Yemaya (Reimagined )

Two of the most beloved voices in contemporary sacred and devotional music, Deva Premal and Ajeet, come together for the first time on Yemaya (Reimagined,) a heartfelt new collaboration celebrating the spirit of Yemaya, the ocean goddess of the Yoruba tradition. The single will be released worldwide on 4th September.

For Deva, the chant carries a deep personal history. " Yemaya is the most widely venerated Orisha (goddess) of the Yoruba tradition. I have always been drawn to sacred earth chants and Yemaya is especially close to my heart as she is the goddess of the ocean. This beautiful chant came into my life many years ago in 1998 when Miten and I were recording The Essence and for the past three decades we have shared it with kindred spirits all around the world."

This new interpretation was inspired by Deva’s producer and longtime collaborator Joby Baker, whose self-designed five-stringed instrument, the "arbutar", opened an entirely new creative landscape for the song. "Joby's unique instrument brought the chant to life in a new way and opened new doors of creativity. During the process, it felt like the perfect opportunity to invite Ajeet, whose music I have always admired, to join me for a duet."

What followed was a co-creation that unfolded naturally, intuitively and in person. "For many years Deva's voice has been a peaceful and soothing inspiration in my own life," says Ajeet. "Her voice moves like water and effortlessly feels like it comes from some celestial place. As a woman she is warm and deeply kind and has always welcomed me with open arms whenever we meet." Ajeet recalls the recording session as the result of a spontaneous invitation, rather than a carefully planned production. "Deva invited me to come to her home and sing as a last-minute spark of inspiration. She made her world-renowned vegan chocolate mousse, and we drank tea while listening to each other record. We held space and cheered each other on as we sang. This is a rare treat when so many collaborations these days happen oceans apart and rely on technology to create the illusion of closeness."

The recording emerged with ease and flow, reflecting the very spirit of the ocean that inspired it. "No practice, no planning, just a meant-to-be opening. We both let it flow, not too preoccupied with perfection, but tingling with excitement as this unexpected gift unfolded into a beautiful watery healing space." The result is a luminous reimagining of a chant that has touched listeners for decades.

This version honours the roots of the original, whilst bringing together two, distinctive voices, united by a shared reverence for music as a pathway to connection. "Together, we pay homage to the ocean goddess, Yemaya," says Deva. And Ajeet concludes with hope that the track “will echo through the oceans and through the waters of everybody that feels it near, bringing a soft opening and gentle remembering of something ancient within us all."