Erika Iris Simmons, aka iri5, is a 27-year-old self-taught artist who works in non-traditional media: film reels, credit cards, sheet music and anything else she can find for under five dollars at Goodwill. In Ghost in the Machine, she uses discarded cassette tapes to create remarkable portraits of rock legends. We caught up with Erika to guide us through a portion of the series.

Erika’s work is currently on display at the VH1 Headquarters in New York City’s Times Square. Check her website for updates and further information.

Click on the gallery to read her thoughts about this innovative project.

Introduction and interview by Julie Fishman.