GLIS / Shaun Frandsen

Glis is an Electronic / Industrial music project founded in 2001 by Shaun Frandsen of Seattle, WA (USA). The band has experienced several lineup changes and guest appearances, with frontman Shaun Frandsen acting as the primary producer, vocalist, songwriter, and instrumentalist. Notable guest, Jean-Luc De Meyer of Front 242, contributed vocals on two studio tracks for the Glis album "Nemesis" in 2005. The band played their final gig at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on October 22, 2008.



History:



Formation & Extract (2000–2002)



Shaun Frandsen and Andrea Ashdown began recording demos at home as early as 2000. Some obscure self-released CDs ("The Storm EP" and early "Extract" demos) were handed out to local Seattle club DJs. Frandsen attracted the attention of music store owner Mike Wimer (Musicwerks) who signed the two for a one album deal on his own label ADSR Musicwerks. Shortly after the release of their debut album "Extract", Mike Wimer became a live member of Glis (percussionist) along with another local Seattle musician Carsten Pedersen (keyboards). Their first notable gigs were supporting Red Flag and VNV Nation. Andrea Ashdown left the band in 2002 to pursue other interests. Frandsen, Wimer, and Pedersen continued the live band without her, as a trio.



Ayria, Balance & Equilibrium (2003)



2003 marked a big year for Glis as they were signed by the Belgian label Alfa Matrix. Frandsen, now alone in the studio, recorded material that would become their first European released album "Balance". The record gave Glis an identity in the European dark EBM scene. Their first gig outside of the states was March 29, 2003 at the legendary Slimelight in London followed by an appearance at the Eurorock festival in Belgium. Shaun Frandsen also produced and performed the music for Ayria's album "Debris" in 2003. Following that collaboration, Ayria and Glis embarked on tour supporting Razed In Black across Canada and the USA. Glis and Ayria members were interchangeable in their live gigs during that tour. Frandsen, Pedersen, and Wimer would perform as Glis, and Jennifer Parkin (vocals), Frandsen (keyboards), and Wimer (drums) would play as Ayria. The Glis remix album "Equilibrium" featuring remixed versions of the tracks from "Balance" was released during that tour.



Nemesis & Combichrist tours (2004–2007)



Glis played only a handful of live gigs in 2004, as Frandsen concentrated his efforts on recording material for the much darker and heavier "Nemesis" album. The first offering in 2004 was an EP featuring two album tracks and remixes called "Disappear! EPCD". Later that year, Frandsen met Daniel Bressanutti and Patrick Codenys of Front 242 at a Male Or Female (Front 242 side-project) concert in Seattle and talked of a collaboration. The unexpected result was Frandsen teaming up with Front 242 vocalist Jean-Luc De Meyer who recorded vocals on two tracks for "Nemesis". The lyrical content of the two songs ("The Irreparable" and "La Béatrice") were based on the poems of Charles Baudelaire. To support "Nemesis" on the road, Frandsen enlisted with the EBM band Combichrist as support for an extensive N. American tour. Glis was stripped down to a smaller live band consisting of Shaun Frandsen and Karloz M. of Manufactura switching back and forth from vocals and keyboards. During the second week of the tour, Karloz M. was arrested at an afterparty in Tampa, FL. Frandsen had to continue without him. The keyboardist of Combichrist (Syn M.) filled in the missing position. Frandsen and Syn would both remain onstage during the Combichrist set. Later that year, Shaun Frandsen joined Combichrist as a full-time live member. Meanwhile, Glis played out around the world reaching as far as Mexico, Canada, UK, Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, and in Germany at Wave Gotik Treffen 2006. However, Frandsen preferred touring with Combichrist, and put the Glis project on ice while he spent the next few years on the road. As if touring with Combichrist wasn't enough, in the fall of 2007, Shaun Frandsen joined (as live keyboardist) with VNV Nation for 20 gigs completing their N. American Judgement Tour.



Shaun F. & A Shot and a Bassline (2008–2009)



In the beginning of 2008, Shaun Frandsen uploaded some demos on his Myspace page for an upcoming project and released a Glis anthology album called "A Shot and a Bassline" featuring re-produced tracks from the Glis discography. The re-edits were done by Krischan Wesenberg of Rotersand. In the summer, former Glis member Andrea Ashdown (from 2001–2002) died suddenly, June 24, 2008, outside of Las Vegas. The cause of death was undetermined. The track "DRTY FCKN DSKO" by Shaun F. was released on several compilations in Europe, but it was the only track to surface from that title. In 2009, Frandsen announced that he would begin recording material for an all new Electronic / Rock project called Sudden Death Over Time.



Discography:



Albums

2001: Extract (ADSR Musicwerks)

2003: Balance (Alfa Matrix)

2005: Nemesis (Alfa Matrix)



EPs

2004: Disappear! EPCD (Alfa Matrix)



Remix/Anthology Albums

2003: Equilibrium (Alfa Matrix)

2008: A Shot and a Bassline (Alfa Matrix)