Burgundy is the color that LA-based independent singer-songwriter IRIS gives nostalgia in her new release. As the artist says herself:
“Burgundy takes you back to that feeling where everything feels good and you’re savoring the memories of all the happiness you had with someone and then you get lost . You know it’s wrong but that’s what makes it right .”
She revealed this as she announced the release of her new single, “Burgundy” on Friday, July 16th. The melancholic and dreamy track deals with obsessive naive love. IRIS’ stunning vocal performance perfectly flows over the beautiful spacey guitar and strings.
Grammy award-winning producer Malay (Frank Ocean, Lorde, Sam Smith), writer Trey Campbell (Celine Dion, John Legend), engineer Michelle Mancini, and mixer Raul Lopez contributed to making the track. She debuted the song on July 13th, at The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, part of Writer’s Block Events which showcases up and coming songwriters.
Independent Singer/Songwriter IRIS is starting to make a name for herself with releases like her breakout single Crazy featured on Netflix’s show Santa Clarita Diet. We are meeting the following the release of her new single “Today“. Her soaring vocals, the “seize the day” message and Malay’s production give us something to kindle motivation and light up the dancefloor. IRIS wote Todayalongside Trey Campbell (Celine Dion, John Legend) and Malay (Frank Ocean, Lorde, Sam Smith). The LA-based artist tells us a little more about herself and what is coming next.
1 In Music: How would you describe your music?
Iris: I have an eclectic sound that mixes a lot of the different genres of music that I love. Every song sounds different from the next which I love. I have a more raspy and belting voice which is definitely going to be more prevalent in my new song ‘TODAY‘ along with the releases in the near future.
1 In Music: So what are those different genres of music you love that you have been mentioning? Iris: I really love almost all genres of music. I will listen to Fleetwood Mac or Led Zeppelin and then go to listen to Post Malone or Dua Lipa the next. I’d say it just depends on my mood. I love Classic Rock though (that’s probably my favorite genre).
1 In Music: So, to get from these different sounds to what we hear today from you, who would you say helped you shaped your music and supports you musically?
Iris: I definitely have had so much influence from my main collaborator Malay (he’s my producer/husband). I’m so lucky to have him really listen to my ideas and then turn them into amazing sounding productions. I have to give tons of credit to my main songwriting collaborators Trey Campbell and Paul Phamous. Without them, I wouldn’t have the songs I have out now or in the future! They are truly some of the most talented people I’ve ever met.
1 In Music: When exactly did it click for you that you were going to make music professionally?
Iris: I knew when I was in middle school after I sang my first solo in choir that I wanted to be an artist. I just never gave up on that dream and always involved myself with anything I could musically. For me there was no other option.
1 In Music: Who do you think is the most undervalued music artist?
Iris: Honestly I know a lot of artists that are undervalued. Stacy Barthe, FLetcher, Lennon Stella, Liza Owen to name a few. I think they’re all amazing female artists and I hope we can all lift each other up and change the game. 🙂
1 In Music: We’re curious about the show side of things around here… How do you prepare for your performances?
Iris: WINE! haha – I rehearse like everyone would before and definitely make sure I’m prepared. Mostly though it’s about being calm and collected getting my mind in the right headspace.
1 In Music: What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about?
Iris: I love decorating (interior design), cooking/baking, fashion, and traveling. I love learning about wine from all over the world.
1 In Music: To you, Success is…
Iris:Doing what you love and living with no regrets.
1 In Music: What do you wish you were told when you started out and that you think would help anyone who starts out?
Iris:“It doesn’t happen overnight” and “always stay true to who you are”.
1 In Music: Any upcoming projects?
Iris: I just released my song ‘TODAY’! — there’s definitely more music on the way in the near future too. 1 In Music: Where do we find your music / music project?
Iris: I’m on all music platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc).
1 In Music: Thank you so much for your time Iris. We wish you great things. Iris: I’m excited to share my new music and there’s more to come soon. 🙂
John Legend’s musical artistry can be kind of inconspicuous in the sea of talent and opportunists in the music industry. But once you encounter it, you are taken by the ocean of influences that transpire in his work. It takes quite a musician to create their own sounds with so much diverse inspiration and while never remaining quite the same. Every song has its own individuality albeit the touch of the singer-songwriter’s own brand, own style, own timber.
