Rafael Anton Irisarri is a New York-based American composer, producer, and mastering engineer whose influence permeates much of contemporary electronic music. His work is defined by an alchemy of ambient, classical, and experimental elements, often exploring themes of introspection, nostalgia, and the emotional interplay between place, sound, and silence. Irisarri's meticulous attention to detail is evident in both his solo output and his engineering work, with credits spanning critically acclaimed artists such as Terry Riley, William Basinski, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Grouper, MONO, Devendra Banhart, Eluvium, and many others.
Irisarri's compositions present modern ambient overtones and oceanic symphonies, intricately layered with distortion and bleached-out textures. Blending influences from metal, shoegaze, and minimalist electronic music, his albums explore a rich spectrum of sonic textures: tape loops, bowed electric guitar, cello, synths, and expansive washes of noise, melody, and harmony.
As an international touring artist, Irisarri is esteemed for his captivating performances, frequently presenting his work in unconventional spaces such as churches, synagogues, and museums around the world. These non-traditional spaces amplify the atmospheric qualities of his music, transforming each performance into an otherworldly experience where sound and architecture converge to reframe the audience’s relationship with the environment. Through immersive performances featuring a dynamic interplay of sound and space, Irisarri decontextualizes the audience's relationship to the venue, providing the perfect setting for his music to resonate with the audience. Highlights include concerts at Sónar (ES), MUTEK (CA/MX/ES), Unsound (PL), Dark Mofo (AU), Donaufestival (AT), Todaysart (NL), and Mito Settembremusica (IT).
"Irisarri cultivates a reliable air of preoccupied melancholy" - Pitchfork (USA)
“There's always an urgency of action implied by these rumblings and murmurings of something beyond all of us.” - The Wire (UK)
“Slowly shifting drone motifs latticed with fuzz…Irisarri’s work carries a particular sobering weight” - Electronic Sound (UK)
“Irisarri is unafraid to use his mastery of the wordless soundscape to put forth messages that reflect the bleak and uncompromising times we’re living in.” – Popmatters (USA)
Photo by Molly Smith