MUSIC

Singsongy Smith

Forget that Syre is the debut album from one of US actor Will Smith's sons, Jaden Smith, a young actor and singer-rapper in his own right who has recorded many a guest feature and mixtape long before this.

If you're not paying attention to birthright, Syre is a low-key, eccentric, and cinematic hip-hop nu-soul effort.

Half of Syre was coproduced by Norwegian songwriter Lido. Whether on the Lido tracks or beyond-the spacey, low-slung Watch Me, the wonky, thumping Batman-Smith's scattered lyrics are best rendered in his deepest, singsongy manner. His attempt at vocalizing on the caramel jazzy Fallen is fine as wine, as his baritone register tickles an electric piano's tinkling.

Syre is good and certainly promising for the 19-year-old Smith. Just keep it lowdown and deep.