Suphala

Suphala (b. Minnesota, United States, 1975) is a tabla artist, composer, and producer. She is a protégé of tabla players Ustad Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain and is based in New York City.

Background

Born in the United States to Indian parents, Suphala travels to India every year to explore new depths of tabla and Indian sound. She is well versed in Indian and Western classical music having studied piano since the age of four. In January 2005, Suphala was the first female and first artist to perform in Afghanistan after 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."

Suphala has recorded and/or performed with Norah Jones, Perry Ferrell (Jane's Addiction), Sean Lennon, Harper Simon, Yoko Ono, Edie Brickell, Vernon Reid (Living Color), King Britt, DJ Spooky, DJ Logic, DJ Fafu, Vijay Iyer, 4 Hero, Lady Ms. Kier (Dee-Lite), Nina Hagen, Joan Osbourne, Kelly Clarkson, Timbaland, Michael Bland, Yuka Honda (Cibo Matto), Vikter Duplaix, Gingger Shankar, Niladri Kumar, Ustad Sultan Khan, Rakesh Chaurasia, Salim Merchant, and Carol C (Si Se).

Discography

Instru Mental, Suphala's first album, was released in September 2000.

Her last album, The Now, was released on May 10, 2005 and features contributions from guest artists Norah Jones, Vernon Reid, and even Antonio Banderas.

On July 10, 2007 Suphala will release her third album, Blueprint. The album will include the single, "I Feel Awake Even Though This Is A Dream." Following up and expanding on the acclaimed 2005 effort, Suphala returns with another bevy of friends that includes such notables as vocalist Edie Brickell (on two songs), heavyweight producer King Britt and Reid once again as well as bansuri player Rakesh Chaurasia, Harper Simon, Mazz Swift, David Gotay, and others.

External links

• Suphala official site
• Suphala interview

Listening

• Suphala audio
• Suphala interview from Studio 360 program