Trace and John make music for the soul. Their duo, Something Romantical Affect, formed in 2025, sounds much like their paintings: ethereal, immersive soundscapes with Trace’s delicate, haunting vocals.
The Symphony of Winter Solstice
Their soundtrack for Lance Page’s film The Winter Solstice Eruption. Released January 3, 2025. Music by John Fryer, vocals by Lady Trace Fryer, cover painting by Trace Fryer.
John Fryer, producer
John Fryer is an English record producer, engineer, artist and musician who helped shape alternative music. Born in London, he began as an assistant engineer at Blackwing Studios and moved quickly to producing, starting with his suggestions on Fad Gadget’s Incontinent. His years at Blackwing put him at the heart of the independent labels Mute and 4AD in their formative years, and he was an original member of This Mortal Coil.
His sound runs between two poles: the ethereal, reverb-drenched textures of the 4AD sound, credited with helping define dream-pop and shoegaze, and the raw, electronic-heavy production of his work with Nine Inch Nails and Stabbing Westward.
Selected collaborations
Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, Love and Rockets, Nine Inch Nails, Modern English, Lush, Alison Moyet, Fad Gadget, Clan of Xymox, Wire, M/A/R/R/S (Pump Up the Volume), Jesus Jones, HIM, Cradle of Filth, Stabbing Westward, White Zombie, Ozean and Reversed Chakra.
Selected records
- 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 and Mortal Kombat.
Production and studio work
John takes on production work and studio sessions by appointment.
Projects & collaborations
| Project | Style | With |
|---|---|---|
| This Mortal Coil | Ethereal, dream-pop collective | Ivo Watts-Russell, Cocteau Twins |
| Black Needle Noise | Experimental collaborative project | Singers including Jarboe and Mimi Page |
| Dark Drive Clinic | Dark alternative, electro | Rebecca Coseboom |
| Muricidae | Darkwave, synth-pop | Louise Fraser |
| Something Romantical Affect | Psychedelic, soundtrack | Trace Fryer |
Interviews & credits
- AllMusic
- The Electricity Club: A beginner’s guide to John Fryer
- Offner Offbeat interview
- Sound on Sound
- Side-Line interview
- Record Production credits
Music booking manager: booking@tajartinc.com, 626-639-8969.
Production or booking inquiryFrom the gallery archive
A little more of our story
Music & creative practice
Sit in The Rams Horn Secret Tea Garden and let nature welcome you as we explore the melodies, rhythms, stories and lyrical poetry that inspire us. Join us as we celebrate the power of music to connect, uplift and transform our lives, and transport us to different realms. Come on a journey through sound where every note tells a story and every rhythm ignites emotion.
The Symphony of Winter Solstice: Their debut work, which served as the soundtrack for the short film The Winter Solstice Eruption by Lance Page.
Self-taught rise: Lacking formal technical restraint, he quickly moved from assistant to producer by offering creative suggestions to bands, such as his work on Fad Gadget’s Incontinent.
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.
“Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”
Friedrich Nietzsche