The new EP Make Me sees Mario Navajo joining forces with Ëyris for a release that moves confidently between afrobeat-inflected grooves and deep house atmospheres. Out via MYR as the label’s thirty-eighth catalogue entry, the project unfolds as a compact yet focused exploration of rhythm, texture and vocal presence, revealing a collaboration that feels deliberate rather than accidental.
Across its three versions, Make Me builds its identity around a rhythmic architecture that immediately recalls the fluidity of afrobeat patterns while maintaining the structural clarity of deep house. The percussive framework carries much of the track’s character: layered drum hits, subtle syncopations and gently shifting accents form a groove that feels both organic and synthetic. Rather than overwhelming the listener with complexity, the rhythm section operates with restraint. It breathes, leaving space between the beats, allowing the track to move with an almost hypnotic steadiness.
The Mario Navajo Edit, which opens the EP, introduces the central aesthetic in its most complete form. The groove arrives gradually, led by low-end pulses that settle into a warm but controlled bassline. Around it, percussive elements unfold in small variations—tiny rhythmic shifts, slight delays in the hi-hats, occasional dark accents that add tension without disturbing the flow. There’s a sense of movement within the groove itself, as if the rhythm were quietly evolving while the track progresses.
Over this foundation, the synth work plays a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere. The melodic elements are minimal yet carefully layered. Pads stretch across the background with a soft, almost hazy texture, while sharper synth tones appear intermittently, cutting through the mix with brief melodic gestures. The sound design leans toward a modern deep house palette, but with an edge that occasionally hints at darker club spaces. At times the synths feel distant and spacious; at others they tighten around the groove, creating a subtle tension that keeps the track dynamic.
Mario Navajo’s vocal presence brings a human dimension to the otherwise electronic landscape. His voice sits comfortably within the arrangement, never overpowering the instrumentation but instead interacting with it. The phrasing follows the rhythm rather than floating above it, reinforcing the groove instead of interrupting it. There is a certain warmth in the delivery—measured, slightly introspective—that contrasts nicely with the synthetic textures surrounding it.
The Instrumental Mix shifts the focus entirely toward the production itself. Without the vocal line, the rhythmic structure becomes more exposed, revealing the careful layering beneath the surface. The percussion patterns feel more pronounced here, and the darker tonal details in the synth work emerge more clearly. Small atmospheric elements—reverb tails, subtle modulation effects—add depth to the track, giving it a sense of space that suggests both underground club settings and larger dancefloor environments.
In the Radio Edit, the track condenses its structure while preserving the core elements that define the EP. The groove remains intact, the synth palette retains its atmospheric character, and the vocal line continues to serve as the emotional anchor. The shorter format highlights the track’s melodic simplicity, allowing the main ideas to appear with greater immediacy.
What ultimately defines Make Me is the balance it achieves between rhythm and atmosphere. The afrobeat-inspired groove provides a lively, danceable core, while the deep house textures maintain a contemplative mood. It’s a combination that feels increasingly present in contemporary electronic music, yet here it is handled with a level of precision that gives the release a distinctive identity.
Within the context of MYR’s catalogue, the EP fits comfortably alongside the label’s commitment to modern electronic sounds that merge club functionality with thoughtful production. At the same time, it marks an interesting point in the ongoing collaboration between Ëyris and Mario Navajo, whose artistic paths seem to intersect naturally within this sonic space.
Make Me ultimately presents itself as a carefully constructed statement—rhythmically immersive, atmospherically detailed and shaped by a collaboration that brings together technical refinement and expressive intent. For listeners attentive to the evolving intersections of afrobeat grooves and deep house aesthetics, this EP offers a concise yet compelling listening experience.