About 

Biography

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Born and raised in Córdoba, Spain, Susana Raya is a Spanish singer, guitarist, improviser, and composer based in Amsterdam. Her musical curiosity has led her to explore a variety of genres, pushing the boundaries of jazz and singer-songwriter traditions.  

Coined ‘the Andalusian Eva Cassidy‘ by American music critic Ted Gioia, Susana has made her mark on the international scene with her intricate guitar work and raw, emotional vocals and a unique melodic landscape of her own.

She started classical guitar studies at the conservatory as a child, forging a lifelong bond with the instrument. The turning point came in her twenties when she first heard Chet Baker’s ‘My Funny Valentine’ in a bohemian café in her hometown. The obsession began. For years, she immersed herself in the language of vocal improvisation, losing sense of time in local late-night jam sessions. The melancholic allure and freedom of those jazz ballads just haunted her.

Eager to learn, she traveled to seek guidance from artists like Jamey Aebersold, Maria João, Deborah Brown, and Pat Metheny, and participated in numerous workshops.

«Competitions are for horses, not for artists.» – Béla Bartók. She knew this well. However, she saw them as a way to break into the international scene, and gain confidence early in her jazz career. She succeeded, winning prizes in vocal competitions across Europe, including in Tallinn (Estonia), Finland, Monaco, Zory (Poland), Spain and Italy.

Her wildest dream as a jazz singer came true when she was invited to perform as a soloist with several symphonic orchestras in Spain, playing repertoires by Gershwin and Chick Corea. 

The televised concert with the legendary WDR Symphony Orchestra of Cologne, conducted by Enrique Ugarte, symbolized a significant achievement for Susana. But she didn’t want to be boxed in the «jazz diva» label. It just wasn’t for her.

In the meantime, she felt the need to reconnect with her guitar. Inspired by Nine Stories by Maarten van der Grinten and Jesse van Ruller, she moved to Amsterdam to study with them at the Conservatory, where she graduated in 2013.

Praised by music critics and fellow musicians, American historian and music critic Ted Gioia has highlighted Susana’s YouTube performances in several articles and interviews. In his book The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire (Oxford University Press), he recommends her Spanish adaptation of ‘My One and Only Love’, alongside versions by artists like Coltrane, Sting, Kurt Elling, and Cassandra Wilson. This recognition inspired Susana to refocus on her native language. It felt more authentic. Surprisingly, it captivated listeners—even those who didn’t understand the lyrics. She smiles when thinking about her relationship with the English language: ‘The three years of American accent at the conservatory—by far the funniest classes—didn’t work any miracles.’

Another milestone in Susana’s career was the release of her album Wind Rose in 2016. Recorded in Upstate New York, it featured an all-star lineup of musicians: Steve Swallow, Clifford Carter, Ira Coleman, Leo Amuedo, and Cyro Baptista. The album was acclaimed by critics and was followed by a European tour, including a presentation at Bimhuis in Amsterdam with most of the members.

Over the years, she has performed in numerous clubs, venues, and theaters across Spain, as well as at international jazz festivals such as Jazz à Grans (France), Holland Festival (Netherlands), Silk Road Festival (Syria), Amman Music Festival (Jordan), Südtirol Jazz Festival (Italy), Pori Jazz (Finland), and Kaunas Jazz Festival (Lithuania). She has also participated in guitar festivals like Enkhuizen (Netherlands), Suitenprünge and Deggendorf (Germany), and in Arkansas (USA). Her U.S. tours have included performances in clubs in Little Rock, St. Louis, Nashville, Kansas City, and New York State. Her concerts have been broadcast by Stingray DJAZZ (Netherlands) and RNE Radio 3 (Spain), among others.

Some highlights of her career include multiple performances with legendary Dutch guitarist Jan Akkerman (Focus), including a special appearance at the Royal Carré Theater in Amsterdam. Recently, Susana joined the Amsterdam Art Orchestra, an adventurous and innovative big band, as a guitarist for a show at the Transition Festival in Utrecht.

In 2022, she joined the Dutch progressive rock band Inhalo, acclaimed for their debut album Sever. Their performance at the Night of the Prog Festival in the iconic Loreley Amphitheater—a UNESCO World Heritage site and legendary Rockpalast venue—was an epic moment for Susana. She laughs that joining the band is her ‘mid-life crisis thing’, but for Susana, it’s more than just a joke. The raw and energetic pulse of hard rock brought her into a cathartic state, creating a sense of tribal unity that connected her to something deep and primal.

Susana enjoys teaching private lessons and workshops. Through her newsletter and Creative Flow series on Instagram, she shares insights into the creative process, exploring the fears and challenges of being an artist

She is an ambassador for Rick Turner guitars (Santa Cruz, California) and La Bella strings. Susana lives in Amsterdam, happily married to a guitar luthier. Her latest hobby is practicing Gothic Calligraphy.