Rahul Suntah
Birth date6 June 1997 (age 29)[1][2]
Birth placeQuatre Bornes, Mauritius
OriginMauritius
Genre
OccupationComposer, arranger, music producer, pianist
Instruments
Years active2005–present[3]
Label
Websiterahulsuntah.com

Rahul Suntah (born 6 June 1997) is a Mauritian composer, music producer and pianist.[1][2] Rahul attracted significant media attention from platforms such as 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]

Early life

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

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 invited a young piano prodigy named Rebecca Seziba from Cape Town, who went viral in early 2023, to join him in an online virtual duet for his original composition Home Bound.[26] The collaboration and story attracted major international media attention from platforms such as e.tv and Classic FM as well as the support of popular american actress Viola Davis who shared their collaboration on her instagram page.[26][27] Suntah had several sold out headline shows in his homeland Mauritius and was nominated for The Outstanding Young Person Award by JCI Mauritius in 2025.[28][29][30][31] Suntah is currently working on his debut original piano album.[28][6]

Musical style and influences

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, EDM, Jazz, Rock, Pop, R&B, Bollywood and Sega.[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

List of Studio Albums/EPs/Singles by Rahul Suntah
Album/EP/SingleDetails
Piano Stories (EP)
  • Released: 1 February 2020
  • Format: Digital download, Streaming
  • Tracklist:
  1. Space Wander
  2. Stardust Lullaby
  3. Moon Waltz
  4. Paradise Island
  5. Home Bound [32][33]
Cinematic Wonders (Album)
  • Released: 19 December 2021
  • Format: Digital download, Streaming [7]
Horizons (Single)
  • Released: 7 November 2022
  • Format: Digital download, Streaming [34]
Super Piano (Album)
  • Released: 21 December 2023
  • Format: Digital download, Streaming [35]

Published Sheet Music Arrangements

  • 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
  • Snowman, Sia
  • STAY, Justin Bieber & The Kid LAROI.[36]

Awards

YearOrganisationAwardResultRef
2019UWE BristolUWE Bristol's Got Talent 2019[3]
2020Ministry of Youth, Empowerment, Sports & RecreationZenes Montre To Talan Depi Lakaz 2020[15]
2025JCI MauritiusThe Outstanding Young Person Award 2025[29][30]

References

  1. ^ "Rahul Suntah A Composer, Producer And Pianist From Mauritius". The Music Man. June 13, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "About". Rahul Suntah. April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  3. ^ Santoo, Roshnee (May 25, 2020). "Rahul Suntah: Le prodige du piano". Le Dimanche/L'Hebdo. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  4. ^ Sophie Grubb (June 18, 2021). "Pianist who went viral on Instagram dreams of his music making the big screen". Bristol Live. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Fiona Marley Paterson (January 17, 2022). "Listen to the pianist from Cumbria taking social media by storm". ITV News. ITV. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  6. ^ Nathalie Marion Mungur (June 30, 2024). "Rahul Suntah : le Mauricien qui repousse les limites de la musique pianistique traditionnelle". Defimedia.info. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  7. ^ "Bristol graduate with Hollywood dreams releases first album". University of Bristol. December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  8. ^ Chelsea Connor (January 12, 2022). "Carlisle Pianist Rahul Suntah looks to the future". News & Star. The Cumberland News. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  9. ^ "The Scene with Alice Dale - 21/11/22". BBC. BBC Sounds. November 21, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  10. ^ Norbert Louis (July 15, 2024). "Dans les coulisses du piano – Rahul Suntah : de la diversité musicale". Le Mauricien. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  11. ^ Yvonne Stephen (June 2, 2020). "Rahul Suntah, pianiste : son histoire, son album". 5-Plus Dimanche. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  12. ^ Ellie Pipe (June 16, 2021). "Talented Bristol Pianist Launches Debut EP". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  13. ^ "Rahul Suntah, pianiste : Une touche magique". Le Mauricien. Scope Magazine. August 31, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  14. ^ Miguel Hermelin (September 7, 2020). "Emission: Le Club du lundi 07 Septembre 2020". Radio One. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  15. ^ "Zenes Montre To Talan depi Lakaz". Defimedia.info. Defimedia. August 28, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  16. ^ James Threlfall (January 1, 2022). "BBC Music Introducing in the West". BBC. BBC Sounds. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  17. ^ James Threlfall (February 13, 2021). "BBC Music Introducing in the West". BBC. BBC Sounds. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  18. ^ Adam Crowther (March 10, 2021). "Upload on BBC Radio Bristol". BBC. BBC Sounds. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  19. ^ "Rahul Suntah, un jeune pianiste Mauricien réveille ses voisins en jouant du Mozart". Zinfos Moris. E.Moris. March 28, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  20. ^ "Talented student releases first EP 'Piano Stories'". University of Bristol. June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  21. ^ Nick Calderone (October 5, 2021). "Composer Performs One-Man-Band Version Of Gorillaz 'Feel Good Inc.'". RightThisMinute. Allen Matsika. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  22. ^ Adam Crowther (October 5, 2021). "Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc. (Piano Solo by Rahul Suntah)". BBC. Adam Crowther. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  23. ^ Sarski Anderson (October 5, 2021). "Bristol composer with Hollywood dreams". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  24. ^ "Rahul's Rhapsody". Tobacco Factory Theatres. June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  25. ^ "The Family ontwikkelt nieuwe campagne voor Maandag". Adformatie. November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  26. ^ Maddy Shaw Robberts (January 31, 2023). "9-year-old pianist scores duet deal after viral shopping centre video". Classic FM. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  27. ^ Viola Davis (June 16, 2023). "Talented 9-year-old pianist #RebeccaSeziba scored a duet deal after this viral shopping centre video.". Instagram. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  28. ^ "Rahul Suntah : Piano Fantasia". Caudan Arts Centre. September 17, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  29. ^ "The Outstanding Young Person Award". JCI Mauritius. October 19, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  30. ^ "Honoured to have been nominated for "The Outstanding Young Person" Award 2025 by JCI Mauritius! My heartfelt gratitude to everyone supporting me in the last few years". Facebook. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  31. ^ "An Evening at the Piano with Rahul Suntah". Domaine de Labourdonnais. June 28, 2025. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  32. ^ "Music". Rahul Suntah. May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  33. ^ "Piano Stories - EP by Rahul Suntah". Apple Music. February 1, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  34. ^ "Horizons - Single by Rahul Suntah". Apple Music. November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  35. ^ "Super Piano - Album by Rahul Suntah". Apple Music. December 21, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  36. ^ "Rahul Suntah Sheet Music". Musicnotes. May 25, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.