Rafael Anton Irisarri is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist, and mastering engineer known for his lush, cinematic approach to ambient and post-minimalist music. Born in 1979 and based in New York, Irisarri has become one of the most respected figures in modern ambient and drone composition, crafting deeply textured soundscapes that balance emotional intimacy with vast sonic scale.

Emerging in the mid-2000s, Irisarri first gained attention with his debut album Daydreaming (2007), released on Miasmah Recordings. The record’s blend of melancholy piano motifs, reverb-soaked guitar, and slow-moving drones established the foundation of his signature sound one that fuses the emotional resonance of classical composition with the immersive atmosphere of ambient and shoegaze music.

In addition to his solo work, Irisarri has been involved in several collaborative projects, most notably The Sight Below, a moniker under which he explored the intersection of ambient textures and minimalist techno. This project, released on Ghostly International, showcased his ability to merge rhythmic subtlety with hypnotic melodic depth, earning critical acclaim within the electronic music community.

His later releases, such as The North Bend (2010), A Fragile Geography (2015), and Solastalgia (2019), reveal a steady evolution toward grander, more emotionally charged compositions. Much of his recent work has been inspired by themes of memory, place, and ecological anxiety, rendered through layers of processed strings, distortion, and decaying resonance that evoke both beauty and loss.

Beyond his creative output, Irisarri is also a highly sought-after mastering engineer, operating from his studio, Black Knoll Studio, where he has worked on recordings for many prominent ambient and experimental artists. His dual role as both artist and engineer has made him a central figure in shaping the sound of contemporary ambient music.

Through his deeply emotive compositions and meticulous production, Rafael Anton Irisarri has forged a distinctive voice in modern sound art one that transforms subtlety and decay into profound expressions of human and environmental emotion.