Biography

Simply stated, the life of Austrian saxophonist Susan P. is all about music. From an early age, Susan pursued a life of art, and consequently, her relentless dedication has gleaned a generous reward; from the studio to the stage, proficiency, passion, and soul pervade her every performance.


Diverse yet complementary musical influences helped forge Susan P.’s modern-day musical amalgam. Her sound is a glamorous, sophisticated blend of undeniable pop, soaring and skilled saxophone stylings, and often, accompanying lead vocals performed by Susan herself. It is clear why she — possessing the charisma of a truly global artist — is arguably Europe’s most intriguing saxophone-wielding starlet.


“My father was the one in the family that always played music, so I would say that he introduced the idea of being a musician to me,” recalls Susan of her beginnings as a performer. “He was always the one who encouraged me to study music, and I started at music school soon after that.”


At the tender age of six, Susan began her journey toward musical virtuosity with a flute in her then small hands. However, when she became a bit older, the sounds of saxophones — alto and tenor saxes, to be exact — caught her ears and her eyes. “I really started to enjoy the sound of the saxophone,” she explains. “I started to hear it in the songs that I enjoyed, and I really loved its design.”


It was then that influential saxophone sounds began to whet her creative appetite, and as a result, she effectively traded the flute for an instrument that offered both heightened musical inspiration and the potential for increased visibility within the realm of commercial music. According to Susan, the smooth, contemporary pop sounds of superstar alto saxophonist Candy Dulfer as well as other striking songs featuring prominent sax licks were most effective in wooing her to the instrument.


“I really liked Candy Dulfer’s performances,” she fondly recollects. “She made some really funky music that was very popular in Europe. Around the same time when I was 14, I also liked the music of the Blues Brothers, Joe Cocker, and others. I really liked pop music where you would find great saxophone parts.”


Susan P. studied the art of performing via a classic music education, but simultaneously sought situations where she could play more contemporary music. It wasn’t long before she had the opportunity. “After music school, I began having private teachers who taught me in the styles that I wanted to play: more pop, and more improvisation. I was really influenced by the teaching of my private instructors.”


After a stint of performing with full bands, Susan turned her attention to performing as a full-time solo artist. Performing both alone and with the accompaniment of her live dancers, she has thrived, building a following with her high-energy, theatrically influenced shows. “When I perform, it’s more like a show act than just a concert,” she explains. Susan’s dynamic performances have made her a staple of events including the annual German Film Ball and Hahnenkamm Race in Kitzbühel. She has also performed for Casino Innsbruck, Casino Salzburg, Ferrari, Jaguar, Swarovski Crystal and the likes of Uschi Glas, Mario Adorf, Lother Matth, Vladimir Klitschko and Prince Albert from Monaco..


Susan P.’s winning on-stage persona also effectively translates to the small screen. Utilizing a university concentration in mass media, this fluently bilingual artist also finds the time to be an Austrian television personality, regularly hosting the entertainment reports for Tirol Television’s ‘InnScene’ program. While Susan enjoys her TV gig, she is quick to explain that music is still her first priority. “For me, it’s always more important to perform,” she insists. “Television work always depends on my performance schedule.”

It’s rare that an authentically talented performer, musician, and vocalist all and equally reside within one charming artist. But in the case of Susan P., a rarity is undoubtedly a reality.