Born From Heartbreak, "I'm Alive" by Dan Miles and SunrYse Celebrates Life

“I’m Alive” by Dan Miles and SunrYse is a beautiful, club-ready song with soul that raises funds and spirits while also celebrating AAPI culture.

First-time collaborators and long time friends SunrYse (real name Sun Yang) and Dan Miles began working on a track together in November 2023. Then, in January 2024, life shifted in a way that neither could predict. That was when Jacqueline, the daughter of Sun’s close friend, passed away just shy of nine months old. From the grief of this loss comes the track “I’m Alive.”

‘I’m Alive’ is more than just a debut release; it marks a major milestone in my journey, allowing me to express my music in a deeper, more personal way than ever before. Collaborating with Dan on this track gave us the space to channel something incredibly meaningful. We included the heartbeat of my friend’s baby daughter, who passed away last year, to keep her spirit alive through the music. Every beat is a reminder that even through grief, there’s still beauty, connection, and life.
SunrYse

Sun and Dan are both deeply embedded in the New York Anjunafamily scene. Dan is known for warming up the dancefloor for Anjunabeats artists at local shows and for his releases on Super8 & Tab’s label, Scorchin’ Progressive. And he has graced festival stages including like Breakaway and Groove Cruise. Sun is the co-founder of TranceFamily NYC and performs at Anjunabeats showcases across the U.S., bringing her presence to both local and national stages. And globally at events like Dreamstate, Anjunadeep Explorations, and Luminosity. As they came together to create ‘I’m Alive,’ their collaboration unfolded with a powerful creative synergy they couldn’t have predicted.

When the finished track was ready for release, the timing couldn’t have been more serendipitous as it was the month of May: AAPI Heritage Month. Both come from Asian backgrounds (Sun is ½ Korean, ¼ Chinese, and ¼ Vietnamese, and Dan is ½ Korean and ½ English), so honoring their culture became another focus.

The release party was hosted at SILO, a local favorite club where drink specials were created in Jacqueline’s memory. SILO donated proceeds from those drinks over the course of the night, kicking off a fundraiser with a $588 contribution. The fundraiser continues with a $25,000 goal curently sits at over $12,000.

‘I’m Alive’ began when SunrYse came to me with a melody idea that resonated. I took that idea, added my own melodic ideas and arrangement, with vocals to shape the emotional arc of the track. Later, she brought me a heartbeat recording — it was from her friend’s baby daughter, who sadly passed away. The track is more than music, it’s a tribute and a celebration of life.
Dan Miles

On top of all these great reasons to support “I’m Alive,” it’s also important to note that the track is absolute fire. Combining light and airy vocals with a deep and moving rhythm, this is undoubtedly a track for the club. It truly has a little something for everyone who is a fan of progressive, melodic music.

And once you know the rest of the backstory, it’s hard not to feel a strong bond with the music as it plays out. Sure, a great track is a great track — but a song with a story is always more deeply memorable.