Susanne Abbott

No History of Prevention

Susanne Abbott is best known for her work at Zach Theatre, where she’s a five-time Austin Critics’ Table Award winner for her roles in, among others, Jelly’s Last Jam, Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Daniel Johnston-based rock opera Speeding Motorcycle. So, while No History of Prevention is her debut as a singer-songwriter, it possesses an amount of grace and professionalism that first-timers frequently lack. Abbott’s voice is sturdy and powerful, and her sound lands somewhere in the theatrical space occupied by Tori Amos and Jane Siberry. Especially impressive is the multitracking of her vocals, where she sings with herself to ethereal yet attractive effect, on songs like the enigmatic “Silence in Song,” dexterous “On My Head,” and the haunting “Johnson City.” In a world where the amount of navel-gazing folkies is at an all-time high, Abbott stands apart with a vision that’s equally soulful and dynamic.

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This article appears in May 7 • 2010.

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