Today we’d like to introduce you to Iris Belson.
Iris, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in New Jersey. Got my start singing in talent shows and choirs at a young age. I was in a band in high school and would play local shows on the Jersey Shore. After high school, I went to AMDA, a musical theater school in New York. Then, I moved out to Los Angeles, where I currently reside. I was in the rock band Linus Young, but am now setting out on a new journey as an independent solo artist. As a singer and songwriter, I create music that deals with heartbreak and going through the journey of finding happiness along the way. I strive to enlighten each listener through positive messages and heart-wrenching lyrics. My single, “Crazy” was featured on the Netflix show “Santa Clarita Diet” and helped jumpstart my career as a solo artist. In 2020, I kicked it off by releasing “Today” on September 30th. My latest single, “Them” is out now!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As a musician, it can be a struggle to find people who believe in you or support your music. New Jersey had a small music scene that catered to emo, punk, rock, and metal. It was great, but not for me. Los Angeles was a great place for me to meet people and integrate myself into the music industry. Being in the rock band Linus Young was fun, but I enjoy the control that comes with being a solo artist. The band was an amazing experience, but I feel like I have more of a say in what I am doing now. As a solo artist, I am getting to put my true self out there.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
My name is Iris Belson, but I go by my stage name, IRIS. I am an independent singer and songwriter in Los Angeles. Many people know me from the band, Linus Young, in which I started out with. Now, as a solo artist, my single, “Crazy” is one of my most popular singles, having been in the Netflix show, “Santa Clarita Diet”. I love performing on stage, but due to COVID, I have been playing a lot of online performances and live streams. My first single of 2020, “Today” was written alongside Trey Campbell (Celine Dion, John Legend) and Malay (Frank Ocean, Lorde, Sam Smith) and produced by Malay. I am excited to share my latest single, “Them”.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in New Jersey. Music has always been a passion of mine. I started getting into music at an early age and also got into musical theater in high school. I was in my high school friend’s ska band and loved performing in front of crowds of people. New Jersey had a small music scene, but it wasn’t for me. Moving out to Los Angeles opened my eyes to the music industry and I loved it. Being in a band was fun, but I am loving the experience as an independent solo artist.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/iris
- Facebook: facebook.com/officialirismusic
- Twitter: twitter.com/_irismusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4XpjwqXDE6hIJwISq69GOH?si=IH9wkvZJSuObGcvsy6bjLQ
Image Credit:
JV Agency
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