Daily Discovery: Sincerely, Iris – “Just Like a Dog”

Sincerely, Iris (Todd Murray) is one of the finalists in the 2014 Durango Sole Performer Contest. His sound has been described as “road trip music.” Listen to “Just Like a Dog” below.

ARTIST: Sincerely, Iris

SONG: “Just Like a Dog”

BIRTHDATE: 4/7/1983

HOMETOWN: Cincinnati, OH

CURRENT LOCATION: Charlotte, NC

AMBITIONS: To continue touring in the cities surrounding Charlotte, and to make that circle gradually bigger and bigger. To keep connecting with more and more people at every show.

TURN-OFFS: Laziness, Not being able to laugh at yourself, Crocs

TURN-ONS: Rodrigo y Gabriela, Gyspy Guitar, License Plate Guitar, Road trips with the perfect soundtrack

DREAM GIG: Opening for Josh Ritter/Playing at Red Rocks

FAVORITE LYRIC:
Bob Dylan – “Idiot Wind” (Bootleg Series)
I’ve been double-crossed too much. At times I think I’ve almost lost my mind.
Lady killers load dice on me behind my back while imitators steal me blind
You close your eyes and pout your lips and slip your fingers from your glove.
You can have the best there is, but it’s gonna cost you all your love.You won’t get it for money.

CRAZIEST PERSON I KNOW: My partner in crime and the funniest person I know, Elizabeth Byland

SONG I WISH I WROTE: “Elephant” – Jason Isbell

5 PEOPLE I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH: Jeff Buckley, Cormac McCarthy, Joni Mitchell, Chuck Palahniuk, and Louis C.K.

 MY FAVORITE CONCERT EXPERIENCE: Rufus Wainwright: The first real singer-songwriter that I experienced where the crowd was completely silent. He played at a church in Oberlin, OH. We just so happened to be staying at the same hotel and I randomly met him at the bar. He gave me career advice, and it changed my life.

 I WROTE THIS SONG:  This song started on a regular acoustic but really took on a life of it’s own when I transferred it over to the License Plate Guitar… The world can treat you just like a dog sometimes (A stray one, not Lassie or Hooch). This song is about some of the places that I’ve lived, people I’ve met, and the ugly truths about each one.