Arc Iris

Arc Iris

Arc Iris is an indie rock group from Providence, Rhode Island, active since 2012. It begins as a solo project of Jocie Adams, formerly of The Low Anthem, and later settles into a trio built around Adams on lead vocals and guitar, Zach Tenorio-Miller on keyboards, and Ray Belli on drums. The group also uses the spelling Zach Tenorio-Miller for the keyboardist’s name in some lineups.

Formation and lineup

The project starts with a rotating cast of players before becoming a more stable trio. Earlier members and collaborators include Robin Ryczek on cello, Mike Irwin on trumpet, Max Johnson on bass, and Charlie Rose on pedal steel, trombone, and banjo. Adams writes and leads the material, with Tenorio-Miller as a songwriting partner.

Musical style and influences

Arc Iris combines indie rock with folk, country, orchestral writing, cabaret elements, and other shifting arrangements. Its sound draws on a wide range of influences, including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Grizzly Bear, Miles Davis, Frederic Chopin, and the Muppets’ Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Adams also cites classical training, including Brahms, French impressionist composers, and modernists such as Stravinsky, alongside folk and country traditions.

Background and associated musicians

Adams’ background includes classical composition, work as a NASA researcher, and experience on the indie rock circuit. Her time with The Low Anthem contributes to Arc Iris’s folk and country foundation. The band’s rhythm section has a long shared history: Max Johnson, Ray Belli, and Zach Tenorio-Miller play together from high school and develop their skills at School of Rock, where they share stages with artists including Perry Farrell, Gene Ween, Slash, and Jon Anderson of Yes.

Mike Irwin’s trumpet playing includes work with TV on the Radio and My Morning Jacket, and he also performs with his cousin Orlando Marín, known as The Last Mambo King. Robin Ryczek is described as running a music school and recording studio in Kabul.

Recordings

The group’s debut self-titled record appears on Anti/Bella Union. Its material includes songs such as “Honor of the Rainbows,” a two-part suite, along with “Singing So Sweetly,” “Whiskey Man,” and “Powder Train.” The writing moves between orchestral passages, outlaw country, soulful harmonies, and cabaret pop, often within a single song.

Reception

Rolling Stone describes Adams’ performance as showing how to play without imitation, how to pay tribute without copying, and how to honour older styles by making them new.