Bio

J.T. Gladysz has studied music formally and informally for most of his life. Initially based in Saskatchewan before relocating to the West Coast in 2009, his musical pedigree runs the gamut from singer/songwriter to drumming in rock bands. His experience playing, touring, and releasing records with a variety of groups over the past decade is quite evident. In 2020, Gladysz expanded his repertoire to include more experimental and electronic realms of composition. Now taking a minimalist approach to both production and performance as a solo artist, Gladysz utilizes a sound palette of field recordings and tape loops coupled with DSP and feedback. With a modular synth and couple polysynths at the helm, he conjures new imaginary worlds that oscillate between blurred natural soundscapes and the dissonant rumbles of industrial machinery, with hypnotic melodies interspersed throughout. He envisions his sound as a sort of guided meditation, a gateway into the blissful exploration of one's own dreams.

Lush Vegetation, Gladysz's debut full length record arrived courtesy of the newly minted Isohyet label, based in Montreal and spearheaded by Frédérique Duval and Christian Richer. A prolific musician for many years, this isn’t J.T. Gladysz’s first album, but rather his solo debut as a composer of ambient electronic music. Clocking in around 40 minutes across ten tracks, it was recorded between his home studio in Vancouver and a cabin on Gossip Island. An overall sense of stillness and seclusion permeates these sometimes melancholic, semi-improvised sonic meditations. Influence of the natural world is evident, with snippets of field recordings taken around the Pacific Northwest and Gulf Islands strewn throughout, striking a delicate balance with the musical elements. The resulting album feels deeply personal, akin to a diary or travelogue. Close your eyes and you can practically feel the vast expanse of the ocean and the aura of giant trees in the sacred, ancient forests of the region. 

Working on collaborative material with fellow zoner Scant Intone, the two unveiled their band project 'Marble Skirts' in Bangkok followed by a Canadian debut on Vancouver Island. Their live performances are presented in quadraphonic sound with live video mixing by Ian Ross, aka C130 Films. Gladysz was a member of the Quiet City collective, whose mandate included hosting concerts in intimate venues around Vancouver and maintaining a monthly radio broadcast, both focused on radical new waves.