LATEST NEWS: 18 Feb 2010
Suphala performing in NYC in April Stay tuned for details on the Concert page.
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Suphala is one of the most versatile young tabla artists making music today. Raised in the U.S. by Indian parents, Suphala began learning western classical music on the piano at age four, performing at age five, and as a teenager transferred her passion to one of the world’s most complex percussion instruments: the tabla. She combines an unparalleled technical command of her instrument with a playful sense of experimentation as she switches effortlessly between composing, producing and performing.
Suphala is a protégé of the great tabla masters Ustad Allarakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain, whose constant inspiration compels her not only to dedicate herself to the study of Indian classical music but also to extend the reach of the tabla into an ever-growing variety of musical genres and cultural contexts. Her fluency in a diversity of musical traditions informs her unique compositions and her highly improvisational performances. The three albums she has released to date – Instru Mental (2000), The Now (2005) and Blueprint (2007) – go beyond the limits of genre and style while referencing such diverse influences as Western classical, Indian classical, jazz, folk and soul. But it’s not just her original music that is groundbreaking, her concerts provide an inspiring case-study in cultural diplomacy: she made history in early 2005 when she traveled to Kabul, Afghanistan as the first musician to play in public since the fall of the Taliban. According to the New York Times, "Kabul's badly depleted music scene received a welcome injection of excitement last week. [Her] arrival… caused a sensation in the war-torn country. ‘I have not played with a woman before,’ one Afghan tabla master said. ‘Our grandfathers do not even know of it.’”
Collaboration is one of the touchstones of her prodigious musical output: the musicians she has recorded or performed with include Norah Jones, Perry Farrell, Edie Brickell, Vernon Reid, Timbaland, Sean Lennon, 4Hero, Harper Simon, Yoko Ono, Vijay Iyer, Joan Osbourne, and Michael Bland among others. These artists have variously sought Suphala out to lend her talents to tours, her songwriting skills to specific tracks or her producing prowess to recordings. Current ventures – including a trio with cello and oud – take this collaborative spirit to the next level, demonstrating that the artistic alliances Suphala forms are an integral part of her innovative approach to making music.
With her unique rhythmic and melodic vocabulary and production chops that are both rigorous and inventive, this next phase of Suphala’s evolving musical expression is bound to continue a trajectory rooted in a deep understanding of the proud legacy of the tabla and a passionate commitment to expand the scope of its expression and to communicate it to the wider world.
Upcoming Performances
02 Apr 2010
with Jason Lindner
14 Apr 2010
Past Performances
Suphala has performed at many new york city venues both big and small including Central Park Summerstage, Merkin Hall, Symphony Space, Joe's Pub, Canal Room, Rubin Museum, the Indian Consulate, Drom, Makor, Whitney Museum, the Stone, Le Poisson Rouge, and Carnegie Hall. In addition, she has performed at several private events including the opening of Dream Hotel & Chopra Spa, Global Fund for Women Charity, Salman Rushdie book launches, The Hunger Project Gala, and the PEN party at Diane Von Furstenberg's.
Suphala has also performed around the U.S. and Internationally in India, Europe, and the Middle East, including Afghanistan, where Suphala made history in becoming the first musician to perform after the fall of the Taliban.
18 Feb 2010: Suphala performing in NYC in April
Stay tuned for details on the Concert page.
01 Jan 2010: New video posted
Watch Suphala's most recent performance at Le Poisson Rouge. Go to Video page to view...
05 Nov 2009: Performing Nov. 9th
at Le Poisson Rouge Monday Nov. 9th with Mike Block on cello and special guests, Kinan Azmeh on clarinet, Rob Moose on violin, and Daniel Cords on saxophone...go to Concerts page for tickets and details.
28 Sep 2009: Recording in October
27 Jul 2009: Next concert
is Sept. 4th with new trio. Go to 'concerts' page for details.
19 Jul 2009: Suphala performing in NYC this Friday
Suphala has a new group and this is their first performance!
Suphala plays tabla with Mike Block on cello and Hadi Eldebek on oud.
