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.â€
– 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.
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Suphala – Fast Fingers at the Indian Consulate
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Suphala - Quantum Shift Benefit Concert
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Suphala – Upcoming Artist Delivers Relief to Pakistan
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Suphala - Afghanistan Welcomes First Female Musician
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