We’re All IIIZ With ‘Manic Pixie’

IIIZ (pronounced ‘Eyes’), a relatively new EDM band from Palm Desert, California (home of Coachella) are a very exciting band for a number of reasons.

First up, the quartet are aged between 14 and 18. Second, they are the first band to play EDM live onstage – an entire band making the music, as opposed to just a DJ. In doing so, IIIZ have effectively, in their innovation, created a new musical genre.

All their music is written by lead singer Ison Van Winkle, first on his computer, then fine tuned with the band. Their sound is deeply reminiscent of the 80s sounds of the likes of Depeche Mode, Talking Heads, and DEVO, but they claim their inspirations as The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, and Kings of Leon, among others.

Not afraid to take risks, the band first came together quite incidentally: four youth artists were each pursuing their passions, independent of each other, when circumstances brought them together. It was only a few weeks later that they started performing their original music locally; each time the crowd grew larger. It wasn’t long before they attracted the attention of Interscope Records. They signed in May last year with label Hood and Associates and will release their first full length album this year.

IIIZ are lead singers, Ison Van Winkle and Mari Brossfield, who also play Guitars and Keyboards between them, with Jacob Gutierrez on Lead Bass and Vocals, and Ross Murakami playing Drums and also providing Vocals. They were formerly known as The Yip Yops, and recently recorded with Sen Dog, of Cypress Hill, who features on their song, ‘Get Away’. IIIZ are about to embark on a tour taking in the USA and Canada, and their album was produced by Ronnie King, Ditch, and Alvin Taylor, all of whom who’ve worked with big names – Taylor, in particular, has worked with both Fleetwood Mac and Little Richard.

‘Manic Pixie’, the final song on IIIZ’s thirteen track album, is an EDM masterpiece, made up of looped keyboard sounds, tribal-style vocals and heavy drums and electronic guitar rhythms. It’s definitely a different sound – there’s hints of DEVO and Talking Heads, as previously mentioned, but there’s something more contemporary about them. IIIZ, whose stage show includes stage lasers, co2 cannons and heavy fog, definitely have their finger on the pulse when it comes to what direction music will take, and we’re excited to see where they’re headed.

Check out their video for ‘Manic Pixie’, a post apocalyptic short film which harks back to the late 70s and 80s.