All original pieces by the group
Friday July 24th at Le Poisson Rouge. See 'Concerts' page for details
13 Jun 2009: Suphala featured in the first issue of
'reed pages'. Out now. Go to Press page to view.
13 May 2009: Suphala performing in NYC June 9th
Go to Concerts page for more info...
20 Dec 2008: Suphala's music featured
in legendary dancer/ choreographer, Pina Bausch's, "Bamboo Blues"
Running Dec, 2008 at Brooklyn Academy of Music
16 Oct 2008: Suphala on the Radio this Sunday
Tune in to WKCR 89.9 FM-NY on Sunday Oct. 19th from 7-9pm or listen anywhere in the world at
23 Jul 2008: New Great CD Reviews in France
Check out the glowing review of "Blueprint" in Les Inrockuptibles on press page...
18 Jul 2008: Suphala Live at DROM
This Tuesday July 22nd. Go to Concerts page for info.
15 Jun 2008: New Video posted
Suphala's interview and performance on "GritTV with Laura Flanders" now on video page.
03 Jun 2008: TV:
Suphala to appear on the Laura Flanders Show Wednesday June 4th, 2008
GritTV with Laura Flanders (author and host of RadioNation on Air America) is a new political WebTV show which also airs on DISH network channel 9415.
Recent guests have included Danny Glover, Walter Mosley, and Ariana Huffington.
Watch Suphala anytime after 12pm, wed. June 4th www.grittv.org
and June 4th at 8pm on Dishnetwork's channel 9415
23 Apr 2008: Hear Suphala on various NPR shows...
read about Suphala in the press on press page...
31 Jan 2008: NY Times Style Magazine
Suphala featured in "The Originals" NYTimes Style, India's Beautiful People Magazine. Go to Press page to view.
30 Oct 2007: Suphala in VogueIndia.
On Newstands now. Article and photo of Suphala in YSL in India's new Vogue magazine, Nov. issue. Go to Press page to view...
01 Oct 2007: New Video footage from Record Release Party
Watch 4 songs performed live from"Blueprint" on the video page.
Also, see footage of Suphala and hip-hop producer, Timbaland.
30 Aug 2007: NPR's Studio360
Suphala can be heard this weekend on NPR's Studio 360.
17 Jul 2007: Hear Suphala on Public Radio International's "The World"
17 Jul 2007: Suphala on NPR's Leonard Lopate Show
16 Jul 2007: St. Petersburg Times says,
"They call her "Tabla Goddess," and that's just about right. Accompanied by trip-hop beats, synthy strings and chilly vocals by coolio pals Edie Brickell and Vikter Duplaix, this Indian-American beauty plays those two small drums like Bruce Lee in a fistfight - with fast hands and a furious beauty."
10 Jul 2007: Blueprint
New album 'Blueprint' out Today on her own Suphala Productions
"The tabla player Suphala, who studied under the masters Ustad Allarakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain," the New Yorker says, "takes her instrument deep into the pop realm." A Spotlight feature in the latest edition of Global Rhythm describes her "creative fusion between traditional classical Indian sounds and modern experimental electronica."
Fans will be able to hear Suphala in the coming weeks on a variety of shows, including:
* PRI's "The World"
* The nationally syndicated "Here and Now"
* WNYC's "Leonard Lopate Show"
In addition to stories of collaborations with luminaries such as Norah Jones, Timbaland and Perry Farrell, Suphala will tell tales of her travels around the world; from sold out concert halls in India and Afghanistan to relief work in Pakistan.
On 'Blueprint,' Suphala takes the classical Indian sound of the tabla and mixes it with synths, samples, violin, cello and vocals, creating a beat driven sound that moves from Jungle-esque pounders made for the dancefloor to ethereal sound collages with wordless vocals that work perfectly as a late night chill out soundtrack. Edie Brickell contributes lyrics and vocals to the trancelike songs "Music Like a Memory" and "I Feel Awake Even Though This Is A Dream." Harper Simon plays a swirling electric guitar on "The Blank Page," and NYC MC Furor Thin offers a hip hop counterpoint to Vernon Reid's unmistakable guitar on the King Britt produced "Auramatic."
