Rock and Electro Synthesis

If you’ve never heard of her, the name DJ Rap might conjure up a completely different image than a 40-year-old DJ from Singapore’s primarily progressive house and drum and bass oriented music production. Charissa Saverio’s 15 year career has earned her a reputation within the music community as a deftly diverse DJ with powerhouse vocals. Having collaborated with many artists over the years, including music producer BT, Saverio has really showcased her range musically. With the release of Synthesis, she blends her knowledge of club inspired music with rock ‘n roll influences.

Stepping up to the microphone, Saverio shows us her hauntingly beautiful vocals in addition to her ability to mix, making her a talented double threat (or a triple threat if you count how strikingly gorgeous she is). “My World” is the first track on the album and right out of the gate, Saverio’s rock influences are noticeable. Live guitar riffs and drums accompany trancey keys and the focal point of the album, her singing. Synthesis relies heavily on these supporting guitar and drum parts, even offering brief guitar solos, like on “I Just Wanna Feel Good.” The record peaks and dips in energy, building up with fast guitar and synth play and plateauing with nothing but piano and vocals, like on “I Wouldn’t Change a Thing.”

While this isn’t a traditional DJ Rap album with the jungle breaks she is known for, it is nice to see her range in the form of danceable rock ‘n roll. The BPM generally will lead you to believe that Synthesis is a dance album before the rhythm breaks into slowly building synth keys, suggesting a different demeanor. Because of all of these attributes, it is difficult to gauge the quality of Synthesis; that isn’t to say the songs aren’t executed well, far from it. Saverio has created an interesting piece of work here that any fan would admire.