JESSICA ARLO IRISH

BIOGRAPHY

"Let your soul take flight, bird-like, on the wings of song..."

After receiving much acclaim within the world of Classical music, including 2 music scholarships for violin performance, Jessica Arlo Irish decided to pursue her passion for composition. With her unique talent to play a number of instruments (specialising in violin and viola) combined with her natural gift for improvisation and composition, she has gone on to release internationally acclaimed and award winning solo projects as well as working with high level professional bands and artists from both Australia and abroad. Jessica specialises in work with strings across all genres.

Career Highlights:

• Semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition 2014 (NASHVILLE) for her track, Here

• ​Semifinalist in 5 different categories for 2 of her tracks in the Unsigned Only Competition 2015 (NASHVILLE)

• Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition 2015 (NASHVILLE) for her track, Raw

• Finalist for her Soldiers Music Video in the Unsigned Only Competition 2015 (NASHVILLE) 

• Winner of Best Music Video for Soldiers at the International Apex Film Festival 2015 (Rochester, MN, USA)

• Award of Excellence at the International Film Festival of Cinematic Arts 2015 (LOS ANGELES)

• Official Selection; New York Independent Film Festival 2016 for Alive Music Video

• Third Place in the 32nd Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Competition for track, Alive, judged by the Songwriters Association of Washington (DC)

• Honourable Mention in the Unsigned Only Competition 2016 (NASHVILLE) for Ireland Meets Tibet

• Alive Music Video makes Official Selection for New Filmmakers New York 2016

• Alive Music Video is a semifinalist in the Cine Pobre Film Festival 2016 (Mexico)

• Alive Music Video is a finalist in the Byron Bay International Film Festival APRA AMCOS Music Video Awards 2016

• Winner of Best Music Video Award for Here at the Made in Melbourne Film Festival 2016

• Semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition 2016 (NASHVILLE) in 2 categories; World Music for ​Ireland Meets Tibet & Music Video for Soldiers

• Here Music Video makes Quarterfinals at the International Music Video Underground 2017 (PARIS) for both Best Music Video & Best Director

• Semifinalist in the ​International Songwriting Competition 2016 (NASHVILLE) for Soldiers in the Screenshot Category

• Unreleased Track & Music Video, Secrets, is a Winner in the UK International Songwriting Competition 2017 (Nashville) for Best Music Video, along with 4 Higher Commended Awards for songwriting, 2 Semifinalist positions for her previously released music videos, Soldiers & Alive, and a Special Mention for her previously released music video, Here.

• 2nd Place in Music Video Category in the International Songwriting Competition 2017 (Nashville) for "Secrets" (unreleased) in the Music Video category

• Highly Commended Award in the International Songwriting Competition 2018 (Nashville) for Best Music Video 

• ​Honourable Mention in the Unsigned Only Competition 2019 (Nashville) for 'You Don't Owe Me (No More)'

After achieving First Class Honours and the Dean’s Award for her musical composition/improvisations and thesis in 2015, The Border Crosser, Jessica was offered an Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship to study a Doctorate of Creative Arts from 2016. Her focus is cross-genre and intercultural in nature, stretching her Irish/Celtic influenced artistic voice across a wide variety of unfamiliar, musical contexts and hybridised, traditional music forms in order to push her musical compositions and improvisations to the next level.

She believes that as John Cage said, “A new language requires a new technique. If you don’t require a new technique, then what you’re saying probably isn’t new.” Therefore, by removing sounds from their familiar contexts and traditions, she believes she can contemporize them and move them into the future, whilst still respecting their history and preserving their beauty. 

FULL LIST OF AWARDS & FEATURES

• Semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition 2014 (NASHVILLE) for track, Here

• Soldiers Music Video Selected for Los Angeles New Wave International 
  Film Festival 2015

• Soldiers Music Video Selected for Los Angeles Cinéfest 2015

• Soldiers Music Video Selected for New Film Makers New York Festival 2015
  held at Anthology Archives NYC

• Soldiers Music Video Selected for Underground Film Festival 2015 (MUNICH)

• Soldiers Music Video selected for Biennial Edition of CinéWomen Magazine 2015

• Soldiers Music Video Selected for the 6th Annual ITSA Film Festival 2015 (SONORA, CALIFORNIA)

• Soldiers Music Video Selected for NYC Independent Film Festival 2015

• Soldiers Selected for 2015 International Film Festival of Cinematic Arts (LOS ANGELES)

• Soldiers Music Video wins Best Music Video at the APEX Film Festival (ROCHESTER, MN, USA)

• Soldiers Music Video receives Special Mention at I Filmaker International Film Festival 2015 (MARBELLA, SPAIN)

• Soldiers Music Video Selected for Williamsburg International Film Festival 2015

• Soldiers Music Video Selected for Salento International Film Festival 2015

• Soldiers Music Video Selected for Guam Film Festival 2015

• Semifinalist in the Unsigned Only Competition 2015 (NASHVILLE) for 2 tracks in 5 different Categories 

• Soldiers Music Video makes Semifinals in the Video Performance Category of the Unsigned Only Competition 2015 (NASHVILLE).

