Suzanna Choffel has been pretty busy lately. With the release of her sophomore album Steady Eye, Shaky Bow, consistent touring and promotional schedules, and an upcoming performance at ACL, her hard work and dedication is paying off. Growing up in Barton Oaks, the Austin native has been playing music since a teenager and regularly performed and frequented the Broken Spoke and the Saxon Pub.
Naming a variety of genres as influences, Suzanna feels that her love for folk, classic rock and even hip-hop have played a vital role in her music. “When I did my first album, I was more inspired by folk, but I was still so in to hip-hop. Steady Eye is a little more pop, r & b and funk. I feel like I moved away from folk [with this album] because I went more electric.” While a song like “Archer” holds jazz and hip-hop undertones in its swaying percussion, lively keys, and rolling brass sections, “Hold of the Night” showcases a late 60s classic pop sound found in both the vocal and guitar arrangements.
Suzanna will be taking on and lighting up ACL at the Austin Venues stage at 2:30 PM on Sunday, September 18th. Meet up with her when she heads over to the Waterloo Autograph Tent after her show at 3:45 PM.
–Whitney LeFevre