DANI EL-RASSI
Review by Chuck Moore
(Django Bar at Camelot Lounge Marrickville - two seatings)
Singer Dani El-Rassi had a wonderful 2019, from her live show at The Newsagency to her EP launch at OAF [Oxford Art Factory].
Her show(s) at Camelot Lounge’s Django Bar reminded, and re-captured, a sold out audience all over again after “700 years – 9 months of Covid”.
Clear of word in singing and lyric, an engagingly happy El-Rassi, backed by her 3 piece band, has been doing a lot of song writing during lock-down, intrigued by things ranging from Grey’s Anatomy, growing in life experiences and confidence in her writing, and playing with her catching musical voice to see what she can do, rather than blindly following or making artistic shouts.
Anchored in pop (no complaints there), dancing with country, and increasingly confident with soaring vocals (Crazy stood out), part of the singers’ charm is keeping her lyrics grounded in her own reality rather than pretending to be something she isn’t or older than she is right now.
The reclaiming pop moving on from the past (‘Dead to Me’), a genuine throat lump of a thank you to her mum (‘She Is Love’), and a “wise to the irony” of a mid life crisis three years ago... at 23. Her new single ‘This is What It Means To Be Human’ may be perfect for the messy 2020 months (and it is), yet it’s going to outlive them with its genuine, honest and personal voice. Assisted with her band Ethan Pilz (bass), Lauren Allison (drums) and Max Jacobs (guitar), finishing with the jazzy song ("Life is but a moment") that she co-wrote (remotely of course) with touring pal Melbourne’s MAXON who added “a sprinkle of magic”.
There was only one song from her terrific debut EP ‘The Best is Yet to Come’ – her soaring, instantly catchy pop diamond ‘Breathe’ of course - and the new songs were strong enough not to leave people with the “why didn’t she play...” thing (well, maybe a little, for good reasons). NSW audience Rona Rules (as performer Tash York puts it) are “no singing, no dancing”. Everyone obeyed (externally), but it wasn’t easy.
The wider world is in for the same treat from #DaniElRassi ... hopefully soon, for many reasons.
#CamelotLounge #ArtIsWork #DjangoBar
The Camelot Lounge (Django Bar): 29 Oct 2020, two shows (103 Railway Pde, Marrickville)
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