R & B, Jazz, Gospel, pop, a touch of funk and a bit of fusion nothing is forbidden in this musical adventure. But the clue remains throughout his oeuvres: they are very much grounded in soulfulness and open to experimental sounds. It is sometimes easy to forget that the talented pianist, composer, lyricist, singer and producer has been active since 2000. The likes Kanye West, Dave Tozer, and will.i.am have appeared in the notes of his early music propelling it to the heights that he has maintained if not surpassed since. The journey through this artist’s music definitely pokes the music lover’s interest. Even more interestingly, the touches of musical romanticism spread throughout his pieces are never lost even when he collaborates with hip-hop or sings of cheating.
John Legend in ten songs
All of Me
Made to Love
Bridges – John Legend has featured and co-written or fully written quite his share of songs. He features in this track performed by the powerful and unique vocals of Rebecca Ferguson blending two eras in one song.
If you’re out there
Show Me – A touch of uncomplicated beauty with subtle contretemps absolutely flowing and blending in like a soul getting peace from expressing his reflective turmoil.
Stay With You: A touch of Gospel for this promise song
Preach
Glory: Rapper Common and Legend perform the perfect soundtrack for the motion picture “Selma”. This strings-accompanied anthem supports the film theme about the epic non-violent 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery led by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. (portrayed by David Oyelowo) which led to President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The track is penned by the two music artists and Rhymefest.
I Write The Songs #118 Featured artists is the second part of finding out the origin of the show I Write The songs by Tiki Black aired on Canalside Community Radio for the first time around the 25th of May 2017 with podcast via Mixcloud.
I Write The Songs #118 Featured artists part 1
Joan Baez, Farewell Angelina, 3.12, 1965, Bob Dylan, I Write The Songs 58, and an upcoming IWTS
Father John Misty, Bored In The USA, 4:22, I Love You, Honeybear [Explicit] 2015 Josh Tillman: one of our most featured songs, appearing in I Write The songs #105, #94, #85, #76, #70, #66,
Dee Dee Bridgewater & Ray Charles, Till the next somewhere (aka Precious Thing), 5.04, 2011, (Ronnie Bird, Pierre Papadiamandis): IWTS 64, #95, #60, #49, #45, #35, #83, #72,
Songwriter of the week: Alberta and Chuan Leong aka Pitch Feather
Pitch Feather are the delightful vocals of Alberta Leong and the superb instrument skills of husband Chuan on songs written by these two inspired artists. The band hails from Singapore and serves a nice mix of folk, indie, rock and rock shortened to “indie blue rock”. 1inmusic also did a review of their album Mountains and Tides.
Alberta and Chuan have also released a couple of seasonal singles and we have no doubt that they will be gracing our waves with new melodies soon, or at least we do hope so. Since Mountains and Tides was recorded from November 2011 to July 2013, we are gently expecting something to come along around 2016-17 ;).
Imogen Heap, Thriller (Rod Temperton), 4.27, 2009, England/US Dark Green Tree, Yearn for love, 3.46, 2014-5, UK
Patty Griffin, Rowing song, 3.21, 2008 Eamon Friel, Arrow and Heart, 4.37, 2014 Simon & Garfunkel, The Boxer (live), 4.47, 1969 – event of the week Pitch Feather, Painter’s Symphony, 3.29, 2013
Part 2
Shania Twain, You’re still the One, 3.34, 1998 (dedicated to Sandra and Pierre who are celebrating their 16th anniversary) Keane, Somehwere only we know, 4.17, 2005 Little Sparrow, Garden, 3.45, 2015
Ed Sheeran, Photograph, 4.15, 2014 Pitch Feather, Lavender Girl, 3.24, 2013, Singapore Harry Belafonte and Miriam Makeba, My angel (Malaika), 3.14, South Africa/US
Part 3
Turn your lights down low, Bob Marley & The Wailers, 3.40, 1979 Omara Portuondo, La Sitiera, 3.57, 2000, Cuba (dedicated to Annie, one of our wonderful listeners) John Legend, Ordinary People, 4.38, 2006, US Pitch Feather, Elderflower Fall, 3.22, 2013, Singapore
James Morrison, The Pieces Don’t Fit Anymore, 4.14
Part 1