I’ve dropped Nina Simone’s ‘Come Ye’ for years as the closing song in my DJ sets. The original—just Nina and her drummer—is one of the most beautiful examples of this woman’s sheer power and courage, as an artist and activist. I dreamed of making it more dancefloor friendly, something that could be dropped early in the set, or midway as a seductive change to the movement environment. The lyrics—stepping up to be courageous in your life and society, always aiming for the betterment of the world—offer such a powerful message that I wanted this lesser-known Nina track to circulate.

I came to Duke with the idea in late 2008. He had just returned from one of his many trips to Ethiopia and was hardcore into Ethio-jazz. He went to work quickly; this was actually the second song we recorded together, following our Deva Premal remix. We invited Brandon Terzic to cut guitar and Sylvain Leroux to play his fula flute. Duke played everything else—the clap is a real handclap he recorded on his phone at a Stevie Wonder concert. His kick drum and bass line tastefully brought the song right into the pocket that I had always hoped for. Duke has a gift for making sonic sense of my metaphorical ramblings, and I’m thankful for having found him to do so.

The result, we hope, is something that pays proper honor to Nina Simone’s legacy and work. We are releasing it as a free download in conjunction with our second album, Remixes Are Songs Too, which you can purchase on iTunes and Amazon. Enjoy the journey.—Derek Beres

COME YE

Remixes Are Songs Too is based on the duo’s philosophy that a remix should be treated as an original piece of music; each song features entirely new orchestration and composition, with numerous live players featured throughout. ‘Remixes are often one-dimensional grooves that do not progress as songs,’ says Beres. ‘Ever since our first, we treat each as an original piece of music. Our goal is to make the listener feel as if  we created the original song.’

‘Remixes have evolved into self-sustaining works of art—re-productions, if you will,’ says Mushroom. ‘Behind every great production, there has to be a great song first. The fun of this process for me has been revealing the song through a different lens, be it rhythmic or sonically.’

Africa is the highlight of Remixes Are Songs Too: Nigerian legend Femi Kuti’s political war cry, ‘Demo Crazy,’ is taken at half-speed with a live saxophone solo by Sylvain Leroux, who also adds fula flute on EarthRise’s 6/8 dance track, ‘Sun People,’ originally recorded by New York City DJ Nickodemus. Label mate The Spy From Cairo finds his Arabic dance banger, ‘Jennaty,’ taken into Balkan territory with a heavy Brazilian beat. Malian guitar great Vieux Farka Toure is treated with a Nyabinghi riddim on the spacious version of ‘Sarama.’ The duo spends to North Africa on the blazing dance version of Novalima’s ‘Se Me Van,’ which flips a Colombian song with Bedouin beats, and again on their percussive-fueled take on Bombay Dub Orchestra’s ‘Egypt By Air.’

A few originals emerge: ‘Labyrinths’ was featured as the theme song of the documentary film, DMT: The Spirit Molecule. The haunting track features Carol C, lead vocalist of New York City Latin electronica outfit Si*Se, as well as Yemen Blues on back-up vocals, Dave Eggar on cello and Rachel Golub on violin. Emcees Srikala and Nadhi Devi join in on ‘Metaphysical Fitness,’ EarthRise’s new take on one of their older tracks, ‘Rama.’

Sticking close to their yogic roots, MC Yogi’s anthem, ‘Be the Change,’ is cut like a vintage ‘60s reggae track, with a booming bass line and seduced riddim. Yogi returns to guest emcee alongside Srikala and Devi on the hip-hop devotional track, ‘Govinda Fly,’ sung by Jivamukti Yoga co-founder Sharon Gannon. A remix of Canadian producer Eccodek’s ‘Silent Song’ makes for a perfect yoga practice soundtrack, with its trip-hop, dubwise vibes.

For this duo, music is a political and social tool as much as one for dancing, and this new collection shows their wide-ranging sonic aesthetic. Beres recalls DJing an event for US soldiers and veterans at a New York City megaclub. ‘In the middle of the set, I dropped a few Middle Eastern tracks; everyone was dancing, having a great time. They had just returned from a war against the land and people that produced this music, and yet it moved them on a level perhaps they didn’t understand.’

‘I love and live to use music in breaking down barriers,’ says Mushroom on EarthRise’s cultural mashing. ‘Music is truly a universal language. If the urban-dwelling soldiers fighting in Iraq had been exposed to traditional Iraqi music, they would have found a common thread in the predominant and extremely funky use of the ‘Dance Hall’ beat. When we dance together, we stop fighting.’

Remixes Are Songs Too will be released on Jan 22, 2013. 

‘Metaphysical Fitness’ is available on iTunes.

EarthRise SoundSystem is Derek Beres and David ‘Duke Mushroom’ Schommer.

Srikala: vocals, mridagnam
Luminadi: vocals
Duke Mushroom: beats, instruments, backing vocals

Derek Beres: director, cinematographer, editor
Mike Hull: editor

Yogis: Sasha Dmochowski, Victoria Gordon, Matt Lombardo, Aarona Pichinson, Kevin Yang

The Yoga Sessions

When DJ Derek Beres and multi-instrumentalist and producer David “Duke Mushroom” Schommer, the duo who make up EarthRise SoundSystem, first came together, it was to remix a song by popular kirtan singer Deva Premal. The project, they say, became a mission to re-create what yoga music is. Here, in The Yoga Sessions, a 12-track CD designed to accompany an asana practice, it’s clear they know their subject – and their audience.

