Nadia Tehran

Portraying a Feeling

Like her music, Nadia Tehran is fearless and rebellious. Her music gives us her perspective of the state of the world as it is today, as a young woman within the amenities of Sweden, Jönkoping to be specific, with Persian parents. There are no hidden or sly emotions. A juxtaposition of art and life bring Nadia Tehran into her true musical form. Copenhagen based Tehran is definitely an up-and-comer, not fully recognised yet, but is surely a force to be reckoned with. For her, music has always been a part of her which and can’t really remember the exact moment when she knew it was her path in life. In a world of chaos, this medium was the only thing that was ever fully clear to her. Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we aren’t sure which venues any artist will be playing until this settles, but you can find her on Spotify. Her tracks are addictive and you won’t be able to get them out of your head. Have a solo dance party in your living room.

When did you realise that music was for you and how did it happen?

My first love for music came from performing. I loved to dress up and make shows in the living room for all our family friends and relatives. The power of attention and control was thrilling to me, as well as the playfulness of creating my own worlds for others. Maybe it was a way to make them understand me. The music was sort of secondary, I listened to everything that made me feel something. I guess nothing has really changed. Your music is a mix of avant-garde melancholic pop, and punk and some rap here and there. But how would you define your music? And is it important to “belong” so to say in a genre? I don’t define my music, and it seems meaningless to me. I know what I like. I know what I want to say. It’s just an expression of who I am, and that changes every day. One day I want to sing it, another I want to scream it or paint it. Up until now, those genres you mentioned are accurate, but tomorrow that might also change. At the moment I’m really into techno like a whole new world has opened up to me. It’s very exciting.

Listening to your lyrics and following you on Instagram there is a strong political presence in your life, please tell me how that is?

I care about the world and the people around me. Politics is life, it’s the system we all live in, whether we want or not. It’s a natural driving force in me to change things that are unjust. Being a brown woman you get very aware of the racist and sexist structures in society. That automatically means you have to fight for your equality. To change a discriminating system is not a choice for someone like me, it’s surviving.

What does the name of your album Dozakh – All Lovers Hell mean? And what was the inspiration when producing/writing the album?

The meaning of the word “dozakh” is a place of torment one believes they are in when separated from their lover. I’ve been exploring concepts of separation, escape and belonging on this record, gathering and refining the music I’ve made through the years as a documentation of my life.

The cover is very traditionally Persian inspired. What’s the story on the cover?

The cover is inspired by the Qajar era (1781–1925) in Iran. This was a time of recovering from war and finding peace after the 18th-century turmoil. The artistic expression boomed, and there was a great deal of European influence on Persian culture. I think this time in Iranian history is inspiring and interesting and somehow quite neglected.

At the beginning of the song Dozakh, there is a man telling a story. For the non-swedish listeners would you please tell them who the person is and what he is saying? And If it has a significance for the album, it being the first thing we are introduced to.

The song opens with my father’s voice telling me a story about the day everything changed. He was a soldier at the front line of the Iran – Iraq war. On his last day, there was an attack when he got a final order to get the car with all the ammunition to the front line. But none of his men would do it. The song opens with him trying to persuade them, telling them: “Death comes when death comes. If I’m going to die, I could die at home. If I’m going to live, I’m going to live through this!”. But none of the men found the courage to get in the car, so he ends up driving it himself. And then it explodes. I keep coming back to this explosion as the moment that ultimately made me end up here.

The cover from your first album? It’s very mysterious...

I risked my life taking that picture in Mashhad, Iran in 2013. My father took the photo.

And what does the name mean? ‘Life is cheap death is free’

There is a clue in my song “Cash flow”…

What is music as an art form to you?

Music is art, there’s no separation between the two. There are millions of ways to tell a story and for me, the best part is when they all meet. I like to create worlds, with many different elements that together portray a feeling.

Why Copenhagen over Stockholm? What do you find is the difference?

I’ve been coming to Copenhagen quite a lot over the years visiting my friends. I have found a really loving and inspiring community here, that has given me new energy in life. After 10 years in Stockholm releasing ‘Dozakh’, I could finally let go of my past and try to create a new chapter for myself. Stockholm never really loved me while I was there, I felt so out of place and lonely there. As a creative, I really struggled to find collaborators who got me for real and were open to giving me a chance. Here I’ve found a place where I feel like I can belong. My friends really inspire me to believe in myself, to be generous and caring for others, and to fuck the system until it breaks.

It’s probably why you are recognised more abroad than in Sweden, why do you? Describe your success..

I think my music is universal, it’s supposed to reach beyond borders. Even if I’m born in Sweden, my roots are spread far from there. My story relates to people all over the world, we share the same feelings about the world. To be able to travel around the world and meet my people is the core meaning of why I do what I do.