Suzanna Choffel at Lewisville Grand Theater
Austin native Suzanna Choffel is known for her soulful, reggae-tinged guitar style and distinct voice, described as “equal parts Beat poetry, smoky soul grooves and indie-pop eccentricity.” (Jim DeRogatis). She has performed on major stages including ACL Music Festival, SXSW, Voodoo Festival, and appeared on screen in NBC’s The Voice, where Rolling Stone singled her out as “the only artist you’d want to listen to a complete album from.”
Over her two-decade career, Choffel has shared the stage with artists such as Buena Vista Social Club, Suzanne Vega, Solange, and Carrie Rodriguez. Her songwriting has earned honors in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the International Songwriting Contest, and her albums have been featured on multiple Texas Top 10 lists.
Choffel released her fourth studio album, Bird by Bird, in 2024, produced by Grammy-winner Davíd Garza and recorded in Los Angeles and at Sonic Ranch outside El Paso. The album features contributions from Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas) and acclaimed fiddlers Carrie Rodriguez and Warren Hood. In addition to her work as a performer and songwriter, Choffel is also known as an on-air DJ for Austin’s Sun Radio and as the voice of Whataburger.
The Black Box Songwriter Series features singer-songwriters in an intimate, listening-room setting. Since its inception in 2015, the series has attracted a variety of celebrated songwriters, such as Gretchen Peters (“Independence Day”), Susan Gibson (“Wide Open Spaces”), Walt Wilkins (“Trains I Missed”), and numerous award-winning troubadours. Both newcomers and veteran songwriters have played the series and given fans a chance to hear incredible songs as well as the stories behind them.
About the Artist:
Known for her distinct voice and reggae-inspired guitar technique, Austin native Suzanna Choffel’s music has been described as “a unique sound equal parts Beat poetry, smoky soul grooves and indie-pop eccentricity.” (Jim Derogatis). Having made appearances at ACL Music Fest, SXSW, Voodoo Fest, as well as on screen in movies like “Catfish” and NBC’s The Voice (earning singular praise from Rolling Stone as “the only artist you’d want to listen to a complete album from”), Choffel feels equally at home singing in a dimly lit club as she does front and center in front of (literally) millions.
Over the course of her two decade career Choffel has shared the stage with a diverse array of artists like Buena Vista Social Club, Suzanne Vega, Crystal Gayle, Solange, Carrie Rodriguez, Davíd Garza and many others. As a songwriter she has won multiple awards in both the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the International Songwriting Contest and her albums have appeared on top 10 lists across Texas.
Choffel was born and raised in Austin and cut her teeth as a teenager singing in beloved hometown haunts like Saxon Pub and Broken Spoke. She moved away to Santa Fe to study music at a small “hippie college” as she likes to call it, improving her guitar & songwriting chops, moved back to Austin & recorded her first album Shudders & Rings and hit the clubs hard, developing a following at places like Momo’s, Strange Brew, (both have closed) and Cactus Cafe. She started to appear on many “one to watch” lists in Austin & in 2009 won Best Indie Band at Austin Music Awards.
Since that time life has had huge changes for her; she did a short stint on reality tv (NBC’s The Voice), moved to New York, toured in France, gave birth to two daughters, recorded & released two more albums, toured internationally and became a radio personality/DJ on Austin’s Sun Radio (100.1FM). Her unique “radio” voice landed her a gig as the voice of Whataburger in 2023.
Choffel released her fourth studio album Bird by Bird on Sept 27th, 2024. Choffel teamed up with Grammy-winning producer Davíd Garza for Bird by Bird, which was recorded in both Los Angeles and the Sonic Ranch studio complex outside of El Paso. The album does keep its Austin bona fides: Adrian Quesada, of the Black Pumas and Grupo Fantasma, and fiddle phenoms Carrie Rodriguez and Warren Hood play on the album.
More about Suzanna Choffel, including upcoming shows