Selda and Derek
Selda and Derek are an NYC-based songwriting duo, consisting of Selda Sahin and Derek Gregor with projects in theatre, film, television, pop and country music.
History
Selda Sahin and Derek Gregor met at New York University. While pursuing songwriting separately, they became roommates. When a mutual friend asked them to write an original wedding song, it unexpectedly became their first collaboration. Since that song in 2010, they've gone on to collaborate on projects in theatre, film, television, pop and country music.As a result of Derek's previous and ongoing collaboration with lyricist Sam Carner, "Selda and Derek" chose to use their first names to label their partnership. Subsequently, they've found that name to exemplify their often intimate, folky style of writing.
Works
- American Reject - Selda and Derek wrote the original songs for the feature film American Reject which follows Kay Montgomery, a top finalist who gets kicked off America's hottest singing competition, and is forced to move back in with her mother as reality cameras follow her every move.
- Grind - Selda and Derek wrote the original songs for the award-winning musical short film Grind about a serial killer on a dating app. Grind gained an underground cult status and won several awards in the film festival circuit. Script by Zachary Halley, produced by Telly Leung.
- Modern - Selda and Derek wrote the book, music and lyrics to Modern, a musical about a group of teenagers on their Rumspringa. Previous development includes ASCAP Stephen Schwartz and Grow-A-Show workshops, the Village Theatre Festival of New Musicals, USC's "Live Read" and Bloomington Playwrights Project.
- Particle - Selda and Derek wrote the music and lyrics, and co-wrote the book with Autumn Reeser, to the musical Particle. It follows a teenage girl gamer who gets unexpectedly recruited onto a professional Esports gaming team. Currently in development, Particle received a reading at Michigan State University through their Imagen program.
- Class Election - Selda and Derek wrote the music and lyrics, and co-wrote the book with Colton Pometta, to the TYA musical Class Election. A take on Cyrano De Bergerac, Class Election follows Cy, an 8th grade girl obsessed with politics, who wants to be student council president. Her fear of public speaking and lack of confidence stand in her way, and when she teams up with Chris, he agrees to run for president using her ideas. Class Election toured the east coast in the summer of 2016 and is currently available for licensing through Stage Rights.
- Off Season - Selda and Derek wrote the book, music and lyrics to the musical Off Season. A year after Colin drowns, his father and his best friend run into each other unexpectedly at Colin's favorite bar. In the process of coming to terms with Colin's death in their own ways, neither is happy the other one is there. Set in a New England summer town during the off season, the show is in development.
- Songs to Say I Do - In 2020, with projects on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Selda and Derek, having previously written several custom wedding songs for friends, formalized that endeavor into a business. They write bespoke wedding and anniversary songs for clients around the world.
Workshops and teaching
Together and separately, Selda Sahin and Derek Gregor have led workshops, master classes and courses at New York University, University of Michigan, Yale, University of Southern California, Princeton, University of California Irvine, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Elon University, San Diego State University, Indiana University, Baylor University, Circle in the Square, among others.Accolades
Selda and Derek have won and been nominated for numerous awards, both separately and as a duo.| Year | Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2004 | American Academy of Arts and Letters | Richard Rodgers Award | Unlock'd — Derek Gregor | Won |
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Special Class Program | Passion — Selda Sahin | Won |
| 2014 | NYC Downtown Shorts Film Festival | Best LGBT Film | Grind | Won |
| 2014 | FilmOut San Diego | Best Overall Short Film | Grind | Won |
| 2014 | FilmOut San Diego | Outstanding Artistic Achievement | Grind | Won |
| 2014 | Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival | Best Short Film | Grind | Won |
| 2014 | SENE Music and Film Festival | Best LGBT Film | Grind | Won |
| 2014 | MAC Awards | John Wallowitch Award | Carner and Gregor | Won |
| 2015 | Great American Song Contest | Best Song | "The Storm" | |
| 2016 | MAC Awards | Special Material | "The Egg Nog Song" — Derek Gregor | Won |
| 2018 | Nashville Songwriters Association International | Member Award | Selda Sahin | Won |
| 2020 | The Adirondack Film Festival | "Best of Fest" Honor | American Reject | Won |
| 2020 | The BendFilm Festival 2020 | Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature | American Reject | Won |
| 2020 | Cyrus International Festival of Toronto 2020 | Best International Feature | American Reject | Won |
| 2020 | Las Vegas International Film & Screenwriting Festival 2020 | Best Musical Feature | American Reject | Won |
| - | Las Vegas International Film & Screenwriting Festival 2020 | - | - | - |
| - | Las Vegas International Film & Screenwriting Festival 2020 | - | - | - |