Starting his career in Seattle, Rafael Anton Irisarri moved to New York in 2014, where he runs & operates Black Knoll Studio.
Irisarri grew up playing in punk and reggae bands before the world of electronic music opened up to him in the 1990’s.
After signing with Ghostly International in the mid 00’s, he's since lent a hand to countless projects orbiting the label: Tycho, Telefon Tel Aviv, Galcher Lustwerk, Steve Hauschildt, Lusine, Jacaszek, and Com Truise (to name a few).
As a remixer, he's been commissioned by indie bands (The Naked And Famous, School of Seven Bells), techno artists (Pantha Du Prince), IDM pioneers (Arovane), and legendary ambient producers (Biosphere).
In 2015, Irisarri was tasked to remaster for vinyl two of minimalist composer Terry Riley classic albums “Descending Moonshine Dervishes” (1982) and “Songs for the Ten Voices of the Two Prophets” (1983).
In 2016, he engineered Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s “Glass” album, a collaboration between the esteemed Japanese maestro and influential German sound artist Alva Noto. It was recorded on location at architect Philip Johnson’s masterpiece, The Glass House, in Connecticut and released in 2018 to much critical praise.
In 2019, Irisarri mastered American recording artist Eluvium’s “Pianoworks” album. It debuted simultaneously at #1 on the Billboard Classical and Billboard New Age charts for the week of June 15, 2019.
An artist in his own right, Irisarri performs frequently (whenever he is not chained to the studio). Concert highlights include: Sónar (ES), Unsound (PL), MITO SettembreMusica (IT), MUTEK (CA), TodaysArt (NL), and Dark Mofo (AU).