• Finalist in the Unsigned Only Competition 2015 for track, Raw

• Soldiers Music Video makes Finals in the Video Performance Category for the Unsigned Only Competition 2015 (NASHVILLE)

• Overall Honorable Mention in the Unsigned Only Competition 2015 (NASHVILLE)

• Soldiers Music Video receives Award of Excellence at International Film 
  Festival of Cinematic Arts 2015 (LOS ANGELES)

• Soldiers Music Video Selected for Seeyousound International Music Festival 2016 (TURIN, ITALY)

• Alive awarded Third Place by the Songwriter’s Association of Washington (DC) in the Adult Contemporary Section of their 32nd Mid-Atlantic Song Contest 2016

• Alive Music Video selected for New York City Independent Film Festival 2016

• Semifinalist in the Unsigned Only Competition 2016 (NASHVILLE) for 3 tracks in 2 different categories

• Finalist in the Unsigned Only Competition 2016 (NASHVILLE) in the Screenshot category​

• University: Panelist on the WSU HCA Blues Forum with internationally renowned musicians, Dom Turner and Phil Wiggins

• University: Performed a live version of Yantra de Vilder’s work, Haiku, at WSU for Noise and Silence: SYO Mentoring Project in September 2015. 

• Research: Panelist and Solo Speaker for WSU’s Interventions and Intersections Conference: Beyond Boundaries – 06-07 July 2016 Awarded: Highly Commended Thesis​. 

• Alive Music Video makes Official Selection for New Filmmakers New York 2016

• Alive Music Video is a semifinalist in the Cine Pobre Film Festival 2016 (MEXICO)

• Honourable Mention Award in the Unsigned Only Competition 2016 (NASHVILLE) for instrumental track, Ireland Meets Tibet 

• Alive Music Video official selection for Byron Bay Film Festival 2016

• Alive Music Video official selection for LA Femme International Film Festival 2016 (LOS ANGELES)

• Alive Music Video is a finalist in the Byron Bay International Film Festival APRA AMCOS Music Video Awards

• Here Music Video is a finalist in the Made in Melbourne Film Festival 2016

• Here Music Video wins Best Music Video at Made in Melbourne Film Festival 2016​

• Semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition 2016 (NASHVILLE) in 2 categories; World Music for ​Ireland Meets Tibet & Music Video for Soldiers

• Here Music Video makes quarterfinals at the International Music Video Underground 2017 (PARIS) for both Best Music Video & Best Director

• Semifinalist in the ​International Songwriting Competition 2016 (NASHVILLE) for Soldiers in the Screenshot Category

• University: Performed as a duo with Internationally renowned Guzheng player, Chiu Tan Ching (CHINA) at Poetic Energies Across Sonic Space Festival 2017 (SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA)

• University: Performed as a trio with Aria Award Nominated Producer, Yantra de Vilder, as the pianist (Avoca, Australia) and Internationally renowned Taegum player, Hyelim Kim (London, Seoul) at the Creativity Unlimited Festival 2017 (SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA)

• Unreleased Track & Music Video, Secrets, is a winner in the UK International Songwriting Competition 2017 (Nashville) for Best Music Video, along with 4 Higher Commended Awards for the track, 2 Semifinalist positions for her previously released music videos, Soldiers & Alive, and a special mention for her previously released music video, Here.

• Semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition 2017 (Nashville) for Secrets (unreleased) in both the Music Video and Unpublished categories; winners to be announced shortly.

• Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition 2017 (Nashville) for Secrets (unreleased) in the Music Video category; winners to be announced in April 2018.

• 2nd Place in Music Video Category in the International Songwriting Competition 2017 (Nashville) for Secrets (unreleased) in the Music Video category

• Secrets Music Video screened at Canberra Short Film Festival 2018

• Honourable Mention in the International Songwriting Competition 2018 (Nashville) for Secrets in the Music Video Category 

• Finalist x 3 in the Unsigned Only Competition 2019 (Nashville) for You Don't Owe Me (No More)

• ​Honourable Mention in the Unsigned Only Competition 2018 (Nashville) for You Don't Owe Me (No More)

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"Life is alot like jazz ... it's best when you improvise."

George Gershwin

COLLABORATIONS

For work examples or specific track enquiries, please get in contact.

