Thursday, November 20, 2025
Los Angeles, CA – In a defining moment for modern symphonic-cinematic music, GRAMMY®
nominated composer Zain Effendi took home a major win last night at the Hollywood Music in
Media Awards, for his groundbreaking work on Disney’s fully reimagined EPCOT attraction,
Test Track. The celebrated album, titled “EPCOT: Test Track,” has already been recognized by
the Recording Academy® and is rapidly gaining momentum as a leading contender for the
upcoming GRAMMY Awards.
Effendi’s HMMA victory underscores an extraordinary creative year – one that has seen his Test
Track score heralded as a transformational leap in themed entertainment music. His work, which
fuses sweeping orchestral landscapes with cutting-edge electronic sound design, has been praised
as a revolutionary new voice in immersive storytelling. The composition’s impact has resonated
deeply with music critics, fans, and industry peers alike, further strengthening his position as a
frontrunner for Best Instrumental Composition at the GRAMMYs®.
Inspired by Disney’s vision for the next era of EPCOT, Effendi composed a symphonic-
electronic epic that mirrors the anticipation, velocity, and emotional wonder of the Test Track experience. As highlighted in earlier editorial features, the score blends cinematic depth,
futuristic textures, and Disney’s timeless sense of wonder, creating an emotional arc that
elevates the attraction into a transformative narrative journey.
Effendi’s career path reflects a rare combination of technical command and emotional
storytelling. Trained at The Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music, he launched
his professional journey with the legendary Hans Zimmer, contributing to some of Hollywood’s
most influential scores – The Dark Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Madagascar, and Kung
Fu Panda among them. Those early years at Remote Control Productions forged the creative
discipline and visionary style that now define his work.
Beyond Test Track, Effendi’s portfolio spans Disney, Sony, Warner Bros., Bad Robot, and
more, earning him multiple World Entertainment Awards, two Telly Awards, and previous
HMMA wins for Best Live Concert and Best New Composer. His music has defined landmark
experiences such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Shanghai Disneyland’s Adventure in
Rhythm, and the Disney Starcruiser. His compositions have topped the charts on both iTunes, Amazon, and is featured on the Official Walt Disney World Playlist, establishing his reputation
as “one of the most visionary composers of his generation.”
With the HMMA win, Effendi’s Test Track score officially enters the heart of award season with
mounting industry excitement. “Opening” continues to be celebrated not only as a composition
but as an emotional blueprint for the future of Disney storytelling – a piece that dissolves the
boundaries between theme park scoring, filmic language, and pure symphonic expression.
As Effendi now heads toward the GRAMMYs® with significant momentum, his artistic
trajectory has become impossible to ignore. The HMMA victory cements what many in the
industry have already recognized: Zain Effendi is shaping the next era of cinematic music.
For press inquiries and official materials, please contact David Margolis at
dm@myworldmgmt.com or visit Effendi’s official channels on Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple
Music,IMDb, andInstagram.
