iridescent: From The Dome to Ranger Records and the Making of a Producer
From the shiny-domed 11-man flat to an unwavering commitment to the craft, iridescent has been quietly refining his sound in Wellington’s ever-evolving underground. Fresh off debuting on Ranger Radio and following a free download bootleg through Ranger last year, he now joins our upcoming VA LP. We caught up with him to talk scene culture, production realities, the origins of From The Dome, and what success really means.
Get To Know iridescent
Q: You’re repping Wellington — what’s the scene like down there right now?
A: The Wellington gig scene has been popping off recently. Times are tough for gigs as a whole, but a lot of people have still been willing to take the risk and host events, whether they’re seasoned promoters or new. It’s sick seeing that there is opportunity for all kinds of subgenres to be put on show now.
Q: Tell us about From The Dome. Where did the idea come from?
A: A few years back, in our 11-man flat, there was a time where we all shaved our heads to support the bro who was in hospital. He made a full recovery, and for a while after, all around the flat were shiny domes. The flat quickly became named The Dome, and once I had the idea to start a mix series, “From The Dome” just seemed the obvious choice due to its double meaning, off the top of the head and from the flat named The Dome.
Q: Is the goal to build it into a platform, brand, event series, something bigger?
A: Absolutely. Right now it’s all just ideas, but I’m very keen to host a few events under the name and start releasing music through it as a record label.
Q: What was that first step into production really like? Was there a moment you realised you wanted to make the tracks you were playing?
A: Right from the start I saw the beauty of producing, playing something I’d made. Getting a little crowd reaction is so much more valuable if it’s my own tune playing. Even in the early stages, when everything I made was a product of a few sample loops put together, it felt like my own.
Q: When did you start feeling like a “producer” instead of just a DJ?
A: When I really got into producing, I stopped putting any effort into being a DJ and spent all my hours on production. So for a while I wouldn’t have considered myself either, more of a hobbyist at the time. I still don’t really feel like a producer to be honest, not until it starts paying the bills.
The debut episode of Ranger Radio is available to stream now.
The Making of a Producer
Q: What did producing teach you that DJing never could?
A: The intricacy behind songs is far more than I imagined before learning to produce. At the time I was quite into rollers, which seemed so simple, a big horn + bass and some solid drums. As soon as I tried to produce something similar, it was far from sounding good.
Q: Is it scary now putting your own music out, compared to playing other people’s?
A: It’s always a little bit daunting, but I’ve come to realise, what does it really matter in the grand scheme? Even if only one person likes that song, then it’s done its job.
Q: How would you describe your sound in three words?
A: Emotive, atmospheric, techy.
Q: Who are your biggest inspirations right now, locally and internationally?
A: Zillah. Insanely talented producer from Wellington who’s always sending me his demos and seeing the vision in mine. His attention to detail always gets me thinking of new creative ideas to implement within my own tracks. He’s never afraid to give me constructive criticism either, which is probably the most beneficial thing when it comes to developing skills and ideas.
A lot of inspiration also comes from being around people who share the same passion for music as me. All the local homies doing their thing keep the scene alive, which in turn keeps me wanting more from it.
On a larger scale, I’ve always been inspired by artists like Hugh Hardie, Satl, Halogenix, Amoss & Hound. They all have distinctive signature styles that you could pick out within seconds.
Q: Being from NZ, do you feel there’s a distinct Kiwi flavour to your production?
A: There are definitely some sounds of NZ nature layered throughout my music, if that counts.
Q: You’ve got a track landing on our upcoming VA LP, how did that tune come together?
A: I was playing around with some chords and different sounds and came across this reverse piano sound from Sky Keys that Amoss had mentioned in a Patreon video. Instantly it had this awesome feeling to it and, after a bit of layering, I had this sick ethereal sound going. Once that happened, time just flew and I had most of the track done in the first session.
Q: What does being part of this release on Ranger mean to you at this stage of your career?
A: I’m gassed to be a part of it. There’s so much up-and-coming talent in the underground scene that I’ve seen also on this release, so I’m stoked.
Q: What’s been the biggest challenge breaking into the scene as a young producer?
A: A lot of my tunes are not really tunes for the club, so I’ve never really been able to fit a lot of my songs into my live sets. I think there’s so much value in playing a set that’s full of your tunes when it comes to marketing yourself.
Q: What’s something people don’t see about the grind behind the scenes?
A: All the projects that never made it to being exported. I heard them too many times and already got sick of the idea before they got the chance to be developed. Sounds quite sad now that I’m writing it. RIP old projects.
Onto the Quickfire Questions...
Q: One tune you wish you wrote?
A: Flume - 3. Probably my favourite electronic song of all time, so moody and off-kilter, but the push/pull of it just gets me every time. If I wrote it, then it would mean I have access to lots of modular synths, which is always great.
Q: Dream collab NZ or international?
A: Marlon Funaki. His voice + guitar over some liquid would be divine.
Q: How are you liking your High Fidelity Sonics tee?
A: Loving it.
Q: What does success look like for you, streams, shows, community, something else?
A: Community response. My passion for music production came from that feeling you get from listening to a song that just blows you away. I always wanted to be able to pass that feeling on to people who listen to my tunes. Hearing people tell me that very thing is success in my eyes.
Q: If we revisit this interview in two years, what would you want to have achieved?
A: Hosted some events, released lots of music. I want to have released an EP or two.
Q: What have you got lined up for the rest of the year?
A: A few releases, some on labels and some self-released as well. Continuing to develop my sound. I’m also relocating to Melbourne in a few months, so I’m looking forward to building up a new studio space.
Q: What does being a Resident Ranger mean to you?
A: I love everything about the values that Ranger Records reps. It makes me proud to be part of a community that aligns with my taste in music while also supporting the conservation of our beautiful corner of the world.
iridescent
As he prepares to relocate to Melbourne, host events under From The Dome and continue developing his sound, one thing remains clear: for iridescent, success is not measured in numbers, but in community response. With a Ranger Radio mix now live, a free download bootleg already under his belt, and his first signed track landing on our forthcoming VA LP, this is only the beginning. Tap into the mix, revisit the bootleg, and don’t miss a beat.
↟ iridescent
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