Tāmaki Makaurau-based singer-songwriter Iris Zhang 张雨清 releases her new single Jewels on Friday, 23 October.
Jewels is Iris' most heartfelt song yet - a soulful piano ballad about finding love, that old chestnut, like a lost soul stumbling upon buried treasure.
Recorded and produced by Devin Abrams (Stan Walker, SZA), Jewels follows Iris' last single Haunted & Free (2025), which was supported by NZ On Air Pan-Asian New Music funding.
“Our third date was a windy beach walk along Mission Bay. Over ice cream, I mentioned ever so casually that I didn’t believe in true love. He just laughed and called me a pessimist.”
Iris wrote the first draft of Jewels for their first anniversary, and captured this moment in the chorus:
“But you say I'm a pessimist / and maybe that's the simple truth
'Cause when I'm with you / it feels like home
When I'm with you / it feels like new”
Since then, Iris and her optimist have shared three more anniversaries, and they will be married next summer.
"I haven't started on my vows yet but I'm not sure I'll be able to top Jewels," says Iris. "It really is one of the best, most earnest things I've ever written."
Both verses open with an unexpected discovery (“I wasn't looking for poetry”; “I wasn't looking for love”). At its core, Jewels is about finding the courage to be vulnerable, and staying open to love, and being loved, in spite of past hurts, “scars and ugly fears”. Its central image recalls that windy beach, where it all began: "Maybe we're discarded pieces / jewels beneath the littered beaches."
Recorded and produced by Devin Abrams (Stan Walker, SZA), the arrangement is refreshingly clean, leaving room for Iris's naturally striking vocals and compelling songwriting. Solo piano opens and closes the song. The verses lean on minor chords, and a borrowed chord under the final "it feels like new" lifts each chorus.
Jewels is accompanied by a music video filmed/coloured and directed by Luke Penney (Paige, Luca George), with lighting assist from Elie Kayrouz, and edited by Danielle Hao-Aickin, releasing the same day.
"Iris Zhang has one of those voices that is truly unique. Her lyrics are mesmerising and her music is captivating."
PRAISE FOR IRIS ZHANG
Lemon Tree synced in Creamerie Season 2
Three NZ On Air NewTracks inclusions: Lemon Tree, Like The Other Kids (with Ersha Island 二沙岛), Haunted & Free
NZ On Air Pan-Asian New Music funding for Haunted & Free, and soon to be released Waters High
Featured by NZ Musician, TFword, Muzic.NZ, Muzic.net.nz and Neon Music (UK)
Her "Lost In Japan" cover was featured in Glamour's Shawn Mendes fan cover video (24 million+ views)