By Justin Whyte,
Entertainment Editor
Music writer Claude Levi-Strauss once said "since music is the only language with the contradictory attributes of being at once intelligible and untranslatable, the musical creators are comparable to the gods and music itself, the supreme mystery of the science of man."
If you have been walking or driving through Jack's Hill in St. Andrew or 'chilling' out at Red Bones Cafe, or Harry's Bar in Kingston, you might have met or heard Suzanne Couch, one of Jamaica's most outstanding composers and arrangers.
Her prowess at the piano began at age four, when she learnt to play classical pieces. In fact, Suzanne's good ear for melodies and her playing techniques prepared her for her high school years at Campion College where her predilection for music blossomed. Later, she sought the guidance of Audrey Cooper, tutor at the Jamaica School of Music, with whom she studied piano between 1974 and 1976.
In 1978 she went off to Florida to attend the Brevard Community College.
"On returning home in 1980, I joined the Native Band, along with my husband Peter for which I played piano and also did vocals," she told Showtime.
Blessed with a unique composing talent and a gift of song, she formed an alliance with Brian Jobson, of Native Band, who is also a notable lyricist.
"Brian would write all these lyrics and through the medium of telephone we compared our various songs. Then with the assistance of my husband, who is also a musician, music was added," she explained.
Suzanne is not afraid to experiment and 'take risks' with music. In describing herself as "a songwriter more than a performing artiste or instrumentalist", she was encouraged to sing more by her friends.
Suzanne's ability was recognised by the wider community when she placed third in the Jamaica Cultural Development Festival Song competition in 1997. She also came in third in the Caribbean Song Festival in 1994, with her song Come Away With Me.
Suzanne is famous for her 'spicey' romantic ballads, comprising emotive lyrics matched by well conceptualised musical arrangements. She seems to possess an unmatched gift for song writing, having written more than 100 songs so far.
"I get my inspiration by just playing the piano. Images get conjured up and the ideas just flow," she said.
This musician sees enduring artistes such as the Stylistics and Dionne Warwick as her idols. She also met Roberta Flack when the American artiste visited the studios of musician, Mickey Bennett.
"Since then we became friends and keep in touch. She was asked in an interview who in Jamaica she would like to work with and she replied, 'Suzanne Couch'," Suzanne told Showtime.
Recently, Suzanne completed her most cherished album Lifeline, with input from her husband Peter and Brian Jobson, who co-wrote the songs. The album contains 12 tracks, each strong enough to be single releases.
"I will be back in the studio come March 2001 to do another album. But this time I want to do more songs with an African concept," she told Showtime.
"Most of my songs were written bearing in mind an international audience. I hope to perform them and I would like other people to do my songs too," she said.
Has the songwriter's style changed much over the years?
"Yes it has somewhat, but I am still a balladeer, just a little more folksy and eclectic now. My repertoire comprises love songs, breaking-up songs and for the very romantic," she said.
Suzanne has plans to re-organise and refurbish her recording studio which took her some three years to open. Her only daughter Sarah is "into the recording of poetry" and has no interest in music at the present time, Suzanne said.
Suzanne, who began her professional music career about 15 years ago, feels she has not been given the chance she deserves.
"I have had a hard time fighting to be accepted in the music fraternity, maybe because I am a woman. However, things are changing and I am being accepted now. Still female artistes are not being booked for major shows and I strongly believe we need more females in the system," she said.
