Black Iris Creates Soundtrack For New Geico Campaign

03|01|16
We recently had a TON of fun working with The Martin Agency to create music for Geico's “Fast Forward” campaign, which is the follow-up to last year’s successful series of “Unskippable” ads.  We’ll let you read about the concept straight from the horse’s mouth.  Here’s what TMA has to say about it.

Read full article and see video here...

Delta Hosts Safety Awards On Twitter, Spoofs Oscars

02|29|16
Black Iris has been helping the folks over at Wieden & Kennedy NY produce the pre-flight videos for Delta Airlines for a couple of years now.  Last night, they took it to a new level on Twitter.

Read full article and see video here...

Rob Lowry Premieres Three Films in LA Film Fest

06|12|15
Black Iris producer and music supervisor Rob Lowry has been pretty busy lately, and that’s putting it mildly. This weekend, three films Rob music supervised premiere at the LA Film FestBand of RobbersThe Escort and It’s Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong. If you’re in LA this weekend, don’t miss out. We’re ever proud of this hardworking guy - congratulations Rob!

Read full article and see photos here...

Arun Bali Joins Heartless Bastards and Craig Finn on Tour

06|11|15
Black Iris composer Arun Bali just hit the road to join Heartless Bastards and Craig Finn on tour.  He'll be performing alongside Craig, who many of you may also recognize as frontman of The Hold Steady.  This tour is going to be awesome, so head out and see them if they're in your area!

See full tour dates here...

Tiny Bar | An evening with The Head and the Heart

06|03|15
A few weeks back, we were very happy to host our friends and members of the band The Head and the Heart for a special evening of songs and storytelling.  Jon, Josiah and Charity took a break from working on their upcoming album to treat a small crowd of friends and fans to an exclusive and intimate set in what we fondly call our Tiny Bar.

The Tiny Bar idea has grown organically...almost accidentally.  It began a year ago when a friend had been writing and recording, but he missed performing live during those creation phases.  So, we invited some people over.  That inaugural Tiny Bar set let him warm up his vocal chords, take off his shoes (literally) and simply do what he loves for people he loves in the town he calls home.  It was an incredible night, and an idea was born.

Read full article and see photos here...

Arun Bali Joins Black Iris Staff on Eve of AP Distinction

04|09|15
Arun has been around the Black Iris family for years; first as a friend, and then as a freelance composer and content contributor.  As his schedule has allowed for more time producing in the studio, he recently accepted a full-time offer to join the team whenever he's not on the road.  Which is also great because now we can boast having another full-time Detroit Red Wings fan hanging around.

Not to be outdone, the Alternative Press promptly announced that Arun is one of six finalists for "Best Guitarist" as part of this year's AP Music Awards for his work with Saves The Day.

Congrats, man!

2015: A First Quarter Live Music Recap 

03|09|15
This year has been pretty great for live music at Black Iris.  We wanted to take a minute to look back at what we've done so far.

We kicked things off right on January 6th when Mirah stopped through with Todd Chandler from Dark Dark Dark.  Nelly Kate Anderson warmed everyone up with her trance inducing brand of loop-based songs.  Many of you will recall her work from our collaboration, Low Frequency Travel Agency.

On February 24th we teamed up with Steady Sounds to host The Ar-Kaics and Chain & The Gang.  (First off, if you haven't checked out The Ar-Kaics, stop what you're doing and give it a spin.  They're pretty awesome if you like garage revival.)  Of course the main event of the night was Chain & The Gang, whose shows stop nothing short of a great time.  They fall somewhere between the adrenaline of MC5 and the quips of a Mitch Hedberg routine.

On March 3rd Black Iris swarmed upon NY from our respective perches in Richmond and LA to co-host an evening with Domino Records at BRIC.  Here we were treated to Matthew E. White performing songs from his new record "Fresh Blood" (out now on Domino) with a 30-piece band.  There were horns, strings, backup singers, the whole nine yards.  It was a really cool experience.  We want to thank all of you who trekked out in the snowstorm to join us!

Be sure to stay tuned because Black Iris will be hosting more live music as we continue through 2015!  Hope to see you here.

Black Iris teams up with Jack Reed Reps

03|06|15
The rumors are true.  Black Iris has joined forces with Jack Reed Reps!  He formed his representation company in 1995 to satisfy the urge to connect projects with the proper talent, with a focus on the Texas production industry.  (Since everything IS bigger in Texas, it suitably deserves its own representation.)  Through his 20 years of matchmaking he's developed a reputation for his honesty and his hands-on approach to making sure agencies get great creative to help their projects succeed.  His roster includes Collective NY, humble, Porchlight and Tempt, to name a few.  (He also plays a mean Fender Jazz Bass in his spare time.)  Welcome aboard, Jack!

Sound Advice, Session Two | Collin Dupuis

01|27|15
Collin Dupuis is the first person that comes to mind when I have any audio-related questions.  I first met Collin in Detroit a little over 10 years ago when we shared a practice space.  I started to learn about his engineering prowess, and was so impressed with how he managed to get such great sounds, even without all the gear that one would think is required to pull of such recordings.  I was happy to hear when his career really started to take off, from working with EDM luminaries such as Carl Craig to becoming Dan Auerbach's go-to engineer at his studio in Nashville.  He's even got a couple of Grammy Awards now to put on the mantle.  When Black Iris reached out to me about being involved with this column I jumped at the opportunity to get to feature people that I've worked with who are doing great things in music today.  Once again, Collin was the first person that came to mind.  (Interview by Arun Bali, Black Iris Contributor/Composer.)

Read full interview here...

Sound Advice, Session One | Mitch Easter

09|23|14
Mitch Easter has been called a Founding Father of College Rock, the Dr. Dre of Jangle, Sonic Wizard, a true southern gentleman and more.  Working with bands as diverse as R.E.M, Polvo, Ben Folds Five, Wilco, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Suzanne Vega, and countless others, Mitch has crafted a unique sonic palette of songs and sounds over the course of 30 years.  I recently got to sit down with Mitch and discuss music, guitar pedals and “found art.” (Interview by Rich Stine, Chief Engineer.)

Read full interview here...

Black Iris Turns 10!

09|18|14
We're sorry, us. We almost forgot to wish ourselves a Happy Birthday! Time flies when you're having fun. Black Iris started in the Fall of 2004 and is grateful for the friends we've met along the way. Thanks to everyone who has made the first ten years a success, and here's to many more!

Wish I Was Here | Soundtrack

08|25|14
Pretty proud to have worked with @headandtheheart on their amazing new song for @wiwhfilm's soundtrack. Pick up the vinyl and check out the liner notes (props to @richstine + @justinblackiris). #wishiwasheremovie #musicmonday. 

Lost Origins + Black Iris

08|08|14
We're pleased to announce that our friend and collaborator Jason Hamacher was recently interviewed by Terry Gross for "Fresh Air" on NPR Music about his travels to record ancient Syrian chants that date back to early in our Common Era, and about the need to document this aspect of our world's cultural/musical history before it is altogether lost. The recordings are hauntingly beautiful.

Black Iris is working with Jason to develop a multimedia exhibit, not just to show in our own gallery, but to travel nationally and internationally.