From the first notes of “Intention,” featuring singer Morley, you can feel your breath deepen. The tracks wend through a variety of rhythms and paces as you move into your practice.

Echoes of Africa, India, the Middle East, and other places where ancient ways still prevail lend depth and heart to the music’s electronic overtones. And deep, resonant bass is prominent. It weaves hypnotic patterns that gather and release energy like kundalini rising. But it’s Schommer’s earthy percussion that creates and inviting and indelible sense of place and atmosphere – the reverberating sound of human hands meeting organic materials.

Various guest singers and instrumentalists all add their color; the sonic spectrum keeps shifting. By the album’s last track, “Embrace,” again featuring Morley’s hypnotic vocals, you are well ready to fall into Savasana, deeply steeped in the yogic nectar. Alan Di Perna (Yoga Journal, October 2010)

EarthRise SoundSystem

New York studio musicians Derek Beres and Duke Mushroom seamlessly mix Thievery Corporation-style dub beats with original guitar, violin, and tabla recordings into something far beyond the syrupy mess that typically passes for “yoga music.” By deploying traditional Sanskrit chanting alongside Hebrew vocals, they call to mind pioneering world music groups like Dissidenten. Even if you believe that yoga should be done in monastic silence, this is still a great chill-out soundtrack for after practice ends.

EarthRise SoundSystem

Featured artist Lucy Woodward chants, “Here is something to believe in” in the chorus of The Yoga Sessions‘ fifth track “Daylight at Sunset.” If you’re looking for an album to aid your Yoga practice, here is something to believe in. The Yoga Sessions, a compilation of tracks inspired on and for the mat, is the integration of Yoga and music in its finest form, especially when considering the track record of the minds behind the creation. Producers Derek Beres and David “Duke Mushroom” Schommer know what they are doing. Beres has taught Jivamukti Yoga [note: Derek does not teach at Jivamukti] for five years in Manhattan and is a noted DJ, spinning alongside everyone from Karsh Kale to Jamiroquai. Schommer is a first-class percussionist and a platinum-selling producer.The results of their experience and creativity could be enjoyed in any lounge, home or Yoga studio alike.

The songs flow together so fluently they could be one stream of consciousness – one with an inspirational soundtrack for practice. The compilation integrates traditional instrumentals with a 21st century electronically inspired essence. Sessions features performances from a diverse selection of vocalists and musicians. From recording artist Lucy Woodward, Pharaoh’s Daughter Basya Schechter, France’s Morley, Lital Gabai, Morocco’s Hamid Boudali, tabla player Dave Sharma, guitarist Shahar Mintz, Daniel Dworkin to Juno nominee Eccodek, the contributors are both reputable and infinite.

We’re not the only ones who are raving about the album. According to a piece in the Boston Globe, The Yoga Sessions “resembles a Thievery Corporation album, but with the attention to the pace and sequencing of yoga practice.” And one of its tracks, “Rama,” was featured as one of Fitness Magazine’s top 100 songs for 2009.

Read the original review by Vanessa Harris here.

The Yoga Sessions
EarthRise SoundSystem
We say: Yoga music that even yoga-dissers will dig.

There’s a reliable trend that has continued through the decades, that of pairing music compilations with activities, whether it’s a romantic dinner, a retro cocktail party, or a road trip. I can’t say for sure that The Yoga Sessions is the perfect music for contorting yourself and then popping back into a Downward Dog, but EarthRise SoundSystem’s Derek Beres was a yoga teacher for five years, so he ought to know.

I expected this album to be a snoozer, frankly, a new age collection of sleepy tunes meant to promote relaxation and measured breathing. Instead it’s an engaging collection of downtempo worldbeat electronica that stands well on its own. Sure, it would work fine in a yoga studio, but it would also work well in the lounge of a Kimpton hotel. Beres and musical partner David Schommer both have a long list of production credits in their history and they have tapped a variety of interesting vocalists to bring some warmth and repeated listening allure to the project.

Some songs, like “Ajnabee,” feature vocals that are merely another instrument, with no lyrics. The Lucy Woodward vehicle “Daylight as Sunset,” on the other hand, would make Massive Attack proud. This is the clear hit single of the bunch, which is probably why it is featured in two different versions on the CD. “Marom” is another track that could stand well on its own as a chillout lounge staple, featuring Basya Schechter of Pharoah’s Daughter. “May All Beings” is percussive to the point of being danceable and “Rama” takes the overdone sitar music and chants one would normally associate with yoga and twists it into a six-minute Scorpion Pose.

The production is “light up your headphones” stunning, with a rich fullness that sounds even better on a cranked-up stereo system with real bass. There are real instruments throughout too, not just a bunch of bleeps and beats. This is not the kind of crap your massage therapist puts on to set the mood, or something your hack yoga teacher brings in to try to make you think you’re in Haridwar instead of Houston. This is good music that fits a mood, not mere mood music.

Read the original review by Tim Leffel here.