Interviews: IRIS

In this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Electronic/Rock band IRIS from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

A: It used to be called “Forgiving Iris” originally, but before the first record it was shortened to just “Iris”. This was probably a bad idea since there are like 20 different bands with that name on Spotify, including an old Romanian rock band from the ’80s.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We play a mixture of rock and electronics. We were inspired by the 80’s, how you could combine different sounds into your songs and nobody really cared that much about “genre”.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Not really, I met Reagan through a mutual friend when I was living in Austin, TX. We hung out a few times but almost immediately started working on the “Awakening” album.

4. Each band member favorite band?

Certainly, Depeche Mode has to be the band that both of us have most in common. I listen to a lot of different music, for a while it was a ton of electronica, but lately, it’s been a lot of female-fronted indies, like The Beths or Soccer Mommy. Reagan likes a lot of singer-songwriters, like Glen Phillips.

6. Where was your last gig?

We just played two west coast shows, Seattle at the Mechanismus Festival, and LA with I:Scintilla. 8. Whom would you like to feature with? There are so many great bands out there, hard to name them all, but here are a few: IAMX, Hatchie, Failure, Drab Majesty, Ocean Blue.

9. Whom not?

I’d rather not say too much. I personally hate country music, so maybe anyone doing that?

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Sure, I think everyone gets nervous from time to time. I remember some of our first shows on bigger stages – one of them was opening for a band in Dresden, Germany and there were almost 1000 people there. Once you get through the first song it becomes much easier. Also a beer or two helps.

11. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Once we got asked to play someone’s wedding in Moscow, Russia. Was crazy, but it paid well  Also I had someone recently ask me to autograph a setlist so that she could hang it up and frame it.

12. What do you think of your fans?

We love our fans, without them none of this would be possible.

13. What do you think of our site?

It’s great!