Suzanna Choffel is many things: a rising star, an undeniable musical force and a unique voice (a “honeyed husk,” as it’s been posited) who feels equally at home singing in a dimly-lit, smoky club as she does front and center in front of millions.
Easy to love, difficult to define: credit Choffel’s restless creative spirit. And also credit the Austin TX native’s musical upbringing. The singer’s given name was inspired by her mother’s love of Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne.” At an early age, the budding star had already taken up piano, saxophone and guitar; she even composed her own songs on a keyboard and recorded them into a karaoke machine.
There were the times she’d simply sit with her mom and listen to records. “Motown: that music affected me early on,” she remembers. “I loved Stevie Wonder. But I was also listening to people like John Denver, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell.” As a teenager, you could usually find Choffel performing in clubs around town, belting out Bonnie Raitt and Bessie Smith blues jams at venues like Babe's on Sixth Street.
Her distinct voice and reggae-inspired guitar playing present a signature sound that mixes elements of her musical passions, including R&B, soul, pop, and jazz. Her debut album, Shudders & Rings, won multiple songwriting awards and her dynamic live show earned her “Best Indie Band” at the 2009 Austin Music Awards. No matter the venue, hers is always an intimate affair.
In 2012 Choffel got called to appear on NBC’s The Voice, captivating fans with her renditions of Fleetwood Mac and Bob Marley, after which Rolling Stone called her “a woman who knows her own voice,” placing her in a sphere with Stevie Nicks and Emmylou Harris.
Choffel released her second album, Archer, internationally and toured throughout France to her growing fan base. The album closes with “Golden Fires”--a plaintive, slow-burning ode that strikes a universal chord, inspired by her moving to New York City. “I got this real creative energy moving here,” she says, acknowledging her unpredictable path and ever-evolving story. “I certainly don’t want to stay in one place,” adding, “I find it more interesting to always step into other shoes.”
PRESS
"Equal parts Beat poetry, smoky soul grooves and indie-pop eccentricity. Think Feist meets Erykah Badu, with a hint of Tex-Mex seasoning." - Chicago Sun-Times
“A first-class singer, Choffel has the kind of voice that commands attention... And that smoky, soulful voice, mixed with indie-pop and jazz sensibilities, provides a beautiful vehicle for her words.” - San Antonio Express-News
“Refreshingly unique.” - Adam Levine
"Suzanna has learned from some of the greats about phrasing, playing around with delivery and beat, singing the emotions and the words rather than merely the melody. She slots nicely alongside Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux and Fiona Apple." - Steve Hochman, LA Times
