Due for release on October 16 via Embassy One, the Grammy-winning producer remixes one of the defining tracks from Janus Rasmussen’s acclaimed 2026 album ‘Inert’.
Following the release of his highly lauded solo album ‘Inert’ on Embassy One in June, Reykjavík-based producer Janus Rasmussen now invites Joseph Ray to put his own mark on ‘Fumes’. Known for a sound that moves fluidly between club-driven production and the more atmospheric edges of electronica, Ray approaches the track with a focus on rhythm, tension and momentum, transforming Rasmussen’s original into something expansive, muscular and dynamic.
Due for release on October 16, the remix follows pølaroit’s rework of ‘Doom’, the first reinterpretation to emerge from the Inert album cycle. Where the German duo brought their organic instrumentation and melancholic sensibility to Rasmussen’s composition, Ray takes ‘Fumes’ in a driving breakbeat direction, reshaping its rhythmic framework while opening up the track’s atmospheric qualities.
There’s a natural connection between the two artists’ approaches. Rasmussen’s work is defined by a careful balance of intricate sound design, melody and emotion, while Ray has spent his career moving between the physicality of the dancefloor and more expansive forms of electronic music. Both understand the value of restraint, allowing atmosphere and gradual progression to shape the experience rather than relying on excess.
Ray’s own catalogue has evolved considerably since the release of ‘Room 1.5’ on Anjunadeep in 2019. His work has moved between heavier, techno-leaning productions and more melodic, vocal-forward material, reflecting a restless curiosity and willingness to experiment. As part of NERO and through his solo work, he has developed a distinctive approach that continually blurs the boundaries between club music, electronica and songcraft.
His remix arrives as Inert continues to open up through the work of other artists. Released in June, Rasmussen’s most ambitious solo project to date explored themes of inertia, creative freedom and personal momentum, while bringing his own vocals further into the foreground. Across the album, intricate electronics, melodic movement and emotional songwriting come together to create a world that leaves plenty of room for reinterpretation.
With pølaroit and now Joseph Ray offering markedly different perspectives on the record, the remix series highlights the depth within Rasmussen’s compositions. Each rework reveals another layer of Inert, extending its musical language while allowing the contributing artists to bring their own identities firmly into the frame.
Janus Rasmussen – Fumes (Joseph Ray Remix) is released October 16, 2026 via Embassy One