Susana Raya is a Spanish singer, guitarist and composer based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. A pure, honest, unaffected voice that will captivate you. The woman who American music critic and historian Ted Gioia coined “the Andalusian Eva Cassidy” made her way into international music scene along with her inseparable guitar. “Her songs are rich and emotional performed with great creativity and spontaneity”, AAAmusic, UK.
After getting her classical guitar propers at a conservatory in her native Cordoba (Spain), spending a good chunk of the aughts racking up titles in European jazz vocals competitions and graduating in jazz guitar in Amsterdam, Susana found her personal voice: a melting pot of different influences from folk to jazz.
She has toured extensively in Europe,USA, and abroad: Saitenprünge (Germany), Holland Festival (Netherlands) Silk Road Festival (Syria), Music Festival Amman, etc.
Her Spanish roots come to the surface in the songs on her album Wind Rose, which was recorded with a five start team: Steve Swallow, Clifford Carter (James Taylor), Ira Coleman (Sting, Dee dee Bridgewater), Leo Amuedo (Ivan Lins, Chris Botti), Cyro Baptista (Paul Simon, Yo-yo Ma, Herbie Hancock). The producer, Gary Burke (Bob Dylan), says: “Susana Raya is the most accomplished debut artist I have ever come across in all the years I have been doing this. She can sing, she can play and she can write. A triple threat as we say here in the States.”
In our conversation we talk about her diverse experiences and how it has shaped her own creativity. Learn More on Dreams Not Memes.
Susana is endorser of Rick Turner Guitars (Santa Cruz) and Labella Strings.
AWARDS
– International Young Jazz Singers Contest Nomme Jazz, Tallinn, Estonia,2006.
– International Jazz Singers Contest Lady Summertime, Finland, 2006.
– International Jazz Soloist Competition”, Monaco, 2007.
– International Jazz Competition for Singing Musician, Zory, Poland. 2011
– Best Spanish Group II International Jazz Granada Festival Contest. 2003
Social Media
facebook.com/susanarayamusic
instagram.com/susanarayamusic/
youtube.com/user/susanaraya/videos
susanarayamusic.com/
open.spotify.com/artist/3K1JeIUlWJ2fGjqIR3KcHY
