Meet Iris Konstant! Iris is a pop-culture journalist and a content marketing associate in Washington, DC. Iris is a staff writer for Euphoria Magazine, a publication that focuses on pop culture trends and entertainers. She is highly experienced in digital communications and has several years of experience as a journalist. Iris is someone I personally look up to as a journalist in the entertainment industry. She is a strong role model for other women in the music industry and is never afraid to share an opinion on something she is passionate about. I hope you all enjoy getting to know her through this interview as much as I did.
Introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?
Hello everyone! My name is Iris Konstant. Currently, I work as a Journalist for Euphoria Magazine where I have been crafting innovative, cutting-edge articles for the past two years!
What is Euphoria? Tell us about the goal and the content!
Euphoria Magazine is a digital outlet which features exclusive interviews from all of your favourite entertainers; from Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy to Dixie D’Amelio. Our goal is to promote creativity, by featuring the top talent from across beauty, fashion, music, and entertainment.
How has being a female affected your work in the music industry?
At one point when I was younger – which is quite hilarious because I am not that old [23-years-old] – I wanted to work in touring. As a young woman, it can be extremely difficult because bands will pass on hiring you simply because you’re a woman. Several years ago, I remember applying to be the photographer for this major tour. When I say I was the top pick, I sincerely mean it. Everyone seemed extremely gung-ho about hiring me. No issues arose. Soon however, the radio silence set in and weeks later I found out they hired a dude, who had less experience than me. It was extremely disheartening, and it ended up being the last straw for me. Granted, it was this rejection that pushed me into Journalism and Digital Marketing! Even though it hurt at the time, I am grateful for it now. Without this rejection I would’ve never been able to work with the incredible PR teams at The Orchard, Sony, and Warner Music.
Who are some of your female inspirations?
Oh gosh, this is such a great question! Off the top of my head, the three women that come to mind are Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG), Jacinda Ardern, and Dr. Jill Biden. In retrospect, I admire each for their own distinct reasons; but if I were asked to sum up my thoughts, I would say I admire all of them due to their tenacity and fearlessness. All of them have broken through the glass ceiling, only to look back and extend a hand to other women. I think that is paramount in this day and age. We have to support each other and RBG, Ardern, and Dr. Biden are all prime examples of women supporting women. Ultimately, as I continue to grow within this industry, it is my goal to ideally embody their style of leadership; one that fosters inclusivity, creativity, and collaboration.
Tell us about some of your current favorite female musicians? What do you love about them?
Some of my current favourite additions to my Spotify playlist would have to be Chloe x Halle and Megan Thee Stallion. Initially, I wasn’t familiar with Chloe x Halle until I saw their performance during the 2020 Billboard Women in Music Awards which I covered for Euphoria. Chloe x Halle’s performance at BWMA was utterly astonishing – they carried themselves with an unmatched level of grace and tact. In a similar vein to Megan Thee Stallion, Chloe x Halle are unafraid to own their own sexuality as young women. We as women have been oppressed for decades, and our bodies have been weaponized against us. The fact that we have women like Chloe x Halle and Megan Thee Stallion tossing these patriarchal assumptions to the bin is rather exciting.
What is one of the biggest challenges you have experienced thus far in your career?
If you would’ve asked me this question before 2020, my response would’ve been far different. Currently, however one of the biggest challenges that I’ve experienced thus far would have to be the current pandemic. When the pandemic hit it truly forced a lot of people to reconsider what they were doing with their lives and what is valuable to them. At the time, I was living over in England, and I remember being stuck in my tiny corner flat wondering “What the hell am I doing with my life”? Eventually, I ended up moving back in with my parents (who currently live in France) and took time off to just exist with my family. Growing up as I did, family is second to none. After a couple of months of re-engaging with my values, I delved back into the industry with a reinvigorated passion. Oddly enough, my time with my family taught me that this “hustle 24/7” mentality that’s so pervasive in the United States is bullshit. You need time to exist as a human being and participate in things that you genuinely enjoy. For me this took the form of hanging out with my family and watching shows like “Tout le monde a son mot à dire” and e-volunteering.
How has the current pandemic affected your work?
Oddly enough, as a journalist the pandemic really hasn’t affected me that much. Interviews can still be conducted, and articles are still written every day. If I were still to be working in the touring industry, without a doubt, I would’ve said it decimated my career. Fortunately, about two years ago I began to pivot out of working in touring towards journalism and digital marketing. Additionally, in an odd turn of events, the current pandemic has provided me with the chance to give back to my local community. As recently, I begun work at a local hospital as a Vaccine Assistant. So maybe one day, we’ll all be able to get together again and attend concerts where we’re singing at the top of our lungs.
What are some of your favorite pieces you’ve written and why?
The New Hope Club exclusive interview is arguably one of my favourite pieces. NHC was one of the first bands to trust me with their story, and I will forever be indebted to the team (major shout out to Michelle Duffy from Halestorm PR) and the boys. Additionally, I absolutely adore doing these “Introducing” features, where we highlight an up-and-coming artist like Adam Hender. It’s always exciting to listen to new music, so these features are always a barrel of fun. However, as of late one of my favourite pieces has to be the interview that I conducted with Sofia Vassilieva of Warner Brothers’ ‘The Little Things’. Sofia was an absolute gem. We truly hit it off during the interview and could’ve chatted for hours; sadly, my Zoom decided to throw a hissy fit after about 40 minutes.
To read the interview Iris conducted with Sofia Vassilieva, click here.
Anything else you would like to add?
Wear a mask that goes over your nose and mouth when you’re out in public.
Iris is just one of many amazing women we had the pleasure of featuring this month. Journalism is an incredibly important aspect of the music industry, and without it, none of this would be possible. Be sure to support Iris’s work on https://www.euphoriazine.com/. To connect with Iris, follow her on social media!
