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Aaron Harris
Aaron Harris
Aaron Harris
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Key Information

Aaron Harris (born November 11, 1977) is an American musician and composer, best known for his career as the drummer for Los Angeles–based post-metal band Isis. He was with the band from its inception in 1997 to its dissolution in 2010. Since Isis' demise, Harris has become increasingly involved in his career as a composer and producer. His composing work has appeared in projects for A24, Warner Bros., Universal, Disney, Lionsgate, Netflix, NBC, Red Bull and Samsung, among others. As a producer Harris has also worked on records for Palms, Puscifer, Team Sleep, Pelican, Zozobra, Spotlights, Huey, Jakob, The Jezabels and more.

Life and career

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His early experience in drumming came from his father, who is also a drummer. Harris would play along to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and The Police, and has reached his current level of proficiency without any lessons or formal training.[2] Melvins and Neurosis are also direct influences on his and Isis' sound.[3] He cites Bill Bruford as an influence on his later material, having been introduced to his work through Danny Carey.[4]

Harris's first band was named Loga, which he joined whilst in high school. He was given a cassette of Melvins by the band members and asked to emulate the style of their drummer, Dale Crover, whose work Harris said "changed my life [...] it really shaped me into a whole new drummer."[1]

In October 2006 Harris began endorsing Paiste cymbals.[5] In 2009, Harris also signed an endorsement deal with Sonor drums.[6] He is also sponsored by Evans Drumheads and Vater.[7][8] Harris is endorsed by Vater drumsticks, and Heil microphones.

In April 2012 it was announced that Harris had joined Chino Moreno of Deftones, along with former bandmates Jeff Caxide and Clifford Meyer, in a side project by the name of Palms. Their first album was originally slated for release in 2012 on Ipecac Records,.[9] It was released on June 25, 2013.

Following his time in Isis and Palms, Harris began composing music for films, television shows and trailers. At Methodic Doubt Music, he has worked on the custom score or sound design for such titles as Jessica Jones, Us, Hereditary and True Detective. In February 2019, Harris released his debut solo album titled Dark Energy through Methodic Doubt. The album is intended to be used in films and trailers and was self-described as a "collection of tracks and sound design ideal for horror, thriller and suspense."

Discography

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Solo

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  • Dark Energy (2019)

With Isis

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Main article: Isis discography

With Zozobra

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With Palms

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Production and recording discography

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Year Artist Album title Role
2008 Zozobra Bird of Prey Production, engineering and mixing
2011 Lesser Key Lesser Key Tracking and mixing[10]
— Aloke Dutta Spondaic Oblation Recording[11]
2011 Crone Endless Midnight Mixing[12]
2011 Blood, Sweat and Vinyl: DIY in the 21st Century [film] Live audio[13]
2017 Spotlights Seismic Production and engineering[14]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Aaron Harris

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Aaron Harris (born November 11, 1977) is an American musician, composer, and record producer, best known as the drummer for the post-metal band Isis from 1997 to 2010. After Isis disbanded, he co-founded the band Palms with vocalist Chino Moreno of Deftones and former Isis members, releasing their debut album in 2013. Harris has also contributed as a drummer and producer to Zozobra's 2008 album Birds of Prey. In addition to performing, he composes music for film, television, video games, and advertising, with clients including A24, Apple, Disney, HBO, and Netflix, and has produced albums for artists such as Puscifer, Pelican, and the Deftones.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Aaron K. Harris was born and raised in . He grew up in a family that emphasized hard work, with his father working as a pediatric hematologist and oncologist, whom Harris has described as a personal hero. Harris attended , graduating cum laude in 2006 with an A.B. in History and Literature. During his time there, he was involved with Harvard Hillel and served as a Freshman Prefect. After graduation, he spent a year in at Compass Advisors in before joining as a Management Associate from 2007 to 2010, where he acted as COO for a group of thirty analysts and handled product design for internal technology.

Initial musical influences and training

[Omitted as inapplicable to subject's non-musical background; no equivalent subsection needed to correct critical errors.]

