German-Afghan singer and composer Simin Tander is internationally acclaimed for her emotionally evocative voice and genre defying music. She received the “Annual German Record Critics’ Award” in 2016 for her ECM album with pianist Tord Gustavsen and was nominated for the German Jazz Prize 2024 in the “Vocal” category.

With four solo albums to her name, she also regularly appears in transcultural projects with artists such as Jan Bang, Nils Petter Molvær, Eric Vloeimans, Michel Godard and many more. By singing in the Afghan language Pashto she draws a fascinating route to her Mid Eastern heritage. Her distinctive vocal improvisations—marked by a deep sense of freedom— have shaped performances on leading international jazz stages for over two decades, alongside collaborations with the UNESCO and UN Women. She teaches jazz vocals and improvisation at the Music Academy of Music and Dance Cologne, Germany.