Premiere • Iris Temple: "Ferns"
Iris Temple haven't been on my radar for too long, but how long is long in the music world? After the Chicago (by way of Kansas City) duo (made up of Aura and Quinn Cochran) began working with producer Elias Abid, I began scrolling through their SoundCloud page, finding an interesting and unique style of music seemingly nonexistent in the Windy City. While one might have trouble finding older tracks by Iris Temple online (psst, look here), they've recently kickstarted a new wave of buzz after appearing on Appleby and Elias Abid's project Down Dance. Directly following that strong EP, they released the single "Overgrown". Handling production duties on his own, Quinn Cochran is able to split time between guitar, keys, percussion, and more (synth game strong) while he and fellow singer/rapper/soulgod Aura trade off vocal duties. The chemistry is undeniable and even more verified with their newest single "Ferns", a song we are happy to premiere today at TheseDays. Be sure to enjoy the track above and read a little Q+A with the buzzing duo while you do so.
What's the origin behind "Ferns"?
Aura: The imagery of the fern is meant to represent a place that feels comfortable, a safe haven if you will. Growing up, my family members always had ferns in the house, so they kinda became synonymous with the idea of home. So, we tried to start the song in a tone that's very intimate. But then there's the growing yearning to venture out from the comfort of home and see what else is out there. Thus, we tap into an alternate side of the fern. The archaic and wise form that has seen the world from its beginning. Essentially, this song is a call to adventure and a challenge to leave that which you've grown accustomed to.
Will this be on an upcoming project?
Aura: Yarp.
You were telling me the other day how your project has taken on many forms. What's the evolution of Iris Temple been like?
Quinn Cochran: It's been an awesome process finding our sound. We're still deep in that process; figuring out the best ways to record, what instrumentation works best, how we prefer to write together, etc...We're trying to build all of these things to cater to both of our strengths. We both had very different beginnings in music. For me it started with learning the guitar, idolizing people like Slash and Jimmy Page. Then, it morphed into writing indie-folk, acoustic music while studying jazz heavily in school. From there, I just wanted to write music that had no limits, incorporating things from any style with the only prerequisite being that it sounded good in context. When Aura and I started making music together, it was obvious to me that he was on the same page. But, in making music with that process of "anything goes", things can get a little jumbled. We'll definitely make some off-the-wall shit that we really like, but maybe doesn't embody our best strengths, so there have been a lot of records thrown out in the process of making this project. With the music we're making now, it's obvious to me that in an Iris Temple song, the soul and musicality will always have to be present. Whether records have dreamy synths with heavy electronic drums or entirely live arrangements, the goal moving forward is to make timeless and soulful music.
How would you describe this sound to a stranger on the street?
Iris Temple's sound is all about incorporating elements that you wouldn't necessarily expect to be on a track together. The approach that we've latched onto in our music as well as our aesthetic is where the artificial meets the natural. Lots of live instruments were used in the making of ferns: piano, live bass, electric and acoustic guitars, and even Aura on the trombone. While there are some electronic elements, the vibe is definitely a natural and organic sound. However, on our track that released last month "Overgrown", the vibe is a more industrial and electronic sound. So, our goal is to make it so records like these, that differ pretty heavily in instrumentation, still have a cohesive sound.
Anything else to add about Iris Temple and the rest of the year?
We're just happy with the music that we're making and the people that we're surrounded by. Hopefully the rest of the year brings about good shit for everyone out there tryna make it just like us.
Final words/thoughts/shout-outs?
S/O everyone that supports in any way. S/O the musicians in Chicago that we're working with. S/O Bryan "Kawaakari" Schwaller for the FIRE mixes. S/O the homies Elias Abid and Appleby- those muhfuckas make some amazing music and inspire us both. and S/O all the shitty light beer it took to finish this song.
