[DOOMED NATION] Iress surprises fans with haunting cover of Billie Eilish’s »What Was I Made For«; US tour dates with Faetooth & Spirit Mother announced!
Los Angeles, California based doomgaze band Iress surprises their fans with a haunting cover of Billie Eilish’s »What Was I Made For«, available now via Dune Altar and Church Road Records.
Listen to »What Was I Made For« on all major streaming platforms!
Courtesy of Dune Altar:
“Although at odds with the band’s pounding post-metal instrumentals and vocalist Michelle Malley’s dramatic singing, the dark existentialism of Billie Eilish’s Barbie hit »What Was I Made For« is a surprisingly apt tonal fit for Iress.” – Flood Magazine
Wednesday, March 12 – Los Angeles-based doomgaze darlings Iress have surprised fans with a studio recording of their haunting cover of Billie Eilish’s »What Was I Made For«, which premiered with Flood Magazine. The band’s reimagining of the track transforms it into a slow-burning doom-pop anthem, drenched in atmospheric sorrow and heavy guitars. Frontwoman Michelle Malley’s evocative vocals take center stage, carrying the song through waves of intensity as Iress pushes the ballad to its emotional breaking point.
“The band has been wanting to do a cover song for years now, and when we finally found the right track, »What Was I Made For«, everything came together seamlessly. We kept the song’s delicate essence while adding our own take with a more atmospheric and intense version. After performing it live at our album release show, the response was incredible, and we knew we had to record it.” – Michelle Malley
Photo credits: @twink6
Iress’ rendition of »What Was I Made For« preserves the delicate emotion of the original while layering in their signature post-metal and atmospheric textures, deepening its intensity and weight. Their version swells with raw power and haunting beauty, amplifying the song’s sense of longing and sorrow into something even more expansive.
In support of the single and their highly lauded 2024 album »Sleep Now, In Reverse«, Iress has announced a string of U.S. tour dates, kicking off on March 20th. The band will spend a week with their Dune Altar labelmates Faetooth in the Southwest for a string of shows that are rapidly selling out, before heading up to the Pacific Northwest to join Spirit Mother for a West Coast tour, including stops in Oakland, Portland, and Seattle, before wrapping up in Los Angeles at The Echo on May 14 with Dreadnought and Witching.
In addition to their upcoming U.S. dates, Iress has recently wrapped up a highly successful UK tour, where the band’s performances were met with widespread praise, further cementing their reputation as one of the most captivating acts in the doomgaze scene. The band plans to head back overseas soon, continuing to spread the word about their powerful and immersive live shows.
“Singer/guitarist Michelle Malley has one of the most naturally powerful voices of this fest, as well, making songs from their excellent »Sleep Now, In Reverse« album stand out marvelously.” – Kerrang!
“They mesmerise the sizeable crowd with their dreamy doom-gaze, led by the soaring and impassioned vocals of frontwoman Michelle Malley… everyone is wholly and unconditionally enamoured with these bright young souls.” – Distorted Sound
»What Was I Made For« is available now via Dune Altar and Church Road Records (UK/EU) HERE.
Thu, Mar 20 – Phoenix, AZ – The Underground PHX*
Fri, Mar 21 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress*
Sat, Mar 22 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad*
Mon, Mar 24 – Austin, TX – Spiderhouse Ballroom*
Tue, Mar 25 – Houston, TX – The Secret Group*
Wed, Mar 26 – Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio*
Fri, Mar 28 – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive*
Sun, Mar 30 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room*
Wed, Apr 30 – Oakland, CA – Thee Stork Club#
Thu, May 1 – Sacramento, CA – Cafe Colonial#
Fri, May 2 – Portland, OR – Danté’s#
Sat, May 3 – Seattle, WA – Add-a-Ball#
Wed, May 14 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo^
* w/ Faetooth
# w/ Spirit Mother
^ w/ Dreadnought & Witching
More on Iress:
The sonic equivalent of standing on a beach as a tidal wave approaches, listening to IRESS is to be aware of certain devastation and yet grateful to witness something so terrifyingly beautiful, transfixed by what happens next. Drawing inspiration from dark, yet commanding elements including metal, shoegaze, and slowcore, their music presents a cinematic crescendo that swells with intensity and wanes with sorrow.
Iress formed in the musical crucible of Los Angeles in 2010. Frontwoman Michelle Malley, dubbed “the Adele of Doom” by LA music peers, possesses vocals that range from an enveloping smokey warmth to anguished belting, revealing an emotional depth that arrests with unbelievable restraint and control. The band, comprised of bassist Michael Maldonado, drummer Glenn Chu, and guitarist Graham Walker, have fostered a chemistry that translates seamlessly to the stage. Their live performances are intentional and dynamic, leaving audiences stunned to silence, moved to tears, and immersed in a satisfying amount of crushing distortion.
Over the years Iress has evolved, always exploring new dimensions in their sound, yet always showcasing Malley’s equally fragile and ferocious vocals. Their intentionality in crafting concise songs, each flickering into existence with magnificent intensity, aligns with nuanced storytelling.
Iress seamlessly weaves layers of crushing guitars, atmospheric textures, and brooding rhythms, creating a sonic tapestry that blends darkness and beauty. With their third LP, »Sleep Now, In Reverse«, released in 2024 on Dune Altar and Church Road Records (UK/EU), and an international touring schedule, Iress invites listeners to be transported to a realm where darkness and beauty intertwine.