Anya Lagman on forging her path as a composer and the art of self-care

The acclaimed composer grew up in a family of musicians, making learning instruments feel as natural to her as picking up an old hobby. She started with the piano at the age of four, then took up the drums and flute before her teenage years, and the bassoon at around the age of 13 or 14, before finally settling on composing.

“It was like another language for us to communicate in,” Lagman recalls. Her definitive push toward composing arrived while watching Hans Zimmer perform the Inception score live. “It was just the main theme from Inception that I was sobbing to, and I was crying so much from the emotions because there’s just a different effect when you see the musicians playing the music themselves and bringing it to life,” she notes. 

Her time at the University of Southern California was pivotal, allowing her to define her own voice without being forced into a particular style. “It’s definitely a balance of knowing the rules and how to bend them to your will,” Lagman notes. This freedom allows for a deeply personal, evolving process that often catches her off guard. “I find myself a lot of times surprised at the end when I playback the composition I just made,” she shares. “Each piece in some way is autobiographical because you can remember distinct memories that come to mind. I think surprise is an important element to growing as a composer.”

To capture her ideas, Lagman relies on three trusted essentials: a portable MIDI keyboard that travels with her like a passport, allowing her to compose on the go; her first baton from her orchestration class; and a sketchbook of staff paper accompanied by her Blackwing Palomino pencil.

As a Filipina composer, Lagman draws profound inspiration from her heritage. The isolation of the pandemic prompted her to reconnect with her cultural roots. This exploration pushed her to re-evaluate the very foundation of her music. She cites it as her boldest artistic move, learning from modern composers to think beyond the bounds of standard music theory. It challenged her to approach her craft with a completely fresh perspective: “Really having a blank slate, no staves, no instrument, really just thinking about what sound you are trying to make.”

“It’s really amazing how they [Indigenous communities] were able to come up with these instruments and create music without even having any of the Western rules. It’s just their way of life,” Lagman says, expressing her dream of personally visiting the different regions of the Philippines to learn more about the traditional Filipino instruments in a more immersive way.

The vulnerability in crafting stories through classical music directly impacts how she navigates commercial work. “The freedom my classical compositions gave me led me to think differently about how I approach a film score,” she explains. By leaning into this foundation, she allows her process to evolve naturally. “It becomes more intuitive, not thinking so theoretically, but having a more open mind, thinking outside the box.”

When facing monumental platforms or high-pressure situations, Lagman leans into the challenge. “I thrive under pressure because it lets me put my best effort into everything that I do, and that’s how I grow as a composer,” she says. Despite occasional pre-show nerves, she relies heavily on meticulous preparation. “But knowing that you did the best you could before the rehearsal as the composer and as a musician, all you can do is let God take over and trust.”

To manage the emotional toll of her craft, Lagman emphasises the importance of resetting herself. “Especially when you’re composing, you need to refresh. Like how coffee beans help reset your nose when you’re smelling different scents, silence is equally important in clearing your head,” she explains.

This philosophy of balance extends deeply into her personal wellness and creative boundaries. “As someone who is constantly surrounded by music, I do appreciate the moments where I can rest my ears and hear myself think,” she notes. Lagman rejects the idea of forcing inspiration. “Taking a break and not working on music is important,” she explains. “I always consciously think about how my music shouldn’t feel forced or too calculated—I want to say what I want to say in an authentic way and give it the time it needs to be fully said.” She advocates for a well-rounded lifestyle to protect her peace, noting that “inspiration can come from places you don’t expect.”

Her partnership with Avignon Clinic has been integral to this mindset. During her launch as an ambassador in October 2025, she was deeply moved to find the clinic playing a curated playlist of her own compositions. “It is such an organic partnership where they really help me bring balance to my life,” she notes. “Avignon helps me learn to prioritise myself and practice self-care, and also to invest in myself.”

Taking the stage requires immense confidence, and routines like the Avignon Next Glow treatment, a regenerative aesthetics treatment that combines Galderma’s premier non-surgical injectables—Sculptra and Restylane Skinboosters—provide Lagman with a steady foundation.

Sculptra is a collagen-stimulating biostimulator made from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). Instead of just physically filling space like a traditional dermal filler, it works deep beneath the surface, prompting your body to naturally increase its own collagen and elastin production. Meanwhile, Restylane Skinboosters are micro-injections of stabilised, naturally occurring hyaluronic acid (HA) placed just under the skin. Because HA is a total moisture magnet, it essentially acts as an internal moisturiser, locking in deep, long-lasting hydration from the inside out.

“It helps promote hydration and skin improvement over time. So I don’t need to hide behind anything. I can really be comfortable in my own skin when I’m on stage,” she says.

The impact of this mindful approach extends far beyond the concert hall and into her everyday life. For Lagman, true self-care is about rejecting quick fixes in favour of intentional, thoughtful choices that protect her well-being over time. Establishing a dependable daily routine is crucial, but elevating it with targeted treatments provides a lasting advantage. “Of course, having a daily routine that you can commit to is important, but adding, for example, the Avignon Next Glow, it really helps your skin be healthy and hydrated, and you don’t need to put too much on,” she explains. 

This internal and external alignment translates directly to her performance, stripping away unnecessary anxieties when all eyes are on her. With a natural, gradual radiance coming from within, she can step onto the stage unburdened. It allows her to fully inhabit her role as a performer without distraction, focusing entirely on the emotional weight of her compositions and her connection with the orchestra. Ultimately, the regimen empowers her to bare her authentic self to the audience. “You can really let yourself be proud and confident in your own skin,” Lagman adds. 

Read more: Discover how Anya Lagman learned to love and tread life like an orchestra

While scoring for film requires serving a visual narrative, classical composition offers a different kind of freedom—and a deeper level of emotional exposure. “When it comes to classical pieces, that’s when I’m most vulnerable,” Lagman confesses. Without a visual guide, the composer creates her own world, a process so revealing that she admits she would sometimes freeze before performance. 

Navigating these different musical demands requires a flexible, intuitive approach. Lagman believes in absorbing real-life experiences and relying heavily on her instincts. “In the conservatory you learn the rules, and when you’re a composer you break the rules,” she explains. Rather than setting strict parameters, she allows her pieces to breathe and transform organically. When wondering how long a composition should be, she leans on a memorable piece of advice from a former professor: “It should be however long it takes for the story to be fully told.”

Read more: A symphony of beginnings at the Goldenberg Mansion with Anya Lagman

By the time she steps onto the stage, all the meticulous preparation is already complete. “When you know that you’ve done your best in terms of saying what you can, then you just let faith and God really take over before you go on stage,” Lagman reflects. 

For her, a live performance doesn’t need to be flawless to be profoundly moving. Every performance is different, and she finds immense beauty in those slight imperfections—a testament to her belief that human beings are ultimately irreplaceable as musicians.

Through her dedication to both her art and her well-being, Anya Lagman stands as a compelling model for modern creatives. Her ultimate advice to young artists is to embrace transformation and persist in their craft. 

“Just keep creating music–that’s the only way you’ll learn and figure out your taste,” Lagman advises. “[And don't just] keep it to yourself; sharing it with other people is so important because the power of music is therapeutic.”

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