Suphala

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LATEST NEWS: 15 Jun 2008

New Video posted Suphala's interview and performance on "GritTV with Laura Flanders" now...

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Tabla Artist, Composer, and Producer, Suphala:

“This Indian-American beauty plays those two small drums like Bruce Lee in a fistfight - with fast hands and a furious beauty.” – St. Petersburg Times

There was always music in Suphala’s life; she began studying classical piano at age four. But then she found her calling in the tabla, which won her over with its beautiful sound and the freedom of its improvisatory nature. Suphala is a protégé of the great tabla masters Ustad Allarakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain, who are a constant source of inspiration to her.

“Her music cuts across all classes and cultures…the international tabla sensation.” – 7 days daily, Dubai, U.A.E.

In Feb. 2005, Suphala made history when she became 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 with the arrival of Suphala, the New York-based tabla player and composer… Suphala certainly brought brightness… her touch and rhythm are sure." It 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."

Blueprint (Suphala Productions, released 2007), now available worldwide (2008), is Suphala's stunning new album. She builds from the base of her world- renowned tabla knowledge, with infusions of modern electronic sounds, and top-flight songwriting. Suphala features such notables as vocalist Edie Brickell (on two songs), heavyweight producer King Britt, guitar legend Vernon Reid, as well as bansuri player Rakesh Chaurasia, Vikter Duplaix, Harper Simon, Mazz Swift, David Gotay and others on her third and most adventurous release.

“Any three minutes of Suphala's Blueprint (Suphala Productions) contain more inventiveness than you usually find on an entire cd...Blueprint is a textbook example of how a drummer can maintain her identity while surrounding herself with the strongest talents." -The Beat

“This extremely facile artist (in a good way) delves into downtown minimalism, swervy dance music, layered songwriting, and a host of other sounds that make this a delight on the fifth or sixth listen.” -Austin360.com

According to Suphala, the recording‘s concept and title are rooted in the feeling that recordings are blueprints that musicians can recreate in an infinite number of ways in live music, a sentiment she echoes by collaborating with a diverse cast of players for each live performance. Suphala thrives on improvisation, and with her band regularly departs from the set material to explore new directions in a spontaneous setting.

Her previous album, The Now, (Rasa/ Tommy Boy Records, released 2005) featured contributions from such stellar guests as Norah Jones, Vernon Reid, and even Antonio Banderas, and was featured from the New York Times to the Times of India. While her first album, Instru Mental, (Suphala Productions, released 2000) offers music for those who love beats mutated and transformed into futuristic combinations.

Adding production chops to her many talents, Suphala produces primarily in her home based studio with her tabla, a computer, a keyboard, and microphone. Yet from this barebones beginning, she fleshes the songs out with rich melodies, harmonies, and a virtuosic display of tabla playing and programmed beats.

Suphala has also been sought after for performance and recording by a wide range of talented artists including Sean Lennon, Perry Ferrell (Jane’s Addiction), hip- hop producer Timbaland, Lady Ms. Kier (Dee-Lite), 4Hero, Yoko Ono, Vijay Iyer, DJ Logic, Gingger Shankar, Michael Bland (Prince), and Jeff Lee Johnson.

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.

click here to listen

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.