Ishtar Bakhtali

Ishtar Bakhtali is a vocalist, composer and performer who enjoys interdisciplinary collaborations. She composes for and performs in various dance and music theatre productions, film, and land art. In many of her projects she explores the relationship between humans and nature and invites us to experience non-human life differently.
Ishtar is part of the community of Buitenplaats Brienenoord where she has entered into various collaborations with artists from different disciplines.
During the recurring project ‘Island Ears’ participants were invited to slow down for a day and zoom in on the island with a sense of sensory awareness, where Ishtar focused on deep listening and collecting natural sounds. A number of other projects were: a sound walk around trees on the Heemraadssingel, collaboration with a jewellery maker/sculpture maker on traditions and rituals around water.

Ishtar graduated cum laude from Codarts Conservatory where she focused on (jazz) composition with elements of Indian classical music in her master's degree. Nature and rituals in nature have occupied her since childhood. This fascination was also reflected in the courses she took: biodynamic beekeeping, permaculture and herbology.