Suzanna Choffel

Suzanna Choffel's sensational sound combines soulful/sassy vocals and insightful songwriting with catchy guitar grooves and funky urban rhythms. Her music shines with supple, clean melodies and accessible lyrics.

A native of Austin TX, Suzanna Choffel grew up singing in bands and school choirs, picked up a guitar at age seventeen, began writing songs and graduated with a BA in Music Technology from College of Santa Fe in New Mexico. Her musical studies combined with her innate sense of rhythmic phrasing, poetic sensibilities, and her naturally smoky voice all work together to create a fresh and unique sound. She uses her guitar as more of a percussion instrument, hitting the strings with her fingertips to create staccato rhythms underneath her jazzy, free-form vocal melodies. Her music has been described as "indie pop with urban beats", and "jazz-infused soul pop" with comparisons ranging from Norah Jones to Feist to Nelly Furtado. Since the 2006 release of her debut album, Shudders & Rings, she has been finding her name atop many a music reporter's list as "one worth watching".
Choffel can be heard with her red hot band at various venues around Austin. The lineup consists of drummer Eldridge Goins (Johnnie Johnson, Carolyn Wonderland, Big Al DuPree, The Heathens), upright bassist John Thomasson (Patrice Pike, Brett Dennen), vibes/accordion/synth player Laura Scarborough (Lila's Medicine, Ohn), and baritone saxophonist Brad Houser (New Bohemians, Boombox, Critters Buggin'). The result is a smokin' hot rhythm section that can riff, improv and meander like a jazz band, yet has the stability of Choffel's strong pop-soul songs to ground them, resulting in a sensational new sound.

OTHER ARTIST WEBSITE:  http://www.myspace.com/suzannachoffel

HOME TOWN: 
Austin, TX

GROUP/BAND MEMBERS: 
Suzanna Choffel-vocals and guitar
Eldridge Goins-drums
Johnny Vogelsang-bass
Brad Houser-baritone sax//bass clarinet
Laura Scarborough-vibraphone//accordion//synth

INFLUENCES: 
Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Bob Marley, Erykah Badu, Fiona Apple, Lauryn Hill, Ani Difranco, Patty Griffin, Sade, Caetano Veloso, Marisa Monte, David Byrne

ON MY PLAYLIST: 
Emily Haines, Feist, Erykah Badu, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Radiohead,
M. Ward, James Hunter, Mos Def, Outkast, Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, Bebel Gilberto