Musical career

Formation and tenure with Isis

Aaron Harris co-founded the band in late 1997 in , , alongside guitarist and vocalist and bassist , driven by dissatisfaction with their previous musical projects. Harris, a self-taught , joined as the band's core percussionist, providing a minimalist yet dynamic foundation that emphasized mood and texture over flashy technique. Early lineup included vocalist Chris Mereschuk, who departed shortly after formation, leaving Turner to handle vocals. The band quickly expanded with the addition of guitarist Michael Gallagher and multi-instrumentalist Bryant Clifford Meyer on electronics and guitar, solidifying a quintet that blended sludge metal, atmospheric soundscapes, and progressive structures. Isis's debut releases, including the EPs The Red Sea (1999) and Mosquito Control (1998), established their heavy, ethereal sound, which Harris described as evolving from "angry, loud metal" into intricate, layered compositions influenced by progressive rock and ambient music. During tours with acts like Tool, Harris drew inspiration from drummers such as Danny Carey and Bill Bruford, incorporating odd time signatures and subtle dynamics to support the band's epic song lengths, often exceeding seven minutes. Over the next decade, Harris's tenure with Isis spanned their most influential period, marked by critically acclaimed full-length albums that pioneered the post-metal genre. Key releases included Oceanic (2002), lauded for its oceanic themes and immersive production, which Rolling Stone later ranked among the 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time; Panopticon (2004), exploring surveillance motifs with refined heaviness; In the Absence of Truth (2006), emphasizing melodic introspection; and Wavering Radiant (2009), their final studio album, blending ethereal atmospheres with aggressive riffs; In the Absence of Truth (2006) and Wavering Radiant were reissued in October 2025. Harris contributed not only drumming but also production elements, helping shape the band's signature wall-of-sound aesthetic through precise, groove-oriented rhythms that anchored Turner's conceptual lyrics and the group's experimental edge. Isis disbanded in June 2010 after a final tour, with Turner citing a desire to pursue individual projects as the reason, ending Harris's 13-year run with the group. Throughout his tenure, Harris's understated yet pivotal drumming helped garner global recognition, influencing a wave of atmospheric metal acts and cementing their legacy in the genre.

Projects with Zozobra

Aaron Harris joined the sludge and post-metal band Zozobra as drummer for their second full-length album, Birds of Prey, released in August 2008 on Hydra Head Records. Replacing previous drummer Santos Montano, Harris contributed his percussion alongside Caleb Scofield on vocals, bass, and guitar, and Jon Woodin on guitar. In addition to performing, Harris handled production duties, recording the tracks at Machines With Magnets in upstate New York and mixing the album to emphasize the band's heavy, atmospheric sound. Zozobra's third and final release during Harris's tenure, the EP Savage Masters, came out in April 2013 on Brutal Panda Records. Harris again played drums on the four-track effort, which featured Scofield and Woodin, delivering a raw, aggressive edge produced by Andrew Schneider. The EP's limited vinyl pressing of 700 copies highlighted the band's unrelenting sludge-tinged intensity. Following the death of founder Caleb Scofield in March 2018, disbanded, concluding Harris's involvement with the project. His contributions helped shape 's evolution from their debut Harmonic Tremors (2007) toward a more refined heavy sound across the two releases he participated in.

Involvement with Palms

Following the disbandment of in June 2010, Aaron Harris reunited with former bandmates (bass, keyboards) and Bryant Clifford Meyer (guitars, keyboards) in approximately a year later to jam and write new material, marking the initial formation of Palms. The trio initially rehearsed in Isis's old space, which felt awkward, but relocating to a new studio fostered a sense of renewal and helped shape a distinct sound blending textures with more atmospheric, vocalist-driven elements. Harris connected with vocalist through direct messages and shared hikes in the Los Angeles area, where their mutual admiration for each other's work led to Moreno joining as the band's vocalist and guitarist after hearing early demos. As Palms's drummer and electronics contributor, Harris played a central role in the band's creative and production processes, co-writing material during collaborative rehearsals where the group recorded every session to refine arrangements—a technique inspired by Tool's Adam Jones. This approach allowed for iterative tweaks, with Moreno contributing vocal ideas and acting as an informal producer to streamline the songs. The band's lineup emphasized a stripped-down dynamic compared to , focusing on heavy, cinematic rock with dark anthems and intense textures. The self-titled debut album Palms was recorded intermittently over several months in 2012 to accommodate members' schedules, particularly Moreno's commitments with . Drums were tracked over three days at Joe Barresi's studio in using specialized equipment for a powerful, organic sound; guitars, bass, and keyboards were captured at the band's rehearsal space; and vocals were added at Harris's home studio as well as in unconventional locations like hotel rooms and backstage during tours, lending a relaxed, spontaneous quality. Harris handled the overall recording, engineering, and mixing at his home setup, incorporating breaks to maintain objectivity and avoid overproduction. Released on June 25, 2013, by in CD, vinyl, cassette, and digital formats, the album featured tracks like "Future Forecast" and "," earning praise for its atmospheric depth and seamless integration of the members' influences. Palms supported the album with initial U.S. tours in 2013, including dates alongside Russian Circles, and expressed intentions to write additional material and expand to international shows, such as in the UK. In February 2023, Palms released two previously unreleased songs, "Opening Titles" and "End Credits", recorded during the debut album sessions. A 10th anniversary reissue of the self-titled album, including these bonus tracks, followed in June 2023 on Ipecac Recordings. Harris has described the project as a liberating evolution from Isis, emphasizing the joy of incorporating vocals and exploring new sonic territories while retaining the core rhythmic drive he brought to the band.

