With her music, Berlin-based singer, songwriter, and producer IRYS create strong imagery; dark, distinct, and damn appealing! Her “future-retro” sound is a catchy, rather goth approach to electro-pop, with darkwave and indie electronica elements. IRYS’ sultry voice builds an exciting contrast to energetic electronic sounds, while her compositions astonish with their finesse. She has the sure ability to create songs that you can’t get out of your head – making you feel like in a dark dream listening to an alternate Soundtrack of “Drive”. In her music, one can also sense the influence of acts like Boy Harsher, Gesaffelstein, Charlie XCX, and The Weeknd.
As an artist of the 2020s, IRYS has it all: Not only does she write her own songs, she also produces all her music independently. The decision to go DIY came after an unpleasant collaboration with a producer that left the singer/songwriter disheartened – at first. Soon, IRYS learned the craft herself and started doing things her way. Influenced by Berlin’s electro scene, she switched her acoustic guitar for electronic synths and beats while staying true to her hooky songwriting, thus creating her musical fingerprint.
After receiving only good critique for her first four independently released singles earlier this year, it will be exciting to see what’s next for this multi-talented artist!
What’s your story as an artist?
I’m a singer-songwriter turned singer-songwriter-producer! Since I was a kid, I’ve been making music, like singing in a choir or playing guitar. When I started writing songs, it was more like therapy for me and not something I wanted to share with the world. That changed when I moved to Berlin some years ago. I tried to find the right people for my project but discovered that developing my song material with other musicians and producers wasn’t for me. I found it so hard to compromise my ideas! So I figured I’d better learn how to produce myself. Well, that’s what I did! I then started releasing my songs in March 2021 and recently dropped my fifth single, “Ride or Die”.
What inspired this last release?
I wrote “Ride or Die “about a toxic relationship! The moment I realized that this is what I had been through, I knew I had to write this story off my chest. I read about toxic relationships and thought: “Wait a minute, that’s exactly what I experienced!” In retrospect, I could make sense of everything.
Do you get inspired by other art forms?
Yes absolutely! I love movies and photography. I often get inspired by a mood or an image and then get an idea for a melody.
Any funny anecdotes from the time you were recording or writing this?
Not from recording this tune, but I tell you an anecdote from when I started producing: I bought this nice microphone and recorded my voice on various tracks, but it all somehow sounded so dull. I didn’t know what was wrong and nearly returned the mic when I realized I just had screwed it in the wrong way – and had been using the backside of the microphone all along! The recording experience when I finally turned it around was incredible, haha!
What’s your favorite place or environment to write?
I mostly write in my home studio cause there I can work without distractions. But oftentimes, I have the best ideas when I’m out for a walk! Especially when I struggle with finishing a lyric, just going out and getting some distance helps me find the right words.
What’s a record that shaped your creativity?
One of the first songs that influenced me was “Crystalized” by The XX! I fell so hard for those guitars! And I love “Aleph “by Gesaffelstein; the intro, the bass, the mood – it’s just perfect!
Who is an artist or band you look up to today?
I look up to artists who made it independently and established their unique style, like Sevdaliza or FKA Twigs. And I really love Russ! It’s impressive what he created independently, and I admire how he approaches his career.
What excites you the most about what you do ?
I so much enjoy being my own boss! Writing and producing my own music feels liberating for me. I can create the songs I want, put them out how and when I want, and don’t even need to leave my house for doing so. I enjoy that very much!
What is your view on genres and music styles since you mix a lot of them in your music? I honestly never think much about genres; I guess I just create music that is the sum of everything I like! But “dark pop” sums it up quite well cause I make pop music, but then there are various influences that I like to play around with.
I also feel every song has something unpredictable and its own twists and turns. “Ride or Die” starts with a guitar, and you wouldn’t necessarily expect the kind of synth-heavy hook after that.
What do music and art mean to you?
I think art and music especially are the language of the soul. Music, for me, is an expression of my inner being; it’s something that comes out of my subconscious and that I can’t even describe. My songs are always wiser than myself and my conscious mind; they tell me how I REALLY feel! Also, art has the power to turn ugly experiences into something beautiful. You create something that hasn’t been there previously and that nobody asked for, but then you can reach the people who resonate with what you’re doing, and there are not many words required! I love that.
How would you describe your act in one word?
Dark!
