Rising Voices | People Are People | Cover of Depeche Mode's classic benefitting social equality and justice | NAACP, Southern Poverty Law Center, Headcount, BLM

"I don't understand what makes a man hate another man..."

A collective of 36 musicians in support of social justice and equality organizations, releasing an Orchestral Rock version of Depeche Mode's classic "People Are People." Amongst the collaborating artists are Synthpop legend Marian Gold (Alphaville - „Forever Young“, „Big In Japan“), Grammy-winners, acclaimed Hollywood film composers and prolific session players.

The song was arranged and produced by German-born composer/producer Chris Wirsig, who has been living and working in California since 2012.

The song struck me during the first protests after the horrible murder of George Floyd, and I still had it in my ear with all the reports of excessive police force and racism around the country

Initiator, producer Chris Wirsig

Connect with us

Listen to the song and support social justice organizations

How this works

Every time you listen to our song on a streaming platform or download it from an online store, you're actively donating, as all our proceeds will be given to the three organizations (letting you in on a secret: every play over 31 seconds counts - just saying ;) ).

When downloading from our Bandcamp site, you can even pay your own price to make a higher donation.

Listen now

Watch the video

Download the song

How you can help

Listen

Every time you listen to our song on a streaming platform, you're actively donating a little bit. While it's just a minimal (sub-cent) amount per play, there are millions of people out there who want to see the change in this world, stop racism and create a better society for everyone - and with all these people we can get more streams and a better donation.

Sharing this website, streaming links and information about the project helps - please follow us on social media to get updates. And when sharing, please use the hashtags #risingvoices and #peoplearepeople, and always let your friends know that just liking won't help - streaming and downloading are most important to support the donation.

Buy

While streaming the song takes many, many plays (we're actually talking millions) to raise money for the organizations, downloads from your favorite online stores bring a bigger donation. And when downloading from our Bandcamp site, you can even pay your own price to make a higher donation.

Donate

If you'd like to donate directly, you can do so on our fundraising page at the Southern Poverty Law Center:

Unfortunately the NAACP and HeadCount don't offer personal campaigns, so if you'd rather donate to these organizations, just let us know the amount you gave so we can add that to our overall count.

"I don't understand what makes a man hate another man..."

The song struck me during the first protests after the horrible murder of George Floyd, and I still had it in my ear with all the reports of excessive police force and racism around the country

Connect with us

Listen to the song and support social justice organizations

How this works

Listen now

Watch the video

Download the song

How you can help

Listen

Share

Buy

Donate

The Artists & the Team behind the scenes

Akira Komatsu

Acoustic Guitars

Alexander Boldachev

Harp

Andrew Dalziell

Celli

Carisa Bianca Mellado

Vocals

Chawa Lilith

Vocals

Chris Tedesco

Trombones

Chris Wirsig

Arrangement, Mixing, Production

Cora Chung

Celli

Daniel Wakefield

Vocals

Dale Edward Chung

(D. Edward) Vocals

Dave Greene

Drums

Ethan Gold

Vocals

Fay Baker

Vocals

Halley Feaster

Violins, Violas

Heather Stockwell

Vocals

JD McGibney

Electric Guitars

Jenny J Nam

Piano, Organ

Lauralee Brown

Vocals

Marian Gold

(Alphaville) Vocals

Mark Smythe

Electric Guitars

Michael Engesser

Mixing

Militia Vox

(Judas Priestess) Vocals

Natalie Jean

Vocals

Pete Mills

(The Sweet Kill) Vocals

Queen Chameleon

Vocals

Rayko

(Lolita Dark) Vocals

Rivita Goyle

Vocals

Rogerio Maudonnet

Bass, Percussion

Roxanne Seeman

Vocals

Silvio Buchmeier

Saxophones

Steven Buckner

Piano

Suad Bushnaq

add'l String Arrangement

Surely Lorraine

Vocals

(D. Edward)
Vocals

(Alphaville)
Vocals

(Judas Priestess)
Vocals

(The Sweet Kill)
Vocals

(Lolita Dark)
Vocals