Jaia Suri

Country of origin:

U.S.A.

Type of music generally:

Contemporary folk/folkrock

Status:

Most recent release, Fire in the Archives, 2003

See also:

Jaia Suri's website

Comparisons:

Ani Difranco, Joni Mitchell, Natalie Merchant, Susan McKeown, Michele Shocked

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

A description is actually pretty easy: ani difranco crossed with joni mitchell playing mostly banjo. Sounds pretty promising to me. (neal)

While her style is definitely Ani Difranco-like, her voice reminds me more of Natalie Merchant or Susan McKeown at various times. (Neile)

Recommended first album:

Truck-Stop Gypsy

Recordings:

• Luna-tic
• Truck-Stop Gypsy
• Fire in the Archives

Luna-tic

Release info:

2001-self-produced

Availability:

See website for availability

Ecto priority:

Recommended for folkrock fans

Group members:

Jaia Suri--vocals, harmony, guitar

Guest artists:

Paul Sprawl--bass, percussion, harmonica, dah du dus, mandolin, kalimba

Produced by:

Jaia Suri and Paul Sprawl

Comments:

This is stripped-down folkrock but still creative, rather like ani difranco's early work at times, though here her vocals remind me more of Susan McKeown. A very promising beginning. (Neile)

Truck-Stop Gypsy

Release info:

2002--self-released

Availability:

See website for availability

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended for folkrock fans

Group members:

Jaia Suri--voice, banjo, guitar

Guest artists:

Jeff Gilkinson--cello
Paul Sprawl--bass, drums, percussion, mando
MJ: triangle

Produced by:

Jaia Suri and Paul Sprawl

Comments:

Jaia Suri writes intriguing lyrics and plays a mean banjo. Her songs are very good and her voice is gentle but not without edge. The spoken word "Maybe Then" is my favourite song here. It's a very solid record on the whole. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)

Fire in the Archives

Release info:

2003--self-released

Availability:

See website for availability

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended for fans folkrock fans

Group members:

Jaia Suri--vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, tambourine

Produced by:

Jaia Suri

Comments:

Even more than the previous ones this album really made me think of Jaia Suri as a kind of love child of Joni Mitchell, ani difranco, and Michele Shocked with a voice that is a mix of Joni Mitchell and Susan McKeown. The first song, "So Sober" in particular made me think of Joni in both the tune and the intriguing lyrics. That said, I find this album over all a little less compelling than Truck-Stop Gypsy--I think because this is a sadder, more mournful, almost lonely album. (Neile)

Thanks to Anna Maria Stjärnell for her work on this entry