Iris (Texas band)
Encyclopedia
Iris is an American synthpop
band, formed by Reagan Jones
and Mat Morris in 1993. After releasing their first album Disconnect, Matthew Morris was replaced with Andrew Sega
, who pushed the band's sound into a more experimental electronic direction. Their latest album, Blacklight was released in September 2010.
/keyboards
), Matt Morris (keyboards/programming
). The two had met in college and, influenced by 1980s artists such as Erasure
and Depeche Mode
, began playing covers locally in Austin, Texas
. In 1999 they changed their name to Iris and released their debut full-length, Disconnect
, which netted them "Best Band" and "Best Album" awards at the American Synthpop Awards in 2000. Its single, "Annie, Would I Lie To You?" was one of the best-selling records in label A Different Drum
’s history.
After several shows that followed, Reagan Jones and Matthew Morris started having arguments about their musical direction. Morris was focused on his personal life, and he wasn't interested to go back into the studio for the second album. He met Andrew Sega
through the original singer of CTRL Joel Willard in 2001, and told him that Jones was looking for someone new to work with. Sega and Jones started working on some test tracks, the first of which would later become "Unknown". They felt that the chemistry between the two worked out so well that they started working on the new record that would become Awakening
. Sega added guitars and pushed the band's sound into a more experimental electronic direction. They released their second album Awakening throughout Sega's new label, Diffusion Records
. Their next record, Wrath
(2005) took a more aggressive approach. Its first single, "Appetite" went #1 on mainstream radio in Poland. A European tour followed, including festivals in Moscow and London.
In 2008, Iris released their first CD/DVD combo, Hydra. It featured 3 brand new tracks, as well as remixes from bands like Mesh
, Alpinestars
, Datguy, Benz & MD
, plus a 40 minute "behind the scenes" tour diary DVD.
A new album titled Blacklight was released on September 3, 2010 on Infacted Recordings.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band, formed by Reagan Jones
Reagan Jones
Reagan Jones is an American singer-songwriter, best known as the lead singer of indietronica band Iris.Reagan Jones formed Iris with Matt Morris in 1993, and has since remained the original vocalist for the band....
and Mat Morris in 1993. After releasing their first album Disconnect, Matthew Morris was replaced with Andrew Sega
Andrew Sega
Andrew Gregory Sega , also known by the moniker Necros, is an American musician best known for tracking modules in the 1990s demoscene as well as for composing music for several well-known video games...
, who pushed the band's sound into a more experimental electronic direction. Their latest album, Blacklight was released in September 2010.
Biography
The band was initiated in 1993 as Forgiving Iris, with members Reagan Jones (vocalsSinging
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
/keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
), Matt Morris (keyboards/programming
Programming (music)
Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
). The two had met in college and, influenced by 1980s artists such as Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
and Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, began playing covers locally in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. In 1999 they changed their name to Iris and released their debut full-length, Disconnect
Disconnect (album)
Disconnect is the first album by electropop group Iris, released in 2000. This album helped Iris win "Best Band" and "Best Album" awards at the American Synthpop Awards in 2000...
, which netted them "Best Band" and "Best Album" awards at the American Synthpop Awards in 2000. Its single, "Annie, Would I Lie To You?" was one of the best-selling records in label A Different Drum
A Different Drum
A Different Drum is an independent record label and online store based in the US state of Utah, specializing in synthpop and related genres...
’s history.
After several shows that followed, Reagan Jones and Matthew Morris started having arguments about their musical direction. Morris was focused on his personal life, and he wasn't interested to go back into the studio for the second album. He met Andrew Sega
Andrew Sega
Andrew Gregory Sega , also known by the moniker Necros, is an American musician best known for tracking modules in the 1990s demoscene as well as for composing music for several well-known video games...
through the original singer of CTRL Joel Willard in 2001, and told him that Jones was looking for someone new to work with. Sega and Jones started working on some test tracks, the first of which would later become "Unknown". They felt that the chemistry between the two worked out so well that they started working on the new record that would become Awakening
Awakening (Iris album)
Awakening is the second album by indietronica group Iris, released in 2003. Awakening was the first album to feature Andrew Sega, who added guitars and pushed the band's sound into a more experimental electronic direction.-History:...
