Bloomsday

Iris James Garrison's collaborative solo endeavor known as Bloomsday envelops introspective and multi-sensory reflections within gentle, ethereal textures rooted in guitar. The project's inaugural full-length release, Place to Land from 2022, centered on the theme of identity. Continuing this approach two years afterward, Heart of the Artichoke maintained a delicate and evocative style.

Prior to launching Bloomsday via the 2019 demo "Standy," Garrison had been creating music for approximately ten years. Work soon began on an initial album establishing the project's signature sound of dreamy guitar and sporadic keyboard elements, supported by consistent rhythm work alongside introspective lyrics exploring selfhood and daily encounters. Tracks such as "Voicemail" amassed tens of thousands of streams ahead of Place to Land's full issuance on Bayonet Records during June 2022. Alex Harwood handled production duties and contributed performances on lead guitar, piano, bass, and drums, with additional input from a select group including TOLEDO's Daniel Alvarez and Jordan Dunn-Pilz, the latter pair co-producing a pair of songs. Bloomsday issued the independent single "Jersey Soccer" that August through Hardly Art's 15th Anniversary Singles Series. Subsequent live performances included appearances alongside Courtney Barnett, Becca Mancari, and Bonny Doon.

Garrison traveled to upstate New York's Babehoven studio to record the follow-up album, with indie duo member Ryan Albert overseeing production that incorporated Harwood along with Babehoven's Maya Bon, Andrew Stevens on drums (known for work with Hovvdy and Lomelda), and further participants. Henry Stoehr of Slow Pulp handled mixing, resulting in Heart of the Artichoke's release via Bayonet in June 2024.