There’s this very serious vibe surrounding Left Iris’ debut single “New Room”. That’s not at all a bad thing but more just something a bit new to me and I’d be lying if I said that this song was love at first listen but it absolutely became a favorite of mine as I listened to it more and more. It was like I was addicted to this track. I wanted to hear it over and over again because I felt that every time I listened to it, I heard something new or it hit me in a different way. I found the track both intimidating and amazing at the same time but got a bit nervous when Finn (the man behind the Left Iris moniker) reached out about the possibility of doing an interview. Don’t get me wrong, I was super excited to get to know Finn a bit better but I was worried my quirky questions may not be up his alley. My friends and family always tell me that I worry too much…
What color is your left iris?
A chocolatey shade of brown
But really, what made you choose the moniker “Left Iris”?
The name came about by combining my love of floral, vibrant aesthetics and something a bit more literal. I have practically no vision in my left eye, and my favourite flower happens to be the Iris, so viola!
If you could compare yourself to a bird, what bird would it be and why?
Hummingbird for sure. I get restless if I’m not working on something, and we both love flowers. I’m also quite beaky.
Everyone says that every crowd is their favorite but, what city has the best audience and why is it Minneapolis?
I mostly play in Ireland, where I’m from, and have a special affinity for Cork City having played for some lovely people there recently. I’ll give silver to Minneapolis because Prince was from there.
What’s a new hobby you have taken up during the pandemic?
I took up drawing, which I am hilariously bad at, but find incredibly therapeutic. Anyone who sees the sketches usually laugh hysterically, which I get a kick out of too haha
What’s your go-to coffee order?
Black coffee usually. Hot chocolate if I’m feeling lush.
What’s the worst concert you’ve ever been to and why?
My own unfortunately! When I was 15 a local promoter booked my band for what was promised to be an awesome festival with an awesome crowd. We played for 20 minutes for 3 people and we had to supply all the gear too. Then every other band for the rest of the day used our equipment so we couldn’t even go home.
What’s an old-school fad that you wish would come back?
Paying musicians for their work. Actually, on second thought…Velvet suits.
What’s your favorite method of listening to music?
Live usually! Especially after being denied that experience over the last couple of years. I really appreciate now how important it was to me, not just as a performer, but as a fan too. Other than that, Bandcamp is great for buying high quality files and supporting your favourite artists! I’m not really one for physical media like Vinyl/cassettes etc, which I realise makes me VERY uncool!
Favorite lyrics of all time?
‘Look up here, I’m in heaven’ from David Bowie’s Lazarus. The whole Blackstar album has some of my favourite lyrics of his, but this phrase in particular stands out. It hit me in the gut the first time I heard it, and still does 7 years later. I’ll always be in awe of how he turned his own death into fuel for his art.
If you were to rob a bank, what would be the song playing in the getaway car as you escape?
Hocus Pocus by Focus, gotta be. Live 73 version, holy moly.
What’s one thing I should know before listening to “New Room”?
The song is about isolation and the feeling of losing yourself amidst change, but simultaneously feeling hopeful for the future. It also has a LOT of guitars and is totally inspired by 80s Alternative Rock and Indie guitar bands.
What room was “New Room” written in?
My Sister’s old bedroom which I briefly used as a makeshift studio when staying with my parents last year!
Joking aside, this is a super chill yet an energetic song that left me a bit confused (in all of the right ways). In a perfect world, how do you hope this song hits people/ what do you hope people get from this song?
Ha! Confused in all the right ways is totally an aim of mine as a songwriter, so thank you! I guess I would hope that people would enjoy the juxtaposition of vibes that the song provides. I love when music surprises me and builds in interesting ways instead of being predictable after the first 20 seconds. The verses are chilled and melodic, while the chorus packs more of a punch. There’s lots of layers sprinkled throughout too, so it’s hopefully enjoyable on repeat listens.
If you could submit this track to one famous person for their opinion on it, who would it be and why?
John Bender from the Breakfast Club, he’s just so freaking cool
As you can tell, I worried for absolutely no reason. Although Finn clearly takes music seriously, he also entertained my quirky questions with enthusiasm which I cannot thank him enough for. Out of all of these answers, I think the answer around the worst concert he has ever been to was my favorite. It’s just so honest and raw much like the vibe in “New Room”. Well, that and his mention of his drawing hobby (you better send me some pictures, Finn!). So yes, although this man is clearly a musical genius (you can figure that out by listening to “New Room” which is conveniently linked below), he’s also obviously passionate about his art and craft (again, this is obvious when you check out his music).
As mentioned, “New Room” is Left Iris’ debut song but if it’s a sign of things to come, I think it’s safe to assume that you will be seeing Left Iris on this blog many, many times to come!
Shameless Self Promotion:
Buy Me a Coffee (Seriously!)
Check out my playlist with this track and a bunch of other amazing tracks HERE!
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