Meet Will Hamilton | Musician, composer, artist. Performs as Iriamu.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Will Hamilton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Will, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“Work the Plan!!” My father always told us that when we want something we have to have a plan to obtain it. I strayed away from music for some years and when I came back to it, I developed goals. I decided I wanted to write something interesting, something that was honest. I then decided that I wanted to document it. I wanted to release records. Physical media. I wanted a timestamp in the world. Then I wanted to perform again. I wanted to share my thoughts, ideas, my work with as many people who would pay attention.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Currently, I work under the name, Iriamu. I work with textures, sounds. I enjoy field recordings, found sounds, like water dripping, or the sound of a noisy elevator, footsteps. I incorporate them, mangle them and create a soundscape. I also can’t get away from the traditional song. One of my releases may have a noisy drone that depicts my disdain for living in the suburbs, the next may be a three chord punk song, where I act as the narrator for my depiction of the middle aged man that I am.

I’m primarily a bass player. I have been playing for about 30 years. I used to play in punk and post-punk bands in the 90’s. As I grew older I found it was hard to get other people to commit. Everyone has life happening. It’s hard to schedule prac and shows around soccer practice, homework and the job that pays the mortgage.

When i was ready to create again, I decided I would do it by myself. My musical tastes had changed to a more avant-garde, experimental, noise type of sound. I met a few musicians that blew me away. I also started listening to more jazz and free improvisation type music. It blew me away. It wasn’t easy to listen to, and I loved it. I felt the emotions in the music.

I had always had a version of a home studio, but I upgraded a little. I gradually got into synthesis and using guitar pedals as an instrument. I practiced and played and tried to free my mind. I tried to write my first record for almost 10 years. It kept changing. I wasn’t ready yet. I wasn’t free.

The last few years, I’ve recorded a few releases that I’m proud of. I’m not all the way free, but I’m closer than I’ve ever been.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of my favorite places is Eyedrum Art and Music Gallery. They put on a monthly show called Kirkwood Ballers Club, and it’s been going for twenty years! It’s a showcase for experimental artists and musicians. I’ve seen everything from a beautiful duo with violin and cello, to a free improv bass and percussion set, to a guy giving himself a haircut while the clippers were mic’ed with a contact mic through his bass amp, to a gentleman doing a spoken word piece as he eats hours old hamburgers and then threw up in a bowl. There is something there for everyone.

Another person I admire is Maya Bailey. He has set some goals and run with them. He pretty much runs a whole block on Peters St in south downtown. He has a gallery and community space, tattoo parlors, all kinds of interesting, creative endeavors. There is alway something going on at Peters Street Station.

I love to hang out in East Atlanta, it reminds me a little of Decatur St in my hometown of New Orleans. The Earl is always great and I stop in and say hi to Zoe at The Holy Taco when I’m down there.

Little 5 Points is a bohemian paradise. Cool shops and one of my favorite record stores, Criminal Records has been a staple for many years.

Cool thing to see would be the Krog Street Tunnel. It’s a graffitied tunnel right out side the Cabbagetown neighborhood. There is a cool bar there named 97 Estoria. The neighborhood has been gentrified now, but in Atlanta history there was a factory there and a lot of the workers lived in the surrounding houses. Some good music came out of that neighborhood. Opal Foxx, Smoke. Those roots have grown and branched and now there is a great band who is one of my favorites named, w8ing4ufos.

There is a lot of civil rights history, so don’t forget the MLK Memorial and Ebenezer Baptist church. If you see a street and it’s named after a person, document and Google to learn more.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I thank my family every day for allowing me to work on my craft. Music has to fit in to the everyday life that we all have to maintain. Being a husband, and father are primary. My family allows me the time to create and work on my goals and ambitions.

My parents have always been supportive. They let me and my bandmates make noise in the backyard when we were kids.

I have many musical mentors. They have taught me to be honest in my work, be yourself, don’t be afraid to do something different. They are always supportive when things don’t go exactly as planned.

Website: https://iriamu1.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iriamu.music?igsh=b3N5cW41MjlheG5l&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iriamu.music?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wchamilton3657

Image Credits
Peter Farris
Autumn Hamilton
@MelodicMonster