Susana

Born in and living in the surroundings of the EDM Mecca, the Dutch city of Amsterdam, Susana grew up in an open-minded place, surrounded with music. As a little girl, she used to sing along with her dad’s records, learning how to use her voice by mimicking the singers. At the age of 15, she decided to take things to a different level and explored her vocal abilities by taking professional singing lessons, followed by several live performances at her high school. Susana was getting to know various areas in music, singing in a rock/alternative band and taking vocal lessons in jazz and classical. Even though she still had the little girl’s dream to make it in music, Susana’s versatility and open mind had her travelling in South America for 5 months and grow a passion for anything related to its culture. Just as she was studying Latin American Studies, it turned out she was at the eve of her musical breakthrough.

The first record
All the years of training, singing and performing came together when Susana discovered the wonders of Electronic Dance Music. Susana:“I never really explored electronic dance music. This changed when a neighbor of my family, after having seen me perform with my band, decided to introduce me to producers Raz Nitzan and Adrian Broekhuyse in 2003, when I was 19 years old. Just a couple of months later we met in the studio and recorded the vocals for Ernesto vs Bastian’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, which was released in 2005. From the moment I got involved with trance, a whole new world opened up to me. I really fell for its powerful emotional energy and I’ve been on a journey of discovery ever since.”

With Raz Nitzan and Adrian Broekhuyse as her guides, Susana was given several big opportunities. Susana:” I feel they have really guided me over the years and I can always go to them for advice. Of course talent, putting your mind to it, working hard and seizing opportunities are very important to make it in the music business but I definitely wouldn’t be where I am right now if it wasn’t for them.”

Her second big hit, and second release at the same time, was ‘Shivers’, a collaboration with number one DJ Armin van Buuren. Susana and the special, warm sound of her voice, became a hot topic in the dance scene. And that still hasn’t changed. In the past 5 years, Susana worked with top notch producers such as Talla 2XLC, Rex Mundi and Dash Berlin, as well as providing vocals for two follow-up tracks with Ernesto vs. Bastian and Armin van Buuren. The many live performances she did, amongst one for a 20.000 strong trance crowd at the Armin Only show in the Jaarbeurs venue in Utrecht, rocked crowds all across the globe. A strong on-stage personality and live performance make her a beloved artist to have or see on stage.

Fulltime music
In 2008, when Susana was heading for the top at full force, she decided not to go for her Master degree in Latin American Studies, but choose for a fulltime career in music instead. Susana:”It didn’t take long for me to realize that music is really nearest to my heart and that I would be crazy to not at least try to make my childhood dreams come true. So I basically decided it was time to give it a chance.” That chance worked out just fine, cause only two years later she’s up for her first artist album. On May 7th, 2010, ‘Closer’ will hit the stores.

Closer
‘Closer’ is Susana’s artist album, which has the format of a compilation, with each track being a collaboration with other producers in dance music. Dash Berlin, Omnia & The Blizzard, Mike Shiver, Josh Gabriel, Julian Vincent, Tenishia and Stoneface & Terminal are some of the names that Susana worked with, setting forth a diverse sound. It doesn’t come around very often, that an EDM singer releases a complete artist album. But with a progressive mind and strong determination, Susana is setting new rules for her musical career and that of other EDM vocalists. Susana:”I think that, by pushing boundaries and giving vocalists a bigger platform, the EDM scene is deepening and broadening itself even more.”

Little girl’s dream
All in all, her journey in dance music and the vocal world has been one of success, adventure and opportunities. For Susana, the future’s looking bright and shiny. And that goes way beyond her little girl’s dream. Susana:”I think if someone, ten years ago, would have predicted that I would be where I am right now, working with the people I work with, I don’t think I would have believed it. It’s kind of mind-blowing when I think back to that little girl singing in her bedroom, daydreaming about being a professional singer one day. And look at me now, my childhood dreams are coming true as we speak!“