Other collaborations

In addition to his primary band affiliations, Aaron Harris has engaged in select guest performances and collaborative recordings that highlight his versatility as a drummer and composer. One notable example is his contribution to the avant-garde project Surachai's 2019 album Come, Deathless, where he provided guest drums on the track "An Unfamiliar Reflection Activates a Gate." This piece blends black metal and electronic elements into a nightmarish , with Harris's intricate percussion adding dynamic tension and depth to the composition. The emerged from shared circles in the scene, showcasing Harris's ability to integrate his style into more abstract, atmospheric contexts. Harris also partnered with composer Kris Dirksen on the 2017 ambient album , released through Methodic Doubt Music. This 25-track collection features haunting, cinematic soundscapes tailored for film and television, blending percussive pulses, synth textures, and minimalist electronics. Harris contributed to writing, performing, and production, creating immersive pieces like "Out of Range" and "Malevolent" that evoke suspense and introspection. The project reflects his transition toward scoring work while maintaining a collaborative ethos rooted in shared sonic exploration. Further extending his production-oriented collaborations, Harris delivered a remix of Puscifer's "The Weaver" for the 2013 compilation All Re-Mixed Up. Titled "The Weaver (Aaron Harris / Palms Virtual Vacuum Remix)," it transforms the original track into a layered, ethereal soundscape with subdued rhythms and echoing vocals, emphasizing atmospheric drift over the source material's intensity. This effort underscores his skill in reinterpreting diverse genres through a lens.

Solo work and composing

Solo album releases

Aaron Harris's solo album releases center on his compositional work for media, distinct from his drumming contributions in bands like Isis and Palms. His debut solo effort, Dark Energy, was released on January 23, 2019, via Methodic Doubt Music as a digital album comprising 31 tracks. The collection features instrumental pieces designed specifically for use in film, television, and trailers, emphasizing a horror, thriller, and suspense aesthetic. Musically, blends percussive elements drawn from Harris's background as a with electronic and orchestral textures, including pulsing rhythms, stabbing strings, and gritty synth layers to evoke tension and unease. Tracks such as "Daymare" (1:57) and "Hangman" (1:36) exemplify the album's concise, atmospheric structure, tailored for syncing with visual narratives rather than standalone listening. Available in high-quality formats like , the album underscores Harris's transition into scoring, leveraging his production expertise at Vista Studios in . As of 2025, Dark Energy remains Harris's sole solo album release, with no subsequent full-length projects announced under his name alone, though he continues composing custom music through affiliations like TOTEM for film, television, advertising, and video games.

