and spiritual while at the same time decidedly modern. Over the years, artists like Lisa Gerrard, Dead Can Dance, DakhaBrakha, Björk, and Aurora are just a few of the creators who have deeply influenced my understanding of what the human voice can carry emotionally and spiritually.

David’s experience in scoring brings out a cinematic structure and emotional pacing in our productions, and together we aim to write pieces that take us on a journey that allows audiences to escape, even if momentarily, the everyday challenges life brings.

Some of our favorite projects include Bells and Shadows (Дзвони та Тіні) – a work sung in Ukrainian that won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for World Music as well as a Lennon Award, Ashes and the Name (Прах і Ім’я) – another Ukrainian piece that is deeply ritualistic and ethereal and was nominated for a Hollywood Independent Music Award, and our version of Joan Jett’s classic, Bad Reputation (Плохая Репутация), which we were asked to create in Russian for Amazon’s record-breaking series The Boys. I can’t believe over 55 million people have heard it in just the last month! What an incredible journey this has been. Los Angeles is still a place where dreams can come true when you least expect them.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We’re always open to musical collaborations – from filmmakers to music supervisors and producers of all backgrounds. We’re actually looking right now for LA-based rappers and hip-hop artists for a unique opportunity. Can’t say more right now!

Our studio is in Culver City and we love helping artists manifest their vision – from providing temp music ideas for picture and music editors to original score with directors and producers. We also work with artists seeking co-writers, production, mixing, and mastering, and love helping charities and non-profits raise money for people in need – especially those uprooted by war.

And of course, the greatest form of support is to listen!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.GannaSorbat.com and www.DavidMajzlin.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/gannasorbat and https://instagram.com/davidmajzlin
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/3mdQmncEnXI and https://youtu.be/DZpUaKRe2Z4