. Sega added guitars and pushed the band's sound into a more experimental electronic direction. They released their second album Awakening throughout Sega's new label, Diffusion Records
Diffusion Records
Diffusion Records is an American independent record label founded by Andrew Sega in 2001. Initially started as a label for Sega's first Alpha Conspiracy album Cipher, Diffusion Records went on growing into a more full-featured label, so far releasing albums by artists such as Iris, CTRL, Low...
. Their next record, Wrath
Wrath (Iris album)
Wrath is the third album by electropop group Iris, released in 2005. Taking the organic style of Awakening and adding guitars, they created this album with "more of a 'rock' feel" than a "'club' feel".-Track listing:-Personnel:...
(2005) took a more aggressive approach. Its first single, "Appetite" went #1 on mainstream radio in Poland. A European tour followed, including festivals in Moscow and London.
In 2008, Iris released their first CD/DVD combo, Hydra. It featured 3 brand new tracks, as well as remixes from bands like Mesh
Mesh (band)
-Background:In 1991, Mark Hockings and Richard Silverthorn met at a gig where Silverthorn's band was playing...
, Alpinestars
Alpinestars (band)
Alpinestars was an electronic rock duo formed in 1999 in Manchester by Richard Woolgar and Glyn Thomas.-The Beginnings :Richard Woolgar and Glyn Thomas met each other in 1995, as a result of being in separate bands that shared the same rehearsal space...
, Datguy, Benz & MD
Benz & MD
Benz & MD is a duo of Canadian electronic music DJs and producers Greg Benz and Marco Di Carlo. They have released singles on record labels such as Release Records, Silver Planet, and Baroque Records.-External links:**...
, plus a 40 minute "behind the scenes" tour diary DVD.
A new album titled Blacklight was released on September 3, 2010 on Infacted Recordings.
Current members
- Reagan JonesReagan JonesReagan Jones is an American singer-songwriter, best known as the lead singer of indietronica band Iris.Reagan Jones formed Iris with Matt Morris in 1993, and has since remained the original vocalist for the band....
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, songwritingSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Andrew SegaAndrew SegaAndrew Gregory Sega , also known by the moniker Necros, is an American musician best known for tracking modules in the 1990s demoscene as well as for composing music for several well-known video games...
- keyboards, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
, productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Former members
- Matthew Morris - keyboards, programming, production
Additional touring members
- Ned Kirby (StromkernStromkernStromkern is a band that blends electronic music and hip-hop. The band was formed in 1994 by James "Ned" Kirby.Kirby was originally a DJ in Madison, Wisconsin as a teenager, experimenting under the moniker "Flowers for Ravers" before founding Stromkern. Disenchanted with the music he was receiving...
) - keyboards, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Brian Pearson - guitars
- Blitz Carthey - drums
Albums
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Disconnect | debut album |
| 2003 | Awakening Awakening (Iris album) Awakening is the second album by indietronica group Iris, released in 2003. Awakening was the first album to feature Andrew Sega, who added guitars and pushed the band's sound into a more experimental electronic direction.-History:... |
first album with Andrew Sega. |
| 2003 | Reconnect | remix album |
| 2005 | Wrath Wrath (Iris album) Wrath is the third album by electropop group Iris, released in 2005. Taking the organic style of Awakening and adding guitars, they created this album with "more of a 'rock' feel" than a "'club' feel".-Track listing:-Personnel:... |
|
| 2005 | Disconnect 2.0 | European re-release of their 1999 debut with two bonus tracks |
| 2008 | Hydra | remix album with 3 studio tracks + DVD |
| 2010 | Blacklight | |
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | "Annie, Would I Lie To You1" | Disconnect |
| 1999 | "Lose In Wanting" | Disconnect |
| 1999 | "Saving Time" | Disconnect |
| 2000 | "Danger Is The Shame" | Disconnect |
| 2002 | "Unknown" | Awakening |
| 2006 | "Hell's Coming With Me / Appetite Remixes (12")" | Wrath |
| 2006 | "It Generates" | Wrath |
| 2008 | "Lands of Fire 2008" | Hydra |
| 2010 | "Closer to Real" | Blacklight |
- 1 Import