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Iiris

Estonian singer

Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

Iiris Vesik (born 16 July 1991), better known as simply Iiris, is an Estonian singer, songwriter, and stage actress. Her debut album, The Magic Gift Box, was released in March 2012 under EMI Music Finland. She is also a member and the main singer of the group Night Tapes.

01Life and career

Early life

Vesik began attending Jakob Westholmi Gümnaasium in 1998, and later graduated in 2010. She has a younger brother and two younger half-sisters.

She began her music career after placing third in the Estonian singing competition Tähtede laul in 2003. Vesik went on to place third again in the televised Estonian singing competition Kaks Takti Ette in 2007.

Music career

Vesik has competed to represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest on three occasions. In 2008, her song "Ice-Cold Story", written by Riine Pajusaar, placed second in the Eurolaul competition. In 2010 she returned with the self-composed song "Astronaut", placing fourth in the Eesti Laul competition. In 2016, along with Cartoon, Kerli & Kristel Aaslaid she was one of the writers for "Immortality" performed by Cartoon and Kristel Aaslaid at Eesti Laul 2016. She competed with Agoh in Eesti Laul 2018 with the song “Drop That Boogie” and placed 5th in the final.

Iiris rose to greater prominence in 2010, after the showcase festival Tallinn Music Week. Dietmar Schwenger of the MusikWoche praised the “Especially good performance and great songwriting”. Invitations from festivals like Popkomm (Germany), Musiikki & Media (Finland), The Great Escape (UK), Positivus (Latvia) and Iceland Airwaves (Iceland) followed.

At the beginning of 2011 Iiris became the artist of the week on MTV Iggy’s blog.

Iiris has been accoladed for her eclecticism, intelligence, innovation and pop sound.

Iiris was signed to EMI Finland in June 2011. Her debut album The Magic Gift Box, produced by Ago Teppand (a.k.a. Sethh), was released on 28 March 2012.

Iiris is often compared to Estonian pop singer Kerli, and they are both fans of each other.

After Universal Music Group bought EMI, Iiris has been releasing her songs on Universal Music Finland.

02Musical style

Iiris is frequently compared to artists such as Björk, Florence & The Machine, Kate Bush, Kerli and Regina Spektor.

03Discography

Studio albums
EPs
  • Chinaberry Girl (2013, Universal Music Group)
  • Hope (2016, Dreamweaver)
  • Dream Forever In Glorious Stereo (2019) (with Night Tapes)
  • Download Spirit (2020) (with Night Tapes)
  • Perfect Kindness (2023) (with Night Tapes)
  • Assisted memories (2024) (with Night Tapes)
Singles
  • "Ice-Cold Story" (Audiosus, 2007)
  • "Alien" (Rockhouse, 2008)
  • "Astronaut" (Sethh Sound, 2010)
  • "Melyse" (EMI Music Finland, 2011)
  • "Weirdo" (EMI Music Finland, 2012)
  • "Tigerhead" (Universal Music Finland, 2013)
  • "Iiridescent Love" (Hand In Hive U.K, 2015)
  • "Hope" (Dreamweaver, 2016)
  • "Stranger" (Dreamweaver, 2017)
  • "Drifting" (Night Tapes, 2023)
  • "Projections" (Night Tapes, 2024)

04Awards and nominations

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Herself Skype "Go Change The World Award" @ TMW Won
2012 "Melyse" Estonian Music Award for Best Music Video Nominated
2013 The Magic Gift Box Estonian Music Award for Best Album Nominated
Estonian Music Award for Best Debut Album Nominated
Estonian Music Award for Best Pop Album Nominated
Herself Estonian Music Award for Best Female Artist Won
"Weirdo" Estonian Music Award for Best Music Video Nominated
2014 "Tigerhead" Estonian Music Award for Best Music Video Won
Watch videos about IirisExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article Iiris, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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