Adrienne Shamszad

Adrienne Shamszad sings revolutionary anthems, prayerful power ballads, blues, lullabies, and love songs written from the depths of her heart. Her strong and soulful voice, expressive guitar work and bold performance style push her into the outer reaches of the singer-songwriter genre, and far beyond.

Her musical artistry is indeed something to behold. She is mystical, yet earthy. At one moment lofty, the next low-down. Adrienne’s poetry is intimate and genuine, inspired by the mystic Poets of Iran as much as the folk poet-songwriters of the 60s and 70s. She can transform a stage into a sacred place with the magic of her voice. Then, she sweeps you away on a musical journey through improvisation, folk melodies, Indian mantra, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and Iranian classics.

Her mixed cultural background, international travels, and deep love of people reside in her music. It can open listeners’ hearts to the unfamiliar and, in doing so, invite more understanding, courage and curiosity into this world. ​Since beginning formal training in Traditional Iranian vocal arts and music in 2016, supported by grants from the Alliance of California Traditional Arts, Adrienne's music has expanded to incorporate the music of her ancestors.