Since starting her project in 2021, Berlin-based singer, songwriter, and producer IRYS has quickly been named as one of the most impressive dark pop newcomers internationally - captivating fans and critics with her dark aura and gift for creating remarkable songs. The up-and-coming starlet has since been compared to big names like Grimes, Charli XCX, Tove Lo, and Lana Del Rey. Fusing elements of indie electronica, neo-goth, and trip-hop, IRYS creates her own brand of dark, edgy electro-pop, uniting the sonic rawness of the Berlin underground with effortlessly catchy hooks. Part of a new wave of independent artists, IRYS works with a completely DIY approach, writing, recording, and producing all her music in her bedroom.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hi IRYS. Nice to be able to interview you. How is life in Berlin for you? Would you recommend the city for people from outside Germany?
Hey there, and thanks so much for having me! Life is good! I've been quite busy lately, but that's how I like it; I always need to be moving. I honestly don't explore the city much at the moment; this was different when I moved here! Berlin has lots to offer, especially culturally, and it can be a super inspiring place. For everyone who wants to move here though, I would definitely recommend staying for the summer only and then having a solid backup plan for the rest of the year! Cause the Berlin winter is just unforgivingly long, grey and depressing.
Are there any musicians who inspire you? What qualities do you admire about them?
Generally, I like artists who have the guts to do things their way instead of just reproducing what's already out there. This applies to music as well as the business side of things. I, for example, love Russ! I admire his unapologetic faith in himself to pull off his career the way he did. And, of course, there are many others. I recently found a super talented new artist on Instagram called Blakswan, and loved his unique and edgy identity, both musically and visually!
Your latest track is 'Riot'. Can you share with us the background of its creation, and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
I actually kind of recycled "Riot" from another song I had written a while ago! I wanted to finish this one but then realized I just didn't like it enough. So I changed up some harmonies and the vocals, and in the end, it became a whole different tune! I then came up with the hook "Isn't it a riot?" and from there, I built the lyrics. In the end, "Riot" came along fairly easily. It's not like that with every song. For my previous release, "Weirdo", I re-recorded the vocals around 20 times! It was exhausting.
How can you describe the music you make?
I mark dark electro-pop with various influences. I like catchy pop hooks and a reasonable song structure, but when it comes to the sounds, I like to experiment and combine influences from genres like goth, synth-pop, or trip-hop. And I’d say my music has deep lyrics, but at the same time, it often feels more uplifting than its content would suggest. I unintentionally make music this way, combining the dark and the light side of things.
Do you have any hobbies beyond music?
Everything that balances out my hyperactive mind! love being outside, being with good people, eating good food, and stuff like that. And I'm doing lots of Yoga!
What got you started in the music industry?
I still don't perceive myself as part of the industry somehow, but I obviously am because I release music. What got me started was simply the fact that I wrote songs all the time and, at one point, I thought: Ok, I should really start to take this seriously! I probably got this gift for a reason, so I might as well do something with it.
What is the biggest decision you've had to make?
The decision, if I should produce my own music, or not! I initially wrote songs with my guitar, but producing and technical things did not come naturally to me. A few years ago, I literally had no other technical skills than recording my songs on my phone! So it was lots of work, and in the beginning, I had to force myself to sit still and focus. I often doubted my decision and thought, "Maybe I'm just cut not out for it!". But I'm so glad I pulled through because being able to finish a song from A-Z just feels great! And most importantly, I have such a strong vision of my music that this was the only correct way for me. Having other people arranging and producing my tracks always felt wrong and, honestly, nearly like an attack on my personality, haha!
What are your achievements to the moment?
I always feel my biggest achievement is that I can put out my music when and how I want without needing to ask anyone. I make my songs in my bedroom and then just press "publish". I love that! And I've received so much great feedback for my music, which I'm really grateful for. My song "Ride or Die" recently got nominated for a "Berlin Music Video Award", and I just received a scholarship to fund my upcoming releases. So everything started really well for me, and I'm excited to see what's next!
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
It has completely turned things around. I love the fact that everyone can now release and market their own music! I love that we don't need gatekeepers anymore and that the process is much more direct: people decide what they want to hear! Of course, there's also a ton of music out there now, so it's hard to cut through the noise. But overall, I love that artists have more agency and opportunities. We no longer need to rely on anyone else to make it happen!
What are your plans for the future?
There are quite a few things! To sum it up, I want to continue doing what I do now, just on a bigger scale! I want to improve my craft to become the artist I want to be and reach more people. I would also love to have a song of mine in a Netflix series and play some big shows! But I take one step at a time and enjoy the journey.