Iridesce Don’t Look Back On Rise (Curtain Call)

by | Nov 10, 2018

By looking back, Iridesce have found a new beginning. While working on a new acoustic version of their single Rise, premiering on RockShot Mag today, the London-based alternative-rock band were reminded of what really matters: the songs themselves.

But the unplugged Rise (Curtain Call), which will be followed by stripped-down renditions of other Iridesce songs, almost didn’t happen.

“We were asked to do this acoustic session for the Roundhouse and said yes before realising what that meant in terms of re-arranging the songs,” the band tell us exclusively.

“So we essentially trapped ourselves into doing it. But it turned out to be such an important thing for us as a group because it forced us to approach songs we felt we’d already done and accomplished – in our naivety – in a different way, without conforming to any clear agenda or sonic direction,” they continue.

“It’s really changed the way we approach our music; we’ve always cared most about the songwriting, but always struggled with how to communicate that maturely on record – the acoustic thing really gave us a distance with our own music, which is what you need if you want to make sure to convey on record the essence of what came through you when the song was written.”

The song in question came together quickly after the quartet formed at UCL in 2017. Lead vocalist Marco Spaeth and lead guitarist James Doig had started playing music together three years earlier, and were eventually joined by bassist Thomas Guizzetti and drummer Vincent LaFont, who’d spotted fliers around campus.

Rise really just arrived – there wasn’t really a trigger or intention,” reveal the band of the original version, which has been featured on BBC Introducing and Kerrang! Radio.

“We were just jamming in our student rehearsal space a couple years back and hit on this constantly oscillating bass groove, and then the vocals just started taking shape. From there it just began to build and all the driving drum elements came to mind and suddenly we’d made this thing that none of us would’ve ever consciously pursued. It’s been the oddest thing to see how people react to it so well too – maybe it’s the ephemeralness and aimlessness of that rehearsal that provided the space for something emotionally evocative to come through. Who knows.”

What they do know is that in revisiting Rise, they were really surprised by its simplicity.

“It’s so easy – two sets of chords and a clear cut melody on top. There’s no left-field time signatures or flashy concepts behind the lyrical landscape. It’s a song that doesn’t try to define itself in any way through what it is. When you work at something, and you continue to build things over time, you can sometimes get so focussed on exploring directions that make sense to you as a writer, technically or stylistically, but can detract you from what’s really most important and what any half decent, let alone great song needs to have – instinctiveness.

“It’s really given us a good slap on the wrists as songwriters and reminded us of what it is we want to always have in our music, regardless of how we’d dress it up sonically,” say the quartet.

“It re-invented us as much as we did it, really.”

Although the band cite Radiohead and U2 as two of their great influences, Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged In New York album was more of a touchstone for Rise (Curtain Call).

“It really shows just how powerful it can be to go from a bigger, more developed sound to something really raw and naked. It removes all the grandeur and smoke and mirrors you have at your disposal sonically when you’re dealing with layers and walls of sound, so by doing less the song is suddenly what people realise – the lyrics and the soul of it all,” say Iridesce.

Apart from applying the lesson of “less is more” to the brand-new material they’re currently working on for release in 2019, the band are looking to take the acoustic reimaginings out onto the streets.

“November and December are going to be particularly exciting for us because we’re organising a small busking tour around the UK, playing an acoustic re-arrangement of our set that includes Rise (Curtain Call).

“It’s something we’ve never done before,” say the band who’ve played the Shiiine On Weekender and Camden Rocks festivals, “and we’re especially looking forward to seeing how passerbys react to the songs. Hopefully it’s not going to be too cold…”

Liang Lawrence (Ana Chen)

Liang Lawrence Unveils Reflective New Single ‘A Day Off In Margaritaville’ Ahead Of Autumn UK Tour

Rising alt-pop storyteller Liang Lawrence has shared her shimmering new single A Day Off In Margaritaville, a vibrant, emotionally layered track that marks the first offering from her upcoming EP It’s A Funny Thing, due later this year via The Other Songs.

Mae Stephens (Hannah Burton)

Mae Stephens Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Tiny Voice’

Breakout pop star Mae Stephens is back with a bang as she drops her irresistibly offbeat new single, Tiny Voice — a track as addictive as it is relatable. Following the runaway global success of her hit If We Ever Broke Up, which racked up over 500 million streams, landed her a Top 15 UK single, and earned Gold certifications in both the UK and US, Stephens continues to show why she’s one of the most exciting new voices in pop.

Maya Lane (Press)

Maya Lane Announces New Single ‘I Don’t Know You Yet’ And Debut London Headline Show Ahead Of New EP

Rising UK pop-country star Maya Lane continues her impressive 2025 trajectory with the release of a stunning new single, I Don’t Know You Yet, out now. The introspective, stripped-back track offers a poignant taste of her forthcoming EP, The Hurt And The Healing, due out on 4th September, and precedes her debut headline show at London’s The Grace on 3rd September.

Perera Elsewhere (Hugo Holger Schneider x Gene Glover)

Perera Elsewhere Returns With Electrifying Double Single Ft. Andy S & Announces New Album

Berlin-based, UK-raised experimental artist Perera Elsewhere (aka Sasha Perera) is back with a high-voltage double single, F*ck Le System / Time Will Tell, out now on Friends Of Friends – both featuring viral Ivorian rapper Andy S. The release serves as a bold statement on feminine strength, social rebellion, and sonic experimentation.

Don McLean @ The Long Road Festival (Press)

The Long Road Festival 2025 Assembles Its Biggest Line-Up Yet For August Bank Holiday Weekend

Now entering its sixth and most ambitious year to date, The Long Road Festival 2025 is set to deliver its boldest celebration of country, Americana, and roots music yet, taking over the scenic Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from 22nd–24th August. With more than 80 artists across six stages, the weekend promises an immersive blend of genre-spanning music, authentic Americana culture, and inclusive community spirit — and has already become the festival’s fastest-selling edition to date.

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing