Defne Erdem was born on December 4, 2006 in Istanbul. The pianist, whose interest in music was noticed at an early age, started piano lessons at the age of 6. At the age of 8, she was accepted to the Piano Department at Mimar Sinan University Istanbul State Conservatory. She gave her first concert with the orchestra at the age of 12 with the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Ender Sakpınar. In the same year, she played as a soloist with the Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory Young Orchestra.

She received prizes at International Piano Competitions held in Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Adana, Milan and Munich in 2017. She had the opportunity to work privately with many internationally successful pianists and academics and attended various master classes.

Erdem performed at International Cappadocia Music Festival, Antalya Piano Festival Young Talents Programme, Süleyman Saba Cultural Centre, KMK Art Centre, Caddebostan Cultural Centre, Moda All Saints Church, Üç Horan Church, and Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum, and in Cologne, Düren and Achen in Germany. In the 2022/23 season, Erdem was chosen to give a recital as part of the concerts of the Istanbul Philharmonic Society. Since 2022, she has been studying with Heribert Koch at Münster Music University in Germany. She continues her piano studies with Özgür Tuncer at Mimar Sinan University Istanbul State Conservatory in Istanbul.