About Us

Musical projects

Something Romantical Affect is the husband-and-wife musical duo formed by John and Trace Fryer in 2025. John is known for his work with artists including Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode. Described as a ‘romantic mind of two loves... blended as one,’ their project brings together moody, ethereal and immersive psychedelic soundscapes with Trace’s delicate, haunting vocal textures.

• The Symphony of Winter Solstice: their debut work, serving as the soundtrack for Lance Page’s short film The Winter Solstice Eruption.
• Vocal work: Trace is the project’s primary vocalist, often credited as Lady Trace Fryer.

Artistic and professional background

Beyond her musical collaborations with her husband, Trace is active in the Los Angeles art and business community. She founded TAJ ART INC in 2016 as a social enterprise and benefit corporation supporting animal charities worldwide.

The intimate complex includes an art and music studio, a gallery, a boutique and The Rams Horn Secret Tea Garden for film, tea and weddings. Trace is an active painter and creator, frequently collaborating with John on multidisciplinary projects that blend visual art with his audio alchemy.

She has created commissioned fine art for private homes and commercial spaces since before she graduated. Her work has been featured in galleries and magazines, at the LA Zoo and at the Natural History Museum of San Diego, and published with STEAM and AASA. She studied with the poet laureate Maxine Kumin and writes the lyrical poetry for her music.

TAJ ART INC and The Rams Horn

The Rams Horn Secret Tea Garden is a lush, private garden at the complex, where English tea, weddings, art and live music events come together: a tea-easy space.

Trace also writes and creates Tales by Trace Fryer, historical fiction featuring fairy-like characters and sentimental animal stories associated with the garden.

Background and education

Born in Chicago, Trace moved to Southern California following Bill Ahmanson of the Ahmanson Theatre’s suggestion to her parents, who socialized with classic celebrities. Her family background includes Dutch, Viking and English lineage, including William the Conqueror, Rollo, Hamon de Masci and John Bramhall, as well as ancient nomadic ancestry across the Bering Strait and Italian roots. She later moved to Los Angeles on her own to pursue her academic studies.

Trace Fryer, formerly known as Trace Johansson, holds a BFA from Art Center College of Design. She believes animals are sentient, conscious creatures living in a spiritual state of awareness: loyal, selfless and equal to humans, with much to teach us.

• Themes: animal-human bonds, spiritual awareness and the environment.
• Influences: Art Nouveau, Victorian motifs and Romanticism.
• Mediums: curated fine art, sculpture and contemporary figurative expressionism.

Background and education

Born in London, John has made art since he could hold a pencil. At 16 he left school to pursue photography in the darkroom, then moved into the control rooms of London’s studios.

• Early career: he began as an assistant mixing engineer at Blackwing Studios in London.
• Self-taught rise: lacking formal technical restraint, he quickly moved from assistant to producer by offering creative suggestions to bands, including his work on Fad Gadget’s Incontinent.
• Studio influence: his long-standing residency at Blackwing Studios allowed him to work closely with seminal independent labels Mute and 4AD during their formative years.

Musical style and passion

John is known for a trademark sound of layered richness, experimental tones and haunting melodies. He avoids being confined to a single style, though his work often moves between two distinct poles.

• The 4AD sound: ethereal, reverb-drenched and atmospheric textures, credited with helping define dream-pop and shoegaze.
• Industrial and modern rock: raw, aggressive and electronic-heavy production, heard in his work with Nine Inch Nails and Stabbing Westward.
• Passion: he is deeply passionate about unique voices and good music, regardless of commercial status. He often favors female vocalists for their natural fit with his melodic, atmospheric compositions.

Key projects and records

Beyond producing other artists, John has spearheaded several art-focused and collaborative musical projects. He continues at TAJ ART INC with his own music, productions, fine art and collaborations.

Selected discography highlights

• Depeche Mode: Speak & Spell; A Broken Frame.
• Cocteau Twins: Garlands; Head Over Heels.
• Nine Inch Nails: Pretty Hate Machine.
• This Mortal Coil: It’ll End in Tears; Filigree & Shadow; Blood.
• Soundtracks: The Winter Solstice Eruption; Seven; Johnny Mnemonic; Mortal Kombat.

Art, music and family

John is married to Trace Fryer, the multidisciplinary artist, author, musician and gallerist who founded TAJ ART INC. Together, their art and music support the gallery’s mission of helping animals.

Technology shaped around people

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, and has spent his career at the meeting point of technology and human connection. His work spans software, artificial intelligence, digital strategy and creative production, building the systems and structures that allow businesses to grow while keeping their soul fully intact. He believes technology should be shaped around people, never the other way around.

Beyond the work, Adnan is a devoted lover of art and music, drawn to the places where creativity and technology meet. Travel is his great passion, and with it comes his deepest joy: meeting new people, forming genuine friendships and discovering the cultures that shape them.

He believes this world is made beautiful by collaboration, and by the remarkable people who fill it. He stands at the front for the businesses he represents, and considers it an honour to help their stories reach the world.