Arc Iris is a Los Angeles based American indie rock band originally from Providence, Rhode Island, United States,[1] that began in 2012 as a solo project of Jocie Adams, formerly a member of The Low Anthem.[2] Arc Iris has had several lineup changes since their inception and have since settled on a trio that is the nucleus of Jocie Adams (lead vocals, guitar), Zach Tenorio Miller (keyboards), Ray Belli (drums).[3] They have released five albums and toured internationally.
Career
Adams developed an interest in music at an early age and became proficient in the clarinet.[4] She studied composition at Brown University where she graduated in 2008.[5][6] While performing with the Low Anthem, Adams released a solo album Bed of Notions in 2011.[7] Adams met Miller in 2012 and began collaborating, inviting Belli to join later that year.[8] In 2013, it was announced that Adams had left the Low Anthem to pursue her new project, noting that she wanted "to have more creative freedom". In between, Adams briefly worked as a NASA technician.[9]
Arc Iris's first, self-titled album was released on April 1, 2014 through the Los Angeles-based record label ANTI- Records.[10] Co-produced by Dan Cardinal,[11] it was recorded in Boston while the artwork was created by Kacie Smith.[12] It was described as 'traditional music thrillingly positioned at the nexus of the old and new'.[13] The band toured as support to Nicole Atkins,[14]St. Vincent[15] and Tweedy[16] and filmed a video for the song "Whiskey Man" directed by Matt Wignall.[17]
On June 2, 2016, Bella Union announced the release of Arc Iris's second record, Moon Saloon. The album's first single, "Kaleidoscope" premiered on Stereogum.[18] The band recorded the album over a five day period as they had been invited to perform as support to St Vincent on her UK tour.[19][20]
On August 5, 2016, NPR's All Songs Considered debuted the video for 'Moon Saloon' which was shot entirely on a 360 degree camera.[21]
On August 7, 2017, Arc Iris announced the formation of an offshoot band called Bwahaha that featured Ryan Miller of Guster.[24][25]
In early 2018, the band toured alongside Kimbra.[26] On July 27, 2018, Arc Iris released their third album, Foggy Lullaby, a complete re-imagination of Joni Mitchell's Blue.
Shortly after releasing Foggy Lullaby, the band announced the release of Icon of Ego on Ba Da Bing Records and premiered "$GNMS" a reworking of "Money Gnomes" off their debut album.[27]
In January of 2020, the band premiered their performance art piece, iTMRW: Sci-Fi Ballet which featured six dancers of the HDC Dance Ensemble. [28]
In mid 2020, the band relocated to Los Angeles and currently host a monthly concert series called 'Live at Glass Hill'. [29]
April 2023 saw the release of the band's fifth full length, We Found Home, released on Press on Records. [30]