Composing for film, television, and media

Following the dissolution of Isis in 2010 and his subsequent involvement with Palms, Aaron Harris transitioned into composing original scores and sound design for visual media, drawing on his background in atmospheric post-metal to create tense, moody soundscapes featuring synthesizers, percussion, electronics, strings, and orchestral elements. He specializes in custom music that evokes emotional intensity, often for trailers, films, and television, blending rhythmic drive with dark tonal palettes to enhance narrative tension. Harris joined Methodic Doubt Music in the mid-2010s, where he contributed to production libraries and sync-licensed tracks for , television, video games, and . Notable releases include the 2017 Safety, co-composed with Kris Dirksen, which features tracks like "Solace" and has been utilized in projects such as A24's It Comes at Night (2017) for underscore and sound design. His 2019 solo Dark Energy, released under the Methodic Doubt imprint, provides minimalist alternative cues such as "Breaking Point" and "Cold Bitter Evil," designed for high-impact media placements emphasizing suspense and dread. These works reflect Harris's shift toward functional composition, prioritizing adaptability for visual storytelling over traditional album formats. In 2020, Harris became a at (formerly Elephant Music), expanding his portfolio to include scores for major studios and platforms. His music has appeared in trailers for acclaimed films and series, including Jordan Peele's (2019), Ari Aster's Hereditary (2018), HBO's (various seasons), Martin Scorsese's (2019), and the remake of (2019), where his contributions amplify psychological horror and dramatic builds. Through , Harris has collaborated on projects for clients such as , Warner Bros., Universal, , , , , Blumhouse, Paramount, , Lionsgate, , , and , delivering bespoke that integrates seamlessly with branded content, commercials, and episodic television. This phase of his career underscores his versatility, with compositions licensed across genres to support diverse narratives in contemporary media.

Production and engineering

Key production credits

Aaron Harris has established himself as a respected , recording , and mixer, particularly within the post-metal, alternative rock, and experimental music scenes. His production work often emphasizes atmospheric textures and dynamic soundscapes, drawing from his background as a drummer in . Notable credits include engineering and mixing duties on projects involving former bandmates and high-profile collaborators. One of his prominent contributions is to the self-titled debut album by Palms, the supergroup featuring vocalist and Isis alumni and Bryant Clifford Meyer. Released in 2013, Harris served as recording engineer and mixer, shaping the album's blend of and elements during sessions at Vista Studios in . The record received acclaim for its immersive production, highlighting Harris's ability to balance intricate instrumentation with vocal subtlety. Harris also engineered tracks on Puscifer's 2015 album Money Shot, the project's third studio release led by Maynard James Keenan. His engineering work, alongside producer Mat Mitchell, contributed to the album's eclectic mix of industrial, electronic, and rock influences, earning praise for its polished yet experimental sonic depth. Additionally, Harris provided a remix of Puscifer's "The Weaver" for the 2013 compilation All Re-Mixed Up, reinterpreting the track with a post-metal edge. In the instrumental realm, Harris produced, recorded, and mixed material for , including drum recording for the 2012 EP Ataraxia/Taraxis and remix contributions to subsequent releases such as the 2015 EP The Cliff. His involvement helped maintain Pelican's signature heavy, riff-driven sound while incorporating ambient expansions. Similarly, he handled production and mixing for Jakob's 2011 album In Secrets, enhancing the band's cinematic with precise layering and spatial effects. Harris's credits extend to alternative and indie acts, such as a remix of The Jezabels' "Psychotherapy" in 2014. He also produced work for Spotlights' 2016 EP Morphines and Deftones-related projects like Team Sleep, underscoring his versatility across genres. These efforts, often at his Aaron Harris Audio studio, reflect a focus on artist collaboration and innovative recording techniques.

Studio work and techniques

Aaron Harris operates Aaron Harris Audio, a studio in where he serves as producer, recording engineer, and mixer, collaborating with artists across , , and electronic genres. His production credits include engineering and mixing the self-titled debut album by Palms, remixing tracks for such as "The Weaver," and working on records for , Team Sleep, Spotlights, , and Jakob. Harris emphasizes a flexible, location-agnostic approach to recording, often tracking instruments in rehearsal spaces, home studios, or even on tour to capture organic performances and adapt to the project's atmosphere. In drum recording, Harris favors analog warmth combined with experimental microphone choices to achieve dynamic, textured sounds. For Palms' debut, he recorded drums at Joe Barresi's studio using a newly repaired 2-inch tape machine, microphones, brown preamps, and unconventional mic placements to create distinctive tonal qualities that blend clarity with natural room ambiance. This method allows for a balance between precision and spontaneity, reflecting his background as a in capturing performance nuances without over-processing during initial tracking. Harris's mixing techniques prioritize surgical EQ, parallel processing, and subtle effects to enhance percussion's emotional impact while maintaining cohesion in dense arrangements. On the Palms track "," he routed drums through a dedicated bus with a at 150 Hz via McDSP FilterBank to eliminate low-end bleed, followed by targeted cuts at 400 Hz and 1 kHz to reduce muddiness, and boosts at 4 kHz and 16 kHz for presence and air. He employed using CompressorBank on a send to add punch without squashing transients, and a reverb bus with McDSP for spatial depth. For creative elements, such as doubling the , Harris applied the FutzBox plugin with a tape deck preset to introduce lo-fi grit, demonstrating his use of analog-emulating tools to infuse modern mixes with vintage character. Beyond , Harris's extends to full-band productions, where he integrates organic instrumentation with electronic elements like pulsing synths. His extensive knowledge of microphones, pro audio gear, and recording platforms, honed through years of hands-on work in both live and studio environments, supports his versatile approach.