​Oliver Tank:

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• Composed and recorded strings for Last Night I Heard Everything In Slow Motion, which went on to win the FBi Radio: Northern Lights Competition 2011 in Iceland, where he performed it at the Iceland Airwaves Festival. The song was also used in the National Campaign for GetUp! Australia, a Marriage Equality movement that aired on National Television: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TBd-UCwVAY 

• Composed and recorded strings in 2012 for both his single and album (consisting of violin, viola and cello)

• Cowrote Untold with Oliver Tank the track Untold which was picked up by triple j’s Home & Hosed. 

• Specific Tracks Below

• Swerve

       Different Speed (feat. Ta-Ku)
       Last Night I Heard Everything ...
       Circles
       Unreal
       Lost feat. Fawn Myers
       Untold - Oliver Tank & Wren (Cowrite) 
       Tonight (Unreleased Dreams) 
       Stay feat. Fawn Myers 
       Home
       You Never Know feat. Hayden Calnin 
       Sound Of Silence feat. Fawn Myers 
       Past Present Future
       Beautiful feat. Fawn Myers

Something With Numbers:

• Performed electric violin with Something With Numbers at the Coaster Festival in Gosford 2011

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Clare Conway (Filmmaker):

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• Directed 3 of Wren's music videos that have gone on to be featured in many international film festivals as well as winning multiple international awards (see above in Major National & International Film Screenings & Awards). 

• Currently working on film/music collaboration, Tacit (Japan)

​Damien Leith:

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• Violinist for shows/tours since 2015 including The Parting Glass, Roy Orbison, 10 Year Anniversary, Elvis, Elvis with String Quartet, Roy Orbison with String Quartet

• Multiple TV performances on Channels 7, 9 & 10 (Sony)

• Composed & Arranged Strings for String Quartet tours in 2018/2019 and 2019/2020

• Violin and Viola session musician and composer

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Claymore:

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• Guest Violinist with Band at several Festivals and performances throughout Australia

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Yantra de Vilder:

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• Collaborator since 2015 on multiple live and recorded projects

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Holly Harrison:

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• Collaborated on both live improvisations and studio recorded improvisations between 2015-2018

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Joe Taranto:

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• Collaborator since 2018 

Jess Starreveld

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• String Composition and Recording

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Annabelle Kay 

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• String Composition and Recording

The Khanz 

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• String Composition and Recording

Hansaa

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• String Composition and Recording

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Nat Conway

• Orchestral Arrangement and Recording/Production (recorded at Sony Studios) of Summer To Stay

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AFTRS

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• Performed violin at the AFTRS conference with Australian Film Composers presenting their works (2017) 

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Music Aviva

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• Collaborated with Music Aviva, Opera Vita and Opera Australia’s Simon Kim for a performance at Avoca Theatre 2017

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Michael McGlynn of Vienna People

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• Ongoing collaboration with Michael McGlynn of Vienna People Studios. Composing music for artists, film, television and radio advertising briefs.

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The Vegetable Plot

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• String composition & recording + voice over work

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Melbourne Fashion Week

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• Composed two tracks for Melbourne Fashion Week’s Instagram and Social Media Platforms for the brands Gorman & Sandro Paris 2018 

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​Billy Blake

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• Composed & recorded strings for solo project

Big Up Ma Boobs

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• Voice over work for Big Up Ma Boobs; UK Breastfeeding Normalising Animation (not yet released) 

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Mark Vincent

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• Performed on Channel 10 with Mark Vincent (Sony Australia) to promote his Eurovision Audition

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Silver Party 

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• Performed at the Silver Party 2019 Charity Event to raise funds for The Children’s Hospital

Rai Thistlewaite​

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• Performed on Rai Thistlewaite’s (Thirsty Merc) new solo music video Till The Lights Come On 

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Ilan Kidron

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• Performed on Ilan Kidron’s (previously from The Potbelleez) new video duet of Shallow

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Mark Vincent

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• Performed on Channel 10 with Mark Vincent (Sony) for his Eurovision promo performance 

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One World One People

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• Band's Violinist

• Performed at William Wallace Hotel (May’19)

• Performed at The Bridge Hotel (Aug'19)

• Performed at Lazy Bones (Aug’19)

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Jessica Mauboy

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• Performed on The Voice 2019 with Jessica Mauboy (Sony) & The Voice 2019 Finals in duet with Boy George and Diana Rouvas

Lisa Gerrard 

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• Performed on a track featuring vocals by Lisa Gerrard at Nylon Studios, led by Jesse Watt

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One Republic

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• Performed with OneRepublic at the NRL finals 6th October 2019

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Ricky Lee Coulter

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• Performed with Ricky Lee Coulter at Everest Carnival Fashion Lunch 10th October 2019​

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Clews

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• Orchestrated & Recorded strings for Clews “Feel” for Sony Australia November 2019

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Parkway Drive

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• Performed with Parkway Drive in Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane for Good Things Festival 2019

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Delta Goodrem

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• Performed with Delta Goodrem at Fire Fight Australia 2020 hosted by Celeste Barber 

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