09 Jul 2007: NYC Record Release Party July 10th!
Come Celebrate the Release of "Blueprint" Tuesday July 10th at Canal Room in NYC with special guest Edie Brickell. Doors open at 8pm.
285 W. Broadway at Canal St.
Artists include David Gotay (cello), Eddie Venegas (violin), D.I. Noizepunk (laptop, keys), Artwork by Insert Silence, and DJ Jeannie Hopper after the live set.
05 Jul 2007: Suphala in Global Rhythm Magazine
Suphala is featured in the Aug/ Sept. 2007 issue of Global Rhythm magazine
13 Jun 2007: Watch NEW VIDEOS
Go to Video to see footage of Suphala performing at the House of Waris launch in NYC, performing with Edie Brickell and Yoko Ono at the Quantun Shift benefit in NYC, her trip to Pakistan to deliver proceeds from the Quantum Shift beneft, and her concert and trip to Kabul.
Press
Coming Soon
Blueprint
BUY HERE, released 2007 in U.S. and 2008 worldwide, Suphala's latest tracks as producer, composer, and performer, featuring Edie Brickell, Harper Simon, Vikter Duplaix, and King Britt!
The Now
Released May 2005: Suphala composed, produced and performed tracks featuring Norah Jones, Salim Merchant, Vernon Reid, Antonio Banderas and more...sensual, high-brow, cinematic, high-tech, authentic, and mood-altering.
Live at Le Poisson Rouge, Nov. 9th, 2009
Suphala's most recent performance in NYC at Le Poisson Rouge with Mike Block (cello), Kinan Azmeh (clarinet), Rob Moose (violin), and Daniel Cords (saxophone)
An improvised final piece of the performance.
Suphala on GritTV with Laura Flanders
Suphala's interview and performance on GritTV with Laura Flanders.
I Feel Awake Even Though This is a Dream
Record release party July 10th, 2007 in NYC at Canal Room.
Artists performing with Suphala include David Gotay (cello), Eddie Venegas (violin), D.I. Noizepunk (laptop, keys), and Edie Brickell (vocals)
Record release party July 10th, 2007 in NYC at Canal Room.
Artists performing with Suphala include David Gotay (cello), Eddie Venegas (violin), D.I. Noizepunk (laptop, keys)
Record release party July 10th, 2007 in NYC at Canal Room.
Artists performing with Suphala include David Gotay (cello), Eddie Venegas (violin), D.I. Noizepunk (laptop, keys), and Edie Brickell (vocals)
Record release party July 10th, 2007 in NYC at Canal Room.
Artists performing with Suphala include David Gotay (cello), Eddie Venegas (violin), D.I. Noizepunk (laptop, keys)
Tabla Introduction to Timbaland
Suphala introduces the Tabla to Timbaland prior to their recording session.
Hit Factory, Miami
Quantum Shift benefit concert, NYC
Suphala's benefit concert at Canal Room, NYC for South Asian Earthquake Survivors, Nov. 2005:
Special guest performers included Edie Brickell, Yoko Ono, Harper Simon, Mazz Swift, and Dana Leong.
Suphala in Pakistan to deliver Quantum Shift proceeds
Suphala delivers proceeds from Quantum Shift benefit concert to remote villages in northern Pakistan, Dec. 05 - Jan. 06
Suphala visits and performs in Afghanistan
Suphala in an Tolo TV Afghan documentary capturing her visit and concert to Kabul in Jan. 2005
Suphala performs at the launch for House of Waris at the Indian Consulate NYC, March 2007:
Attendees included Willem Defoe, Damon Dash, Francesco Clemente, and more
Suphala in-studio performance, the Hit Factory, NYC
Suphala's in-studio performance of her compostions with Mazz Swift (violin) and Dana Leong (trombone, cello) at the Hit Factory, NYC
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