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biography
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| ‘Where do you
come from? That’s how it always begins…’ The origins of sumitra lie somewhere between southern India, New York and Vienna. sumitra was born in New York and moved to Vienna, Austria, at the age of two. She has spent most of her life in Vienna. During the course of her education, she spent 5 years in England and 2 years in the U.S. Both her parents are from India, and sumitra still has strong ties to India. She still very often feels like just another ‘indian girl’. At the age of five, sumitra started piano lessons and later became an active participant in all school concerts, plays and musicals. Her first compositions were put to paper at the age of thirteen and she first performed her own works at nineteen. She interrupted her university studies to work with the Austrian band Satu but resumed them again following the release of a single and numerous gigs with the band. sumitra’s early years were influenced by the music of Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Al Jarreau. Later on she became more interested in the music of singers such as Rickie Lee Jones, Sade, Seal and some of the great jazz singers including Billie Holiday, Nancy Wilson and Ella Fitzgerald. In 1993, sumitra put together her first demo of twelve songs before looking for gigs and recording deals. In 1994, sumitra cut her first four-track EP, “Sumitra” which enabled her to reach a wider audience by promoting her own songs on Austrian radio. Following the success of this first venture, sumitra returned to the studio, this time using a larger band to create “The Secret of Our Souls” in November 1995. It was after the creation of this album that sumitra started working with many of the finest musicians in Austria and broke in to the Austrian jazz/pop scene and culture. In 1998, she teamed up with guitarist Alex Machacek and started working on an entirely new approach: a duo. Her singing and Alex’s playing fused together very well creating a unique sound. Encouraged by Alex, sumitra also started to explore different styles of music. The duo began to include their own arrangements of jazz standards and pop tunes to their programme. Since then they have made gorgeous music together for a small but devoted population of fans and have performed in some of the best clubs and at festivals. Produced by Alex Machacek, ‘indian girl’, a collection of original songs that sumitra wrote in the last 5 years, was recorded in 2003/04 and released in Austria in June 2004. With this production, sumitra and Alex wanted to expand their collaboration as a duo while maintaining the same level of musical intimacy. sumitra is backed seamlessly by a skilled supporting trio who has given her music a very personal sound enriched with different flavours and colours. These musicians have successfully underlined sumitra's originality, individuality, personality, and identity as a singer and songwriter. sumitra's voice and her music are natural, personal, and unique; still, fans of Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, Seal, and Sade might all equally enjoy sumitra's music. "Music has always been a part of my life. Writing songs, playing the piano, and singing have always been things that I have just had to do. In music and all aspects of my life, I try to do what feels right, honest, and true. My songs have provided a solid platform on which I can always stand and from where I can communicate. I hope that I will always be able to touch people of all ages and cultures." sumitra and Alex were married in December 2003 and have recently moved to Los Angeles, California. March 2005 |
