This song of hope was written for and is dedicated to China's Pink Martini bandmate Derek Rieth, who lost a long battle with bipolar disorder when he took his own life in 2014.
From China Forbes: "When my bandmate and great friend, Derek Rieth, was suffering with depression, I sent him a text with some imagery that I thought might help him: 'Rise to the surface of the water, so you can feel the sun on your face again...' I thought that if he stopped resisting the phase he was in, he would rise up out of its grasp. But depression is a desperate, enervated place, and too many of us cannot see a way out. After Derek died by suicide, the words in my text became a song—a song that I hope will help anyone who is suffering from hopelessness. There is hope, and I hope you can feel it."
About the creation of the “Rise” video, Forbes states: “Making this video on the top of a cliff touching the heavens brought me closer to Derek. Dancing with members Derek’s samba community brought me closer to him. When we lose our loved ones, any way to stay connected is like finding treasure. I wanted this video to pay tribute to Derek’s memory and capture the joy and hope in life that is available to all of us if we can find it. I want this video to help anyone struggling to stay alive.”
