Tamar Kaprelian
Kaprelian in 2015
Born
Tamar Mardirossian

(1986-10-28) October 28, 1986
Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
NationalityArmenian-American
EducationColumbia University
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • philanthropist
Spouse
Chris Stang
​
(m. 2016)​
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active2008–present
Labels
Websitewww.tamarkaprelian.com

Tamar Mardirossian (Armenian: Թամար Մարտիրոսեան; born October 28, 1986), known professionally as Tamar Kaprelian, is an Armenian-American singer, songwriter, and philanthropist. Kaprelian began her career in 2008, after winning a cover contest organized by OneRepublic, performing "Apologize". Following her win, Ryan Tedder introduced her to Interscope Records executives, and she was signed to the label. She went on to release her debut studio album Sinner or a Saint in 2010 through Interscope.

In 2015, Kaprelian was recruited by Public Television of Armenia (ARMTV) to represent Armenia in Eurovision Song Contest 2015 as part of the group Genealogy with the song "Face the Shadow", placing sixteenth. She later attempted to represent Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 as a solo artist, competing in the Armenian national selection Depi Evratesil 2018 with the song "Poison (Ari Ari)", but was eliminated in the semi-final.

Outside of music, Kaprelian has also founded the Nvak Foundation, an organization dedicated to the development of young Armenian singers, songwriters, and musicians.

Early life

Kaprelian was born as Tamar Mardirossian in Scottsdale, Arizona to Avedis and Silva Mardirossian (née Kaprelian). Her parents are both of Armenian descent, and immigrated to the United States from the United Kingdom. Her great-grandparents were from Western Armenia. She later grew up in the states of Georgia and California, and was raised within the Armenian Apostolic Church.[1][2]

Career

2008–2014: Career beginnings and Sinner or a Saint

Kaprelian first began her career in 2008, after winning the "Apologize" cover contest organized by OneRepublic. Following her win, she was signed to Interscope Records through the assistance of Ryan Tedder. In 2009, she released her debut single "New Day", which peaked at number-37 on the Adult Top 40.[3] Her debut studio album, Sinner or a Saint, was released the following year through Interscope, and was produced by Wax Ltd.[4] She released her debut extended play California in June 2012.

2015–present: Eurovision attempts and career in Armenia

In 2015, Kaprelian was selected by the Armenian broadcaster Public Television of Armenia (ARMTV) to become the American representative in the Armenian supergroup Genealogy, along with French-Armenian singer Essaï Altounian, Ethiopian-Armenian singer Vahe Tilbian, Japanese-Armenian singer Stephanie Topalian, Australian-Armenian singer Mary-Jean O'Doherty Basmadjian, and Armenian singer Inga Arshakyan.[5] The group performed their song "Face the Shadow" during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna, and qualified to the final.[6] They later went on to place sixteenth in the final, and disbanded shortly after the contest.[7] After the contest, Kaprelian released the single "The Otherside", which featured guest vocals from Elhaida Dani, Elina Born, Maria-Elena Kyriakou, and Topalian, all of whom also competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.[8][9]

Kaprelian performing with Genealogy in Vienna.

In February 2017, Kaprelian released a cover of the Armenian folk song "Sareri hovin mernem" with Armenian social entrepreneur and occasional singer Larisa Hovannisian. The song was produced by DerHova and Ben Moody.[10] She later released a cover of another Armenian folk song, "Noubari boye", in October 2017.[11]

In 2018, Kaprelian announced her participation in Depi Evratesil 2018, the Armenian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "Poison (Ari Ari)". The song is written by Kaprelian, DerHova, Sebu Simonian, and students from her organization the Nvak Foundation.[12] The artistic stage presentation will be organized by Arthur Gurunlian.[13] The song was released on January 15, 2018.[14] She competed in the first semi-final on February 19, 2018, but did not advance to the final.[15]

She co-wrote Rosa Linn's song "Snap" which represented Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, where it finished in 20th place. "Snap" went viral on TikTok after the contest and entered numerous countries' national charts.[16]

Philanthropy

In 2016, Kaprelian launched the Nvak Foundation, an organization based in Yerevan that is dedicated to fostering musical talent in young Armenian singers, songwriters, and musicians.[17] The organization planned on expanding to Jerusalem in September 2018.[18]

