Ajaia Suri
(formerly 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:
Ajaia Suri's CD Baby page
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 and her spirit very Michele Shocked, her voice reminds me more of Natalie Merchant or Susan McKeown at various times. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Truck-Stop Gypsy
Recordings:
- Luna-tic (as Jaia Suri, 2001)
- Truck-Stop Gypsy (as Jaia Suri, 2002)
- Fire in the Archives (as Jaia Suri, 2003)
Luna-tic
Release info:
2001
Availability:
See Ajaia Suri's CD Baby page
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
Availability:
See Ajaia Suri's CD Baby page
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
Availability:
See Ajaia Suri's CD Baby page
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 work on this entry.
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