Inspired by the Kronos Quartet’s version of Hamza El Din’s composition “Escalay: The Waterwheel”, Sister Awake is the result of merging two songs with an incredible instrumental build. Sister Awake defines what the band set out to do, combining three piece rock compositions with music from the world. This song utilized 58 tracks and when it came to mixing they synched up three 24 track machines to get the job done. The complexity of the recording process helped create one of the band’s most beloved songs, consistently ranking as a fan favorite across their entire catalog.

Sister Awake quickly became a highlight and staple of The Tea Party’s live shows. It has evolved with segments of various songs performed in the middle, including “Hurt”, “Paint It Black”, “Heroes”, “The Maker” and more, consistently sending the audience into a frenzy. The band has released several acoustic renditions of the song throughout their career, stripping back the layers to reveal arrangements more closely aligned with Hamza El Din’s original “Escalay: The Waterwheel”. These intimate versions showcase the song’s versatility and Middle Eastern influences that formed its foundation. The band’s follow-up album “Alhambra” features a remixed version of Sister Awake, reimagining the track with additional electronic elements while maintaining its hypnotic core.