Irene by Izy
“Irene” is the debut album from Izy (pronounced eye-zee), a Melbourne-based trio originally hailing from Cairns in Australia’s tropical North. A deeply mature album from a very young band, Irene is a 10 song collection of raw neo-soul grooves, rich vocal harmony and subtle jazz guitar. A stripped back, simple recording of a band killing it in a room. There’s a deep understanding of the canon of soul music on display here, with echoes of D’Angelo and Curtis Mayfield, but also a uniquely individual sensibility, rarely so clearly articulated on a debut record.
Deeply connected to their roots and their families, both the band and the album are named after Irene, Guitarist Ryo Montgomery’s paternal grandmother; an important source of support and comfort in the band’s formative years. Ryo, bassist Warrigo Tyrrell and drummer Maru Nitor Zamatarro each cut their teeth young, playing with their parents in three very different musical families. Ryo grew up shifting between his mother’s home in rural Japan and his father’s blues bar in Cairns where he watched legends of guitar ply their trade and did his first shows. Maru was playing guiro in his parent’s cumbia band Los Caracoles before he turned five. Warrigo grew up jamming on Shadows covers and Aboriginal protest rock with his fathers and brothers, members of the Kalkadoon and Waanyi nations. Heritage is important to Izy and they bring these musical and cultural influences together proudly.
So that’s Izy, humble and hard working Gen-Z virtuosos who love their grandmas, representing an optimistic post-colonial version of Australian identity and music. In their own words: “This album is a tangled culmination of interpersonal relationships; love, society and land. We three are super blessed to share stories and when we connect, we amplify and respond to each other, which makes it easy to create music and get our message across for our family and our community.”
Tracklist
| 1. | Moon (album version) | 3:14 |
| 2. | No Further Than You | 2:49 |
| 3. | Frantic | 3:15 |
| 4. | Out The Door | 4:03 |
| 5. | Irene | 3:53 |
| 6. | They Don't Care | 3:49 |
| 7. | Not So Tall | 3:19 |
| 8. | Smile | 2:42 |
| 9. | Don't Turn Off Your Light | 3:21 |
| 10. | Treat Me Bad | 3:28 |
Credits
Ryo Montgomery - Guitar, Vocals
Warrigo Tyrrell - Bass, Vocals
Maru Elias Nitor - Drumkit, Vocals
All songs composed by M.Nitor-Zammataro, R.Noshiro, W.Tyrrell
The land on which we recorded this album is of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We hold a deep gratitude for the privilege to record, perform and live on Aboriginal land. Stolen land. To the elders past, present and emerging we hold a lifelong respect and responsibility to listen, learn and act.
We thank our ancestors for guiding us in all aspects of life. The Waanyi and Kalkadoon people of so called Australia and the Mapuche Huilliche people of so called Chile. We extend our solidarity with First Nations Peoples worldwide.
This album is a tangled culmination of interpersonal relationships; love, society and land.
Recorded and Mixed by Henry Jenkins and Bob Knob at The Avery Studios and Hopestreet Studios
Produced by Henry Jenkins and Bob Knob
Additional vocals & percussion by Broden Tyrrell
Additional synthesizers by Jessi Dunbar & James Bowers on 'Moon'
Congas by Luis Poblete on 'No Further Than You'
Mastered by Lachlan Carrick
Photography by Wilk
Design by Ives Wong
License
All rights reserved.
Izy are a Naarm/Melbourne based trio playing raw, live neo soul. Ryotaro Noshiro, Maru Nitor and Warrigo Tyrrell deliver sweet vocal harmonies while holding down guitar, bass and drum grooves that switch seamlessly from Latin tinged party jams to jilted hip hop and everywhere in between. The three have been playing together half their lives and the deep musical connection shines through.