Suzanna Choffel is emerging as one of Austin's hottest young songwriters and performers. 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". A native...
Suzanna Choffel is emerging as one of Austin's hottest young songwriters and performers. 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". A native Austinite, Choffel grew up singing in bands and school choirs, picked up a guitar at age seventeen, began writing songs and somehow ended up 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 an original sound-something fresh and unique amongst hundreds of Austin musicians. Using her guitar as a percussive instrument, Choffel uses her fingers as drumsticks, fluidly picking and pounding on her red hollow-body electric, pushing her songs forward and drawing listeners in with her sweet, sultry voice. Choffel has enjoyed a weekly residency at Momos in Austin, where she has developed a multi-instrumental show month after month since late last year, evolving to the current lineup of drummer Eldridge Goins (Carolyn Wonderland, Patrice Pike, The Heathens), upright bassist John Thomasson (Patrice Pike, Brett Dennen), and tenor saxophonist Brad Houser (Edie Brickell, 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 fused songs to ground them. Alone, however, Choffel still shines, taking more liberties with her vocal and guitar lines and creating a sensational sound.
