Nadia Tehran

Nadia Tehran grew up an atheist in a Muslim household, in the small Christian town of Jönköping, Sweden. Her parents immigrated from Iran following the 1970 Revolution, and her father served on the frontline of the Iran-Iraq War. Tehran’s art reflects on her family history and the lasting effects of war; her father’s voice opens her full length, Dozakh, as he re-tells a terrifying battle he and his troops endured. Propelled by these stories, Tehran’s desire for radical expression and activism began as early as 12-years-old, when she was singing in the only punk band in her small town, and continues to permeate through her work today.
As both an artist and a citizen of the world, Tehran’s existence is a multifaceted one. She embodies countless roles as a creator, including singer, songwriter, performer, rapper, film producer, video director, painter and art director. Tehran expresses not only through her music, but through every fibre of her being. Her creative prowess is evident in the details of her largely self-produced videos and artwork—the ornate set design, her hand-woven hair, make-up virtuosity and deconstructed handmade wardrobe, which ranges from vintage punk to haute glam to reinterpreted traditional Persian textiles. For Tehran, documentary and editorial are the same thing—all of it is the real her.
Since its release, her debut full length, Dozakh, has garnered international acclaim, receiving a nomination for the 2020 Nordic Music Prize and critical praise from NPR, Vogue, The Face, Complex and Document Journal, among others. Tehran was also the recipient of Composer of the Year at the Swedish Manifest Awards.