Golnar Shahyar

The iranian-canadian artist Golnar Shahyar (1985, Tehran) moved to Vienna in 2008. As a singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, her talent was quickly recognised. She has worked with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, among others, and was nominated for the German Jazz Award for Best International Debut Album for her debut album "Tear Drop" (2022). Golnar Shahyar grew up in a culture where women fight for their voices and, as an outsider in Western Europe, she represents a culture that is often considered suspiciously, which makes her music-making a political act. Tragic themes such as war and oppression are presented positively despite their burden. Golnar liberates herself and the audience from darkness, encouraging them to turn to the light and right wrongs. Her wide-ranging work with groups such as Choub, Gabbeh and the Golnar & Mahan Trio and as a solo artist under the name GolNar draws from West Asia, North Africa and the contemporary music of Europe and America. In the band Golnar & Mahan Trio, she performs (voice, piano, synthesiser) together with Mahan Mirarab (electric guitar, electric fretless guitar, electronics) and Amir Wahba (drums).