Despite coming from relatively different musical worlds, guitarist Mark Rapa and violinist Simon Vella discovered they had something in common once their individual characteristics were brought together.

Our aim was to use our instruments in the most basic way in order to highlight their best individual characteristics

Their combined propensity to experiment with sounds and styles has in fact led to the duo’s occasional jamming sessions to take on a more defined direction.

The resulting music, collectively represented under the title Raw Musical Expression, will be performed publicly for the first time this coming weekend.

Accompanied by some special guests, Rapa and Vella will give two intimate live performances – one on Saturday and the other on Sunday at St James Cavalier’s Music Room.

Individually, they’re both familiar enough faces on the local music scene. Rapa regularly performs in intimate spaces and Vella is a versatile musician with an extensive portfolio of work that includes two solo albums.

This collaborative project is driven as much by their own personal styles as it is by the sounds acquired since they started working together and reveals a fresh, organic approach on their part.

It is this ‘raw’ essence that forms the core of their upcoming performances; the result, if you will, of the right chemistry triggering a chain reaction of different musical traits, which then morphed into something else.

Although their paths have crossed occasionally, this is their first real collaboration, asVella explains.

“We actually met around two years ago with the aim of working on a different project that had nothing to do with what we’re doing now. It wasn’t really working out, probably because I may have been pushing Mark into a style he wasn’t really comfortable with.”

Rapa says they’ve been more focused this past year, working more closely together through a common desire to diversify our own personal projects.

“After working solo for fifteen years, I felt the need to shake things up a little, and fortunately Simon was looking for someone who played Spanish guitar to set up a new project.”

In a way, what theyare doing now actually came about thanks to that initial‘failed’ project.

“It kind of evolved from what we set out to do. We eventually realised that we should scrap the original project and focus on what came more naturally to us.”

The name Raw Musical Expression immediately suggests the performances will rely on an organic approach.

“The term is one I’ve used constantly when trying to describe what I wanted out of this collaboration,” Rapa says.

Interestingly, when they first started working together, Vella had been interested in incorporating electronic sounds into their live set, but they eventually decided to do without themwhile still aiming for a full and complete sound.

“Because of our basic set-up I had to work hard to adapt a more rhythmic guitar style than I had been previously used to,” the guitarist continues.

“I guess our overall aim was to use our two instruments in the most basic way in order to highlight their best individual characteristics and to demonstrate their surprising versatility.”

And it isn’t just the instruments that are versatile either; with works by the likes of Bach, Astor Piazzolla, Mason Williams, Rodrigo Y Gabriela , Sting and Led Zeppelin included in their set list, Vella and Rapa’s performance will be nothing short of eclectic. But what exactly do they look for when looking for tracks to cover?

“I’m always on the lookout for songs that I’d love to perform,” Vella replies. “I don’t really care where they come from or who wrote them; although learning about their origin usually helps me get deeper inside the song.”

The violinist confides that some of the songs they’ll be playing may have previously featured in some of his earlierprojects, but he’s keen tolet me know they’ve been especially re-arranged for theupcoming concerts.

“The songs have been specifically adapted for this project in order to make their basic elements, essentially the melodies and rhythms, stand outmore without the need forcomplex arrangements.”

Rapa and Vella will also be performing some of their own original compositions. Given Vella’s inclination to work with electronic soundscapes, his compositions have been radically adapted to fit the concert’s moreorganic aspect.

In the case of Rapa’s original songs, primarily solo guitar compositions, these have been adapted and arranged to accommodate both violin and guitar.

“We’ll also be playing some music with a Latin touch that I’ve never performed before,” Vella adds. “We chose them because they fit our sound perfectlyand we both feel at easeperforming them.”

Vella is also pleased that they’ll be playing a particular number by a Maltese composer.

“We’ve included our own adaptation of a very unique composition by Maltese composer Carmel Muscat (il-Captain), who unfortunately passed away a fewweeks ago.”

Although the concert is essentially focused on Vella and Rapa, the violinist and guitarist will be accompanied by a few very special guests.

“We thought it would be a good idea to have some guest musicians on board to enhance the rhythmic and harmonic aspects of our sound,” Vella elaborates.

“Of course, it’s all been done without compromising the organic feel of the project, which is why we opted for percussion and cello.”

Vella says he’s known cellist Philip Zammit since their days playing in the school orchestra, so it was only natural to ask him to be part of RawMusical Expression.

“Over the years we’ve worked together countless times…strangely enough, it usually involves us drawing on our classical backgrounds to perform non-classical music.”

As for percussionist Dru Mayer, Vella says they met while working with Chasing Pandora.

“I was impressed by Dru’s dedication and creativity, and immediately asked him to join us. He was very enthusiastic.”

While the majority of the set will be instrumental music, Vella explains that there will also be a couple of vocal numbers.

“A vocalist can offer a different dimension, so we invited Petra Micallef. There might also be a last-minute surprise addition.”

Raw Musical Expression will be performed at 8p.m. on Saturday and Sunday night at The Music Room, St James Cavalier . For more information visit www.sjcav.org or look up the event page on Facebook.