LA’s up-and-coming DJ/Producer Dara Ashrafi makes his mark with his latest genre-defying three-tracker, “Synapse Journey” EP.
Don’t you just love it when the first thing you hear from an artist immediately pulls you in and leaves you wanting more? Though his self-released singles and EPs seem to indicate that he is new to making music, the quality of Dara Ashrafi’s tracks tells me he’s spent quite some time honing his craft. While perusing the young artist’s discographies, one can discover that his earliest productions came out no more than two years ago. How can that be? Either he’s been holding out on us, or he is just that gifted to achieve this level of skill in such a short period of time.
In any case, Ashrafi is quickly establishing himself as one to watch. One of his most notable releases, an excellent EP titled “Right Here, Right Now”, came out earlier this summer on the esteemed Italian label Unrillis and got the ball rolling for the young artist’s promising career. Now, through releases like his latest “Synapse Journey” EP, we are bearing witness to the start of his very own Voodoo Records imprint—a propitiuous independent label that is just getting its legs.
One of the best aspects of this EP is the way it defies expectations by blurring the lines between genres. Starting off the record is the title track “Synapse Journey.” A groovy Techno foundation is quickly confronted by an epic melodic synth lead. A dramatic shift in mood at the first breakdown offers a delightful transition towards a glorious heavenly hook that steals the show. Next is the deep and hypnotic tribal cut, “JZX100.” Rhythmically rich, yet somehow simultaneously stripped back, this is an absolute weapon of a tune.
Last up is one final gem to bid us adieu. “Bound For Eternity” is a superb House record that comes in from out of the blue in the best possible way for a total surprise that ties the whole EP together and makes it truly stand out. Hints of Dub and Acid make this track somewhat nostalgic, perhaps even timeless, but not old sounding. Pure and heartwarming, this closing tune assures listeners that if you enjoy both House and Techno, you aren’t alone, and sometimes they indeed belong together.
Simply put, all three tracks boast a high level of production, and reveal an eclectic artistic sensibility that is sure to deliver the goods for years to come. Support the artist and label with a digital download, linked above.
-Jeronimo Watson
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