Dj Rap
Rap has been out of the limelight ever since, working on 'Learning Curve', an album which takes
drum n' bass as a vehicle, not a destination. There are tearing drum n' bass tunes, true, but tracks
like the single, 'Bad Girl', sound like a big beat answer to Madonna's latest album or an angst-free
Garbage. It's not afraid of being out there on it's own, or of pissing people off. It's a lot like
DJ Rap.
Rap comes into the room, ill and exhausted after the 'Bad Girl' video shoot and from mastering her
album. Her voice, ravaged by the air-conditioning at the hotel used for the shoot, is husky. She's
worried she sounds like Donald Duck but with her broad East London accent she's more like a young
Barbara Windsor on 40 a day.
She's still wary of the press - the topless shots she did for the tabloids over a decade ago under
her real name, Charissa Saverio, are still reprinted whenever she puts a record out - so she's
charming but there's understandable caution. She warns Mixmag not to misquote her. We wouldn't dare.
'Learning Curve' is only half drum n' bass and has the ability to cross over, while most drum
n' bass albums appeal only to the fans. So has drum n' bass lost its way?
"Oh, I think it's gone back into itself. I think it's gone through that warp hole. Everyone was
expecting that it'd be huge, weren't they? But
I think it's a lot purer now. It's strictly for the clubbers. I like that personally, but I do think
it's shrinking."
You don't seem to have the jazz, funk and electro influences that every other drum n' bass producer
grew up on.
"I'm a fake, ha! The only music I was ever allowed to listen to at boarding school was classical
music so there's no background. The first music I really got into was when I started raving. I'm
a complete fake."
Why did you disappear for so long after JDJ and 'Intelligence'?
"I just wanted to be left alone. You're right, I disappeared. And I loved every minute of it. I
have nothing to fear about disappearing. I was grafting really hard on this album. If you know
you've got it, take your time. I'm not one of those people who's like, 'Ohmahgod! People aren't
talking about me!' and freaking out. Who gives a fuck?"
Did the Jungle Committee incident make you keep your distance from the scene?
"I do keep my distance. Before that I used to rave every week. It made me think, 'Fuck this -
from now on you're on your own'. I'm very into not being involved in the politics and bullshit
because I've been there, I know what it's like and my time is too valuable to get caught up in this shit."
Have you made up with the people at that meeting now?
"Yeah, it's all cool. You've got to understand, I'm quite a fiery bird. I had big arguments with
all the DJs that day. It wasn't pleasant but I stuck to my guns and I got respect for that. Yeah,
you fall out with people but we're all tight. What I didn't like was being harassed and put into a
corner. At the end of the day you've got to do what's right for you and if it means falling out with
the whole world then so be it. I'm not into conforming and what I like about this scene is that it
was made up of people who were a bit weird and couldn't find a niche. It's like a whole dysfunctional
family.
Have you always felt in control of your career?
"Yeah. I'm incapable of working a nine to five job. I can't just stick to DJing and doing drum n'
bass because after a while even that becomes routine. That's what kills me - routine. I've worked
in Selfridges, I've worked in a garage, I've trained to be a lawyer, I've sung in clubs. I can't
hold a job down but this is different."
Dj Rap continue