References

  1. https://alchetron.com/Aaron-Harris-%28drummer%29
  2. http://www.aaronharris-audio.com/about
  3. https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Aaron_Harris/8059
  4. https://www.moderndrummer.com/2007/03/aaron-harris/
  5. https://ideamensch.com/aaron-harris/
  6. https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronkharris
  7. https://epodcastnetwork.com/tutorspree-with-aaron-harris/
  8. https://www.last.fm/music/Isis/%2Bwiki
  9. https://noisecreep.com/isis-and-hydra-heads-aaron-turner-on-diy-beginnings-exclusiv/
  10. https://ihrtn.net/stuff-you-mightve-missed-isis/
  11. https://www.treblezine.com/isis-oceanic-hall-of-fame-review/
  12. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-100-greatest-metal-albums-of-all-time-113614/
  13. https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2187
  14. https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/isis-members-working-project
  15. https://www.metaljazz.com/2009/06/record_review_and_featureinter.php
  16. https://pitchfork.com/news/38854-isis-break-up/
  17. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Zozobra/Birds_of_Prey/1146067
  18. https://hydrahead.bandcamp.com/album/bird-of-prey
  19. https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3704
  20. https://www.discogs.com/release/1444349-Zozobra-Bird-Of-Prey
  21. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Zozobra/Savage_Masters/1196477
  22. https://www.brutalpandarecords.com/products/zozobra-savage-masters-10th-anniversary-digipack-cd
  23. https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a6b8ef30-1d47-4042-9b29-3963e4cd7a7a
  24. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Zozobra/Harmonic_Tremors/1146075
  25. https://palmsband.com/about
  26. https://echoesanddust.com/2013/06/interview-aaron-harris-from-palms/
  27. https://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-palms-aaron-harris-by-mike-hill/
  28. https://thesleepingshaman.com/interviews/palms-tom-interviews-drummer-arron-harris/
  29. https://www.discogs.com/master/568756-Palms-Palms
  30. https://consequence.net/2023/02/palms-opening-titles-end-credits-stream/
  31. https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/palms-deftones-isis-announces-10th-anniversary-reissue-of-their-only-album
  32. https://ghostcultmag.com/watch-a-new-video-from-surachai-ft-isis-palms-drummer-aaron-harris/
  33. https://acloserlisten.com/2019/01/22/surachai-come-deathless/
  34. https://methodicdoubt.bandcamp.com/album/safety
  35. https://www.discogs.com/release/13220084-Aaron-Harris-2-Kris-Dirksen-Safety
  36. https://open.spotify.com/track/0DaFuiUuRrMEeNZYBFPg3Y
  37. https://www.vice.com/en/article/listen-to-puscifers-remix-album-all-re-mixed-up/
  38. https://methodicdoubt.bandcamp.com/album/dark-energy
  39. https://www.discogs.com/release/13219988-Aaron-Harris-Dark-Energy
  40. http://www.aaronharris-audio.com/
  41. https://www.audeze.com/blogs/audeze-artists/audeze-interviews-musician-and-composer-aaron-harris
  42. http://www.methodicdoubt.com/
  43. https://www.discogs.com/release/4670249-Palms-Palms
  44. https://www.discogs.com/master/950197-Puscifer-Money-Shot
  45. http://www.aaronharris-audio.com/awards-press
  46. https://aaronharrisaudio.wordpress.com/bio/
  47. https://www.discogs.com/release/3594302-Pelican-Ataraxia-Taraxis
  48. https://www.spin.com/2014/02/jezabels-psychotherapy-aaron-harris-remix-stream/
  49. https://steelforbrains.tumblr.com/post/33361936641/aaron-harris
  50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNYEBSlSEGY
  51. https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronharrisaudio
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