Feature Friday - IRL (Amanda Harvey)
Forget The Box(.ca) is proud to announce a month-long collaboration with the HTMlles Festival, Montreal's premier biennial for feminist media arts and digital culture, produced by Ada X.
Over the next month, we will be publishing our weekly FeatureFriday interviews spotlighting a curated selection of artists who embody the festival’s commitment to technocritical reflection and transdisciplinary creation. This collaboration explores the intersection of identity, technology, and art, highlighting the voices that define Montreal’s underground and digital landscapes.
Catch IRL at HTMlles Festival’s present form(s) on May 9, 2026, at World Creation Studio, with Echönymphia and Audréanne Filion.
Name
IRL (Amanda Harvey)
Pronouns
They/Them
Bio
I’m a composer, artist, dj and writer with a long history in radio and performance. As of recently, I’m a novice woodworker.
I’ve been composing solo and collaboratively since 2015, using hardware, analog/modular synth, and the voice. My music lives in the liminal space between ambient, downtempo, and IDM. Beyond performance, I’ve co-produced two seasons of the podcast A Kind of Harmony and host a monthly radio show, Heart Full, on n10.as. My releases span labels including EAF (MTL), SURF (LX), Psychic Liberation (BE), Kapha Selections (NYC), Personal Records (MTL), and Interzone (MTL).
Instagram
@irlhuman
Website
https://www.irlhuman.com/links
Where in Montreal are you located?
Villeray
What do you love about your neighborhood?
The bakery next door, running into friends in the street, the local flower shop, my proximity to Jarry Park, all the lovely neighbourhood dogs and kids.
What’s your favourite art space in Montreal and why?
The Durocher building, for it's legacy supporting artists and collectives, a multipurpose space that hosts artist studios, markets, gallery shows, performances, readings, parties, and various one-off events in the realm of arts and culture. Truly a gem!
Describe your art in your own words.
My art is like a well.
What have you been working on recently?
A new live set for 2026, recording a short LP, as well as a drone tape. I'm also always digging for new music for dj sets/radio shows. But aside from music, I'm currently in full time school for cabinetmaking, so working with wood.
What sparked your passion for music?
Music making is ingrained in my family history, my Detho's father was the village drummer, my Grandmother was a pianist, my Uncle plays the bouzouki and synth, my elder cousin is a drummer. I grew up a Greek dancer, listened to Led Zeppelin with my Mom and Pink Floyd with my Dad.
Describe your sound.
Ethereal, mysterious, aquatic, slow and low.
What does your creative process look like?
I spend a lot of time in my studio, sitting in front of my machines and speakers, playing a single note, a few notes, over and over. I listen to the world around me and draw inspiration from liminal sounds. I field record and play around with those records. I read. I go to shows and draw inspiration from those making music around me.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Cocteau Twins, Deftones, The Radio Dept, Boards of Canada, Migos, Éliane Radigue, and MBV, etc.
What do you love about playing live?
Living in that moment alone, completely lost in the sound, almost like entering another dimension. The afterglow.
