Tigrane Kazazian (in Armenian Տիգրան Կազազյան or Քազազյանը), born at the foot of The Giza Pyramids in 1987 in Egypt, is a French and Armenian composer, oudist and singer who has journeyed through several traditions of the world.
In 2020, Tigrane Kazazian signed a deal with Gum (Green United Music) as the exclusive publishing company for his album Cairo Nights.
At six years old, he would draw his father’s instrument, the oud. Fifteen years later, while listening to Georges Kazazian’s works, he discovered his own musical language and talent as a composer. Tigrane Kazazian expresses himself through the oud.
Later, he started composing and playing the piano. Oud and piano; two instruments that he feels in perfect harmony with, and uses to transmit the pure energies and emotions he creates.
He lived in Egypt, France, and Canada and is currently based in Armenia. Tigrane Kazazian was far from music growing up, as his father never imposed music on him, and focused on tennis since the age of 5, aiming for a career in the sport.
He left Egypt at 17 years old to spend some time in France and returned to Cairo to study at the American University of Cairo. In 2007, Tigrane left for Canada to continue his studies at Concordia University in Montreal. It’s upon return for a short break in Cairo that he borrowed an instrument (oud) from Georges, his father, and began his creative quest, self-teaching himself the oud, the guitar, and the piano.
Self-taught, he continued his musical journey by moving to Yerevan, Armenia in October 2012 to study at the National Conservatory in Yerevan, The Komitas State Conservatory. In 2016, Tigrane and his father, renowned composer-oud player Georges Kazazian joined forces for a series of concerts organized by the Ministry of Culture of Armenia, which gave birth to the Nour Project.
In 2018, Tigrane Kazazian created the Kazazian Trio, with Duduk player Arsen Petrosyan, and renowned percussionist Eduard Harytyunyan (Cirque du Soleil, Time Report). Kazazian’s powerful compositions come to life in a minimalist yet full-of-essence form.
The chemistry and musical understanding shared on stage are deeply rooted, giving birth to a musical experience of another world. The music draws upon an eclectic spectrum of influences and meditative soundscapes made of a subtle blend between improvisations and clear compositions.
Oriental sounds to Western and modern touches, Kazazian’s music transcends cultures and traditions. Composed of piano and oud, sometimes played solo and sometimes combining them for a conversation with the self alongside meditative chants.
In 2022, Tigrane Kazazian formed the Tigrane Kazazian Quartet. The Quartet held its first three concerts within the Francophonie Organization in Armenia. Tigrane Kazazian also collaborated with Swiss composer-musician Albin Brun in a concert celebrating the 30 years of Diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Armenia. In Yerevan, Armenia on April 21, 2022.
