In Diversity Shredder, Charlene Kaye’s energy is palpable and unrelenting. She really does pack every minute of the show with material, with applaudable showmanship. The show follows Kaye on a journey of discovery to find her own musical identity, starting with a mini history of music – from the problematic depictions of Japan in The Vapors’ music, to K-pop hitting the mainstream today. Kaye’s a master of uncovering these magical musical formulas found in pop, and in making them funny, with spot on impressions, of K-pop tracks and pop princesses like Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga.
While a shredder on the guitar, Kaye is also a talented musical theatre performer and comic voice, and this blend of genres speaks to the narrative of the overall show: how Kaye has taken a long time trying to find her own voice.
The set is chocked full of songs, immaculately planned with back-to-back singing, Hamilton style, there’s rarely 2 minutes that go by without a song or a riff. Her use of media is tight and effective, boosting the overall production value of the show. Kaye is geared for a big venue, in a stadium, on full volume, with lights, lasers, smoke and wind machines (as opposed to the leaf blower that Kaye appoints an audience member to blast at her during this set).
One of the tracks ‘fill my hole’, a spoof christian rock song, for me is reminiscent of the Book of Mormon’s ‘Baptise Me’, evoking humour and eye brow raises in equal supply. The room love it, with Kaye rallying the audience to stand up, sway, and sing along.
The conclusion of the show is heartwarming, as Kaye is visited by a wise rock idol, who helps her see that the individual voice has been in her all along. She’s achieved musical and spiritual enlightenment, that Bowie himself would be proud of.
You can catch Diversity Shredder every day until Sunday 30th August @ 8:20 PM at The Den at Gilded Balloon Teviot. Tickets here.
