Drawing us in with emotive piano chords and a theatrical, philosophical energy, The Phirejets open Rise Up with the lyrics, “It’s something that’s been goin’ on, since the start of time, before Bing asked his brother if he might spare him a dime, we take a look around our world and see the mud and slime, so we grab our pen and paper and we put it into rhyme, and then we rise up…”
We are immediately captivated by the metaphorical depth and the conscious, revolutionary vibes that manifest, as well as the powerhouse vocals from Erica Brown. The opus quickly expands into an anthemic rock soundscape filled with drama and intrigue, memorable hooks, and an undeniable live-band energy that captures the spirit of classic protest music.
The vocal production changes are refined and dynamic, and we love the cultural references. Erica Brown‘s commanding vocal performance anchors the song, whilst the band’s undeniable instrumental mastery comes to life with an almost Gloria Gaynor-level of emotion and passion.
In essence, Rise Up explores the growing division and unrest shaping modern society. It asks us whether we will remain passive or choose to stand together. The message feels super zeitgeist and advocates for rising above division through dialogue, compassion, and shared humanity.
We could imagine Rise Up being featured in a film like the Oscar-winning One Battle After Another, while its stadium-sized energy would also feel perfectly at home in a series like The Boys during one of its politically charged sequences. There is no doubt that fans of Tina Turner, Betty Davis, Nina Simone, and Aretha Franklin would appreciate what The Phirejets have created.
We appreciate how The Phirejets balance a serious message with genuinely entertaining songwriting. Needless to say, we have added Rise Up to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream The Phirejets‘ growing discography and anticipate the remaining singles from their forthcoming album.