Jason Soudah
Acoustic / Indie / Pop
Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
About
Jason Soudah is an up-and-coming piano-driven singer/songwriter whose powerful yet compassionate delivery has been most memorably described as "Shaquille O'Neal meets Mother Teresa." Born in Japan (where he spent the first decade of his life) but now based in Cardiff, Wales, Jason is gathering critical acclaim for his unforgettable songs, emotive stage presence and distinctive vocal stylings, the latter of which caused London's Rise Magazine to rave, "Soudah's distinctive and passionate vocals are irresistible." Jason has already played a variety of gigs across the UK while also visiting American shores for sets at SXSW (both 2006 and 2007) and "World Café Live" in Philadelphia, in addition to well-received gigs in Los Angeles, Dallas, Austin and New York City, where his show at Rockwood Music Hall provoked this rapturous response: "Jason's energy and excitement immediately captured everyone's heart." His various touring activities have helped trigger radio airplay in both countries, in addition to live performance segments on the air and television appearances in Britain.
A precocious youth, Jason started playing piano at age four and within three years had written his first song. By the time he was 12 his singing and playing skills were rewarded with a music scholarship to a prestigious boarding school, where he further expanded his musical horizons by taking up the guitar. While earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at university in Cardiff, Jason formed a five-piece alternative band whose initial run of CDs quickly sold out at the local Virgin Megastore. He pursued a doctorate in Psychology for one semester before deciding to try for a music career, this time as a solo artist. Quickly deemed "one of Cardiff's best-kept secrets," Jason set up a small UK tour while also providing some incidental piano music for a Japanese film and a television documentary. As do many musicians just starting out, Jason also held down a variety of day jobs...the highlight of which was teaching a class of three-year-olds at a music school.
Jason soon relocated to London, where he played both piano and acoustic guitar with his band (guitar, bass, drums and occasional cello). He also endeavored to pay the rent by performing at an underground piano bar in Kensington, where what started out as low-key affairs before the bar staff and a few friends were quickly sold-out, packed to the brim galas. Next, an appearance on national UK TV via ITV One's "This Morning" helped to further spread the word, as did a spot on BBC Radio 2's Janice Long Show, where Jason did an interview and performed three songs, gathering this reaction from the host: "[Jason is a] gifted singer, musician and songwriter who delivers on CD and live." In addition to his SXSW appearances, Jason also attended both CMJ in 2006 and MUSEXPO in 2007 before returning to Cardiff to record his latest EP, Six Hours, with producer Romesh Dodangoda (Kids in Glasshouses, The Blackout, Dopamine).
Stats
- Plays today
- 0
- All-time plays
- 85
- Profile views
- 569
