Singer and Composer
BIOGRAPHY
Tenzin Airbow (born Tenzin Ngingthatshang) is a Zurich-born vocalist, composer, and researcher who bridges the worlds of academic jazz traditions and contemporary urban grooves.
Growing up in a household centered around traditional Tibetan folk music, Tenzin was simultaneously captivated by the pop, soul, and R&B icons of the era. Her early musical language was shaped by Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. Even then, she spent every free minute in CD shops and libraries, diving deep into musical worlds and stories - fittingly spending her very first pocket money on a Stevie Wonder album. It was during these formative years that her passion for music truly came alive. Her world was shaped by a deep love for the legendary sounds of Motown and above all, the incredible catalog coming from Babyface’s pen. She grew up constantly singing along to Mariah Carey - alongside Disney classics, a teenage boyband infatuation with 3T and duets with her sister. She began classical guitar at age nine before dedicating herself entirely to voice, composition and performance.
Tenzin’s harmonic framework is heavily informed by jazz. Her foundational influences include the swing precision of Ella Fitzgerald, the melancholy of Chet Baker, and the balladry of Shirley Horn, which she expands through the modern lenses of Jacob Collier, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Norma Winstone, and Gretchen Parlato. Her sound also references the spacious aesthetic of the ECM label, the lyrical melodies of Kenny Wheeler and the impressionistic colors of Claude Debussy.
The definitive pulse of her work, however, comes from a highly danceable R&B and Hip-Hop crossover DNA. This ranges from classic acid jazz (Brand New Heavies) and the definitive mid-tempo weight of Mary J. Blige’s My Life to progressive contemporary artists like SZA, YEBBA, Leon Thomas, Anderson Paak, Mk.gee, Dijon, and Justin Bieber’s Swag II. She occasionally balances these smooth urban grooves with the raw, cinematic textures of alternative rock and grunge, citing Queens of the Stone Age, Incubus, The Smashing Pumpkins and Silverchair.
Tenzin has performed at renowned venues such as the Montreux Jazz Festival and Cully Jazz, collaborating with François Lana, Louis Billette, Yves Marcotte, Nathan Vandenbulcke, Martin Perret, Fabian Iannonne, Thomas Florin, Valentin Conus and Charly Vilmart.
On an international scale, her improvised vocal melodies served as the foundation for the track "Firm Friends" on Drake’s album Iceman - a piece further developed alongside acclaimed Swiss producer Al Hug and US hit-producer Conductor Williams. Tenzin feels incredibly happy and deeply thankful to have been part of such a milestone project.
Tenzin earned her Bachelor and Master of Arts in Jazz Performance from HEMu Lausanne and the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels, followed by a Master of Arts in Vocal Jazz Music Pedagogy from the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). She also spent two formative years refining her skills under the guidance of acclaimed Australian jazz vocalist Kristin Berardi at HSLU Lucerne.
Currently, Tenzin teaches Vocal Jazz and Pop at the Musik Konservatorium Zürich. Moving forward from her debut album Reflecting Signs (released on her label, SPHÈRE), she returns soon to the studio.
The next chapter is being written right now. Drop your email below to get exclusive updates straight from the upcoming studio sessions, sneak peeks at new tracks and early access to future tour dates.
«Reflecting Signs»
Tenzin Airbow vocals, comp
François Lana piano
Louis Billette saxophone
Yves Marcotte double bass
Nathan Vandenbulcke drums
