Wikipedia

Rahul Suntah

Rahul Suntah (born June 6, 1997) is a Mauritian composer, music producer and pianist.[1][2] Rahul was featured on BBC and ITV for his viral piano covers of popular songs reaching millions of views on Instagram and his innovative ways of playing the piano.[4][5]

Rahul Suntah
Born (1997-06-06) June 6, 1997 (age 27)[1][2]
Quatre Bornes, Mauritius
OriginMauritius
Genres
Occupation(s)Composer, arranger, music producer, pianist
Instruments
Years active2005–present[3]
Labels
Websiterahulsuntah.com

Early life

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Suntah is a classically trained pianist who started learning the piano aged 8, at the Frederic Chopin Conservatory of Music situated in his hometown in Mauritius where he studied ABRSM Piano and Music Theory for 7 years.[3] Suntah attended the Collège du Saint-Esprit in Mauritius from 2009 to 2016 for his Higher School Certificate and his A-level.[6] Suntah pursued his tertiary studies abroad in the UK and got his Bachelor's degree in Audio and Music Technology from UWE Bristol in 2019 and his Master's degree in Composition for Film and Television from the University of Bristol in the UK in 2021.[3][7] Suntah temporarily moved to Carlisle after his studies before moving to London in 2022 for 2 years where he worked as a professional pianist and a music teacher.[8][9][10]

Career

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Suntah began composing music at the age of 13 and was a self-taught pianist after finishing his ABRSM Grade 5 exams.[4][5] After finishing high school, Suntah decided to pursue his studies in Audio and Music Technology at the University of the West of England in Bristol in 2016, graduating in July 2019 with focus in composition, production and sound engineering.[11] During his time at university he was among the winners of the annual UWE Bristol Talent Show in 2019.[3] In February 2020, Suntah independently released his debut EP entitled Piano Stories entirely composed and self-produced by himself.[12][13][14] In August 2020, Suntah was among the finalists of the Mauritian talent show Zenes Montre To Talan depi Lakaz.[15] In early 2021, Suntah was featured as a spotlight artist on BBC Music Introducing talking about his original composition Paradise Island which eventually made the list for the top tracks of 2021.[16][17][18] Suntah started getting recognition online after several of his videos went viral on Instagram and Facebook such as his piano rendition of Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca.[19][20] His first ever viral video was his cover of the popular hit Despacito in 2017, which had attracted over ten thousand followers on his instagram page in the span of a few weeks.[5]

Passionate about cinematography and film music, Suntah pursued a Master's degree in Film Scoring on scholarship at the University of Bristol, graduating in 2021.[20] His cover of Gorillaz's Feel Good Inc. caught the attention of the popular American viral video show Right This Minute, was featured on BBC Radio Bristol's website in October 2021 and currently has millions of views on his instagram.[21][22] Suntah was invited to play at a prestigious concert in Manchester Cathedral in February 2022 and was interviewed by british news programme ITV News about his musical career and his first UK concert.[5][23] Suntah subsequently had his first solo concerts in Bristol and London in 2022.[24] Suntah's cover of I'm So Excited by The Pointer Sisters was used in Maandag 's TV advert, a Dutch recruitment agency promoting new jobs in Amsterdam. Suntah was invited to star in the commercial in November 2022 directed and produced by The Family Amsterdam, an advertising agency working with the likes of Cara Delevingne and Snoop Dogg and was also invited to open for Maandag 's award show.[25] Suntah was featured as a green room guest on BBC Radio London to chat about his career and perform live on radio.[9] Suntah gave an exciting opportunity to young piano prodigy Rebecca Seziba from Cape Town, who went viral in early 2023, to join him in a virtual duet for his original composition Home Bound.[26] The story attracted the support of popular american actress Viola Davis who shared their collaboration on her instagram page.[27] Suntah had his first sold out solo show in his homeland Mauritius in 2024. [28][6][10]

Musical style and influences

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Rahul has been described as a versatile musician and a piano prodigy[3] known for blending Classical and Popular music and for reshaping the way the piano is played, using unconventional piano extended techniques and live loop setups with a Novation Launchpad[1] while also incorporating a wide range of other musical genres such as Electronic, Jazz, Rock, Pop, R&B, Bollywood and EDM.[4] Rahul cites many artists that influenced and inspired him across many genres such as Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Charlie Puth, Jacob Collier, Jamie Cullum, Daft Punk, Michael Jackson, Queen, Peter Bence, The Piano Guys and many more.[13]

Discography

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List of Studio Albums/EPs/Singles by Rahul Suntah
Album/EP/Single Details
Piano Stories (EP)
  • Released: February 1, 2020
  • Format: Digital download, Streaming
  • Tracklist:
  1. Space Wander
  2. Stardust Lullaby
  3. Moon Waltz
  4. Paradise Island
  5. Home Bound [29][30]
Cinematic Wonders (Album)
  • Released: December 19, 2021
  • Format: Digital download, Streaming [7]
Horizons (Single)
  • Released: November 7, 2022
  • Format: Digital download, Streaming [31]
Super Piano (Album)
  • Released: December 21, 2023
  • Format: Digital download, Streaming [32]

