Biography
+ New York-based singer-songwriter Thomas Channell was born in Sydney, Australia, but grew up in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Somewhat of a nerd, he has a Bachelors of Music Honours degree from Stellenbosch University and an MA from Columbia University, where he studied on a Fulbright Fellowship. His songs are poetic narratives on South African themes and characters, as well as universal struggles. Just imagine Sade and Kurt Vonnegut's love-child was adopted by Rufus Wainwright and k.d. lang, with Herbert von Karajan as Godfather. A versatile performer, Thomas sings, plays piano, acts, writes songs and musical theatre pieces, and even dances. He has performed at all the major arts festivals in South Africa, as well as venues in Berlin, New York and Mexico City. His first album Crowded Sunrise was released to great critical acclaim in South Africa in 2004 and he has been building up a loyal following in New York, headlining Cornelia Street Café and the legendary CBGB's to full houses. Other major venues include The Knitting Factory, Lincoln Center, The Living Room, Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction, The King Kong Room (@The Supper Club), R&R Bar and Caffe Vivaldi.In South Africa he has performed with artists such as Stef Bos and Lise Swart, while in NY he has played with the likes of Mikanic (previously Sons of Trout), Shannon Corey, Tony Cedras and Morris Goldberg.- "I have my reasons, but reason isn't one of them" from "Crowded Sunrise" is featured on the 2006 NXNE TuneTank Compilation
www.tunetank.net/NXNE.htm===================================
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Previous productions include: the musical theatre piece "Die Hangkas Haas", about homosexual life in South Africa; the award-winning "Tango del Fuego" (Marthinus Basson dir.); and "Baas en Klaas" (Master and Servant), as writer, composer and performer, with Bongile Mantsai. This production toured to festivals all over South Africa and played free of charge to underprivileged rural communities, tackling the issue of race relations in the not-so-New South Africa.=====================================================
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Website
http://www.thomaschannell.com===============================
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Discography
The Album
+ The music from Thomas Channells album "Crowded Sunrise" ranges from calm ballades, to a pop-duet, rock, jazz and has a very original sound. It is in English and Afrikaans. Collaborators on the album include Mario Cronje, Lise Swart and Tinus van Dyk. The songs are about relationships, but never soppy, about issues, but with a unique sense of humour and poetry. They draw on personal relationships and experiences, from travelling to working for Rape Crisis as counsellor. Thomas is currently performing songs from Crowded Sunrise and new material in a mellow, acoustic vibe: singing and playing piano with guitarist Jason De Jesus-Kennedy, Drummer Chris Somers and backing vocalist Shannon Corey in the USA.
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