Meet Tamar Kaprelian

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tamar Kaprelian. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tamar , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience is deeply rooted in my Armenian heritage and enriched by the powerful stories of my family and culture. I learned the essence of resilience from my grandfather, Girar, who not only survived genocide but faced the harsh realities of being orphaned at a young age. He bravely navigated two civil wars in Iraq and Lebanon, ultimately building and rebuilding a textile empire twice. The tales of his perseverance instilled in me a profound understanding of overcoming adversity. As I reflect on these stories, I recognize how they shape my approach to my own challenges as a woman in the music industry. The myriad of obstacles I’ve encountered over the last 20 years in this business could have easily stopped my journey in its tracks, but drawing from my family’s legacy and strength inspires me every day to push through the BS and to make sh*& happen.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a multi-platinum award-winning songwriter, singer, and music executive. I founded a female music collective called Nvak (pronounced “nuuh-vaak”), which means “to play music” in Armenian. Nvak Collective is both a record label and management company focused primarily on uplifting female artists from emerging markets. Our roster currently includes Rosa Linn from Armenia, Talia Lahoud from Lebanon, Nada Nader from Egypt, and Valé from Colombia. What excites me most about this work is the opportunity to amplify diverse and under-served voices and to bring unique stories to the forefront of the music industry.

I’m thrilled to announce the expansion of my brand with the launch of Nvak Consultancy, which will allow us to collaborate with artists, songwriters, and producers from the U.S. and Europe, extending our mission beyond emerging markets. This new arm will offer expert A&R, tailored artist development, and day-to-day management support for creatives who want to elevate and take their art to the next level. Additionally, we’re launching our Creative Pathways initiative, a bespoke after-school program designed for high school students aspiring to enter the music industry, providing guidance in applying to contemporary music programs. Together, these initiatives aim to foster talent, create opportunities, and support the next generation of music creators.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Self-love – you need to love yourself. I think we all experience trauma at various stages in our lives and it becomes important to work through those traumas, heal from them, forgive yourself (and others) and use those experiences to fuel your journey.
2. Not taking no for an answer – nothing fuels me more than a closed door. And I find that when people say no, or don’t believe in you or the projects you’re working on, it often signifies that you’re doing something right.
3. Passion – you gotta get up and love what you do every day. Do what you do with joy. And if there is no joy and passion in the work, make a change.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

Mrs. Dalloway by Virigina Woolf. Despite its brevity, it’s a beautifully crafted book written in a stream-of-consciousness style that resonates deeply with me as a songwriter and artist. I tap into that same fluidity of thought when writing my own lyrics. Among the many insights in the book, two stand out: the essential nature of human connection and the idea that there is profound beauty in everyday moments, even those that might seem ordinary at first glance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nvakcollective.xyz
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamarkaprelian/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamar-kaprelian-75138215/