PV-52 / CLD038
Early 2025 is set to welcome the highly anticipated sophomore release from the Rishis. The Athens, Georgia-based outfit is centered around the songwriting duo of Sofie Lute and Ranjan Avasthi, and has now expanded to a full band with a rotating cast of musicians playing psychedelic folk rock with tinges of world music to add coloring to the mandala.
Lute and Avasthi have been writing songs together for over a decade now, with their debut album, August Moon, being released in 2022 on the Elephant 6 Recording Company label of Cloud Recordings. In addition to the duo, the Rishis regularly feature a variety of artists, including members of Neutral Milk Hotel, the Apples in Stereo, the Olivia Tremor Control, Elf Power, and the Primordial Void collective. Other guest musicians on their new self-titled LP include Mac McCaughan (founder of Merge Records), Robert Schneider (producer of the Elephant 6 Recording Company), co-producer Chris Byron, and Colin Willard & Gregg White of Shang-Ri La Studios in Malibu, California. The Rishis’ newest effort, out February 21st on vinyl and digital formats, picks up where August Moon left off, propelling us forward to explore the inner workings of the collective consciousness.
This sophomore release tells stories of people who have lost their voices, identities, and homelands. But this record is not all wintery forlorn tales, it also illuminates themes of hope and rebirth. The Rishis’ self-titled album plays to the light proclivities of life while also delving into the darker themes that have permeated the last few years in the U.S. and around the world. The band says turning on, tuning in, and dropping the needle on this new record should transport the listener on an aural journey of sorts. The upcoming record was recorded primarily at Nuçi's Space in Athens with some overdubs at Malibu's storied Shang-Ri La Studios. Before its release in February, the Rishis will unveil three songs from the album, with the first track, “Coloring,” breaking the light of day on November 20th of this year. This newest record from the Rishis arrives in a psychedelic landscape, infused with lyrical musings of magical music, harkening back to memories and ideas waiting to be birthed upon hearing these joyful tunes.
Recorded by Chris Byron at Amplify Studios, Athens, GA 8/1/23–8/7/24
Mastered by Ed Brooks at Resonant Mastering, Seattle, WA
Produced by Ranjan Avasthi, Chris Byron, and Sofie Lute
Lacquer cutting by Levi Shevitz at blackbeltmastering.com
Songs written by Ranjan Avasthi except where noted
©2024 Ranjan Avasthi ©RK Records 2024
"Buffalo," "Criminal Activities," "Ride," "Robot Factory" written by Ranjan Avasthi and Sofie Lute ©2024
©RK Records 2024
Cloud Recordings ©2024
Front cover painting "Buffalo" by Lucy Calhoun (lucycalhounx.wixsite.com/lucycalhounart)
Graphic Design by Joshua Pfeffer (joshp.com)