Personal life

Kaprelian became a citizen of Armenia on 28 April 2015 after being given an Armenian passport by President Serzh Sargsyan.[19] In May 2016, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University with a degree in English literature.[20][21] Kaprelian married American entrepreneur Chris Stang in Normandy in October 2016.[22]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details
Sinner or a Saint
  • Released: August 24, 2010
  • Label: Interscope Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

EPs

Title Album details
California
  • Released: July 19, 2012
  • Label: Killer Tracks
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Yours to Keep
  • Released: May 19, 2015
  • Label: Killer Tracks
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US Adult Top 40
[23]
"New Day" 2009 37 Sinner or a Saint
"The Otherside"
(featuring Elhaida Dani, Elina Born, Maria-Elena Kyriakou & Stephanie Topalian)		 2015 — Non-album singles
"Sareri hovin mernem"
(with Larisa Hovannisian)		 2017 —
"Noubari boye" —
"Poison (Ari Ari)" 2018 —
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category City Result
2016 Pan-Armenian Entertainment Awards Best female singer of Armenian diaspora LA Won

References

  1. ↑ "About". Tamar Kaprelian – Official Site. Interscope Records. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
  2. ↑ "I want people to know that I am Armenian – interview with Tamar Kaprelian". style.news.am. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  3. ↑ "New Day - Tamar Kaprelian". Billboard.
  4. ↑ "Sinner or a Saint". iTunes. January 2010.
  5. ↑ Marco Brey. "Armenia: Second artist of Genealogy known!". eurovision.tv. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest 2015 First semi-final". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Grand final". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "The Otherside (feat. Elhaida Dani, Elina Born, Maria-Elena Kyriakou & Stephanie Topalian) - Single by Tamar Kaprelian on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. June 23, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  10. ↑ Wilson, Katie (March 7, 2017). "LISTEN: GENEALOGY'S TAMAR KAPRELIAN RELEASES HAUNTING INTERPRETATION OF CLASSIC ARMENIAN FOLK SONG "SARERI HOVIN MERNEM"". Wiwibloggs.
  11. ↑ Adams, William Lee (October 13, 2017). "LOVER IN THE DESERT! ARMENIA'S TAMAR KAPRELIAN TO PORTRAY GYPSY-ESQUE WANDERER IN "NOUBARI BOYE" MUSIC VIDEO". Wiwibloggs.
  12. ↑ Adams, William Lee (December 10, 2017). "POISONED! TAMAR KAPRELIAN SHARES DETAILS OF DEPI EVRATESIL 2018 SONG 'TOUYN ARI'". Wiwibloggs.
  13. ↑ Bravo.am: «Եվրատեսիլյան նոր երգի կրկներգը բազմիցս փոխել ենք, խենթություն է». Թամար Կապրելյան (in Armenian)
  14. ↑ McCraig, Ewan (January 15, 2018). "Armenia: First Five Songs From Depi Evratesil 2018 Released". Eurovoix.
  15. ↑ Herbert, Emily (February 19, 2018). "Armenia: Five Acts Qualify to The Final of Depi Evratesil 2018". Eurovoix.
  16. ↑ "Rosa Linn's Snap: Armenia's viral TikTok Eurovision entry charts". BBC News. July 29, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  17. ↑ Adams, William Lee (July 12, 2016). "Q&A: TAMAR KAPRELIAN ON NVAK, HER SUMMER PROGRAM FOR GIFTED TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN ARMENIA". Wiwibloggs.
  18. ↑ "Nvak Mission". Nvak Foundation. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  19. ↑ Jiandani, Sanjay (April 28, 2015). "Eurovision Armenia: Genealogy meet the president of Armenia". Esctoday. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  20. ↑ Tamar Kaprelian [@TamarKaprelian] (May 13, 2016). "🎓. @Columbia" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ↑ "Tamar Kaprelian on Twitter: "Damn girl. You 👹 WidowOfDestiny. Graduated @PhiBetaKappa from @Columbia w/ a degree in English/Lit. Pretty sure I ain't dumb (or ignorant)."". Twitter.com. February 23, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  22. ↑ Macon, Alexandra (February 24, 2017). "An Intimate Armenian Wedding in Normandy". Vogue.
  23. ↑ "Killer Tracks Artist Series To Release Sequence of Original EPs". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
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