Published Sheet Music Arrangements

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  • Paradise Island, Rahul Suntah
  • Space Wander, Rahul Suntah
  • Home Bound, Rahul Suntah
  • Fly me to the Moon, Frank Sinatra
  • Blinding Lights, The Weeknd
  • Underdog, Alicia Keys
  • She Will Be Loved, Maroon 5
  • Shape of You, Ed Sheeran
  • Despacito, Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee
  • Échame la Culpa, Luis Fonsi & Demi Lovato
  • The Avengers, Alan Silvestri
  • Señorita, Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
  • Another One Bites the Dust, Queen.[33]

Awards

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Year Organisation Award Result Ref
2019 UWE Bristol UWE Bristol's Got Talent 2019 Won [3]
2020 Ministry of Youth, Empowerment, Sports & Recreation Zenes Montre To Talan Depi Lakaz 2020 Nominated [15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Rahul Suntah A Composer, Producer And Pianist From Mauritius". The Music Man. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "About". Rahul Suntah. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Santoo, Roshnee (25 May 2020). "Rahul Suntah: Le prodige du piano". Le Dimanche/L'Hebdo. Mauritius. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Sophie Grubb (18 June 2021). "Pianist who went viral on Instagram dreams of his music making the big screen". Bristol Live. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Fiona Marley Paterson (17 January 2022). "Listen to the pianist from Cumbria taking social media by storm". ITV News. ITV. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b Nathalie Marion Mungur (30 June 2024). "Rahul Suntah : le Mauricien qui repousse les limites de la musique pianistique traditionnelle". Defimedia.info. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Bristol graduate with Hollywood dreams releases first album". University of Bristol. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  8. ^ Chelsea Connor (12 January 2022). "Carlisle Pianist Rahul Suntah looks to the future". News & Star. The Cumberland News. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  9. ^ a b "The Scene with Alice Dale - 21/11/22". BBC. BBC Sounds. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  10. ^ a b Norbert Louis (15 July 2024). "Dans les coulisses du piano – Rahul Suntah : de la diversité musicale". Le Mauricien. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  11. ^ Yvonne Stephen (2 June 2020). "Rahul Suntah, pianiste : son histoire, son album". 5-Plus Dimanche. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  12. ^ Ellie Pipe (16 June 2021). "Talented Bristol Pianist Launches Debut EP". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Rahul Suntah, pianiste : Une touche magique". Le Mauricien. Scope Magazine. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  14. ^ Miguel Hermelin (7 September 2020). "Emission: Le Club du lundi 07 Septembre 2020". Radio One. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Zenes Montre To Talan depi Lakaz". Defimedia.info. Defimedia. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  16. ^ James Threlfall (1 January 2022). "BBC Music Introducing in the West". BBC. BBC Sounds. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  17. ^ James Threlfall (13 February 2021). "BBC Music Introducing in the West". BBC. BBC Sounds. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  18. ^ Adam Crowther (10 March 2021). "Upload on BBC Radio Bristol". BBC. BBC Sounds. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Rahul Suntah, un jeune pianiste Mauricien réveille ses voisins en jouant du Mozart". Zinfos Moris. E.Moris. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Talented student releases first EP 'Piano Stories'". University of Bristol. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  21. ^ Nick Calderone (5 October 2021). "Composer Performs One-Man-Band Version Of Gorillaz 'Feel Good Inc.'". RightThisMinute. Allen Matsika. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  22. ^ Adam Crowther (5 October 2021). "Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc. (Piano Solo by Rahul Suntah)". BBC. Adam Crowther. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  23. ^ Sarski Anderson (5 October 2021). "Bristol composer with Hollywood dreams". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  24. ^ "Rahul's Rhapsody". Tobacco Factory Theatres. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  25. ^ "The Family ontwikkelt nieuwe campagne voor Maandag". Adformatie. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  26. ^ Maddy Shaw Robberts (31 January 2023). "9-year-old pianist scores duet deal after viral shopping centre video". Classic FM. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  27. ^ Viola Davis (16 June 2023). "Talented 9-year-old pianist #RebeccaSeziba scored a duet deal after this viral shopping centre video". Instagram. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  28. ^ "Rahul Suntah : Piano Odyssey". Caudan Arts Centre. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Music". Rahul Suntah. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  30. ^ "Piano Stories - EP by Rahul Suntah". Apple Music. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  31. ^ "Horizons - Single by Rahul Suntah". Apple Music. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  32. ^ "Super Piano - Album by Rahul Suntah". Apple Music. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  33. ^ "Rahul Suntah Sheet Music". Musicnotes. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
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