Seela Misra

Seela Misra
Birth name	Seela Misra
Also known as	Seela
Born	Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Folk, jazz
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Guitar, bass, vocals
Years active	1994–present
Labels	New Improved Music
Website	iamseela.com

Seela Misra is a Canadian-born[1] singer-songwriter residing in Austin, Texas. She was the lead singer of the jazz band TOrcH and is also the back-up singer for Matt the Electrician. Seela is known for an expressive vocal range, "one moment she rasps like a Jersey deli queen, the next she's cooing coquettishly."[2] This is evident in her solo work and when delivering jazz standards with the Jazz Pharaohs[3] or with TOrcH where she has been credited with "unswerving hipness" succeeding where others have failed "in melding her own style with those from the past."[4]

Seela's initial foray into recording, Probably Lucy (1994) conveyed "a spare sultriness,"[2] and was called "a languid acoustic romp through the varied terrain of the poetic heart,"[5] quickly selling out its first pressing. "Dark and atmospheric,"[2] her follow-up album, Something Happened (1999), received criticism for inconsistent songwriting; "the head lady has not found quite enough songs to fill 56 minutes,"[6] while simultaneously admitting "what her songwriting lacks in answers, it makes up for in mood."[2]

Indeed, depth of mood and emotion, thus far, has defined her career and stage presence: "Her stare is direct, like Krishna contemplating Radha,"[2] while her "voice is her main calling card, soft and inviting, belying the darkness in her songs."[7] "Sonically compelling,"[6] Seela is sought out in the Austin music scene, adding vocals to albums across a wide range of genres, while complimenting numerous artists on stage. Seela released her fourth studio album, Valentine in 2013.[8]

Performed with

Sean Hayes, Ian McLagan, Craig Ross, Tom Freund, Stanley Smith, Freedy Johnston, Ephraim Owens, Eric Beverly, Whammo, Jon Greene.

Discography

Solo

• Probably Lucy (1994)
• Something Happened (1999)
• Hard Times Hit (2003)
• Rock With Us (2004) with 4-Eyes, Live
• Valentine (2013)
• Track you Down (2016)
• Cool (2020)

with TOrcH

• Sounds for Staying Home (2002)
• Before the Night is Over (2005)
• Charmed (2007)

See also

• Music of Austin

References

1. "iamseela.com,” official website.
2. Raoul Hernandez, " Seela, Something Happened," Austin Chronicle March 3, 2000.
3. Jay Trachtenberg, "Old Man Time, Lament, One," Austin Chronicle April 23, 2004.
4. Michael Pronko, " Concert Previews, LIVE Torch," Japan Times May 8, 2005.
5. " Something's Cooking, Definitely Seela," Austin Chronicle July 12, 1996.
6. Raoul Hernandez, " Something Happened review," Austin Chronicle December 3, 1999.
7. Jim Caligiuri, " Hard Times Hit review," Austin Chronicle February 27, 2004.
8. Chaiti Sen, "Now For Something Completely Different," Jaggery Lit November 20, 2013.

External links

• Seela Official website