Sanam Tahmasebi is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and interdisciplinary artist whose voice moves fluidly between tradition and experimentation. Born in Tehran, she has studied across Iran, Italy, the U.S., and the Netherlands. Her music bridges Persian modes with contemporary and electroacoustic soundscapes, crafting performances that open intimate spaces where memory, resistance, and transformation unfold. At the heart of her work is a desire to give voice to layered identities and invisible histories.
Rooted in movement, sound, and poetry, her art lives in the tension between the ancient and the new—between structure and improvisation. She has performed across Europe, appearing at festivals such as Uitmarkt, Into the Great Wide Open, Le Guess Who, Oerol, and Angelica Festival, steadily building a body of work that challenges form and invites reflection.
collaborations
MAHTAB
THe Lamb the fly the tiger
Sunmass
Parcelpaedia
ey asheghan
Embraces by the sky
SAGHI
motherland
forms in the light
An Expected drinking bout
PRESS
“Her voice, melancholic and powerful, touched something deep inside, a moment that stayed long after the music ended.”
— Theaterkrant
“With nothing but voice and breath, she transported us from a crowded city square into a world of forest, memory, and imagination.”
— 3voor12
“One of the most beautiful voices in the Netherlands today. Sanam Tahmasebi never fails to captivate, whether in poetic ballads or experimental soundscapes.”
— The Next Gig
“A powerful and delicate presence on stage. Her voice bridges Persian tradition and contemporary experimentation with rare emotional depth.”
— Explore the North
upcoming performances
Work-in-Progress Performance - Beyond the Triangle
13–14 June 2025
Oerol Festival, Terschelling
Premiere Performance - Vluchtwerk
22 June 2025
Grand theater, Groningen
Work-in-Progress Performance - Beyond the Triangle
25 July 2025
Vondelpark, Amsterdam