David Galas
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David Galas (born September 30, 1970 in Tempe, Arizona) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer best known for his work with the darkwave band Lycia. David Galas recently released his debut solo release on Vendlus Records, entitled simply 'The Cataclysm'.
Biography
Early Years
David began writing music as a young teenager in 1984. Recording music, drones and audio manipulations on 2 track, using a keyboard, acoustic and electric guitars, microphones and a drum machine. Many hours of music recorded during the mid-80's, mostly experimental in nature. In 1987 he began to manipulate audio with synthesizers. Learned to play many instruments. piano, alto/tenor/baritone saxophones, baritone clarinet, guitars, drums and tuned percussion. Additionally he begins to score short musical compositions. In 1988 David went to college and studied music theory/composition, ear training, classical piano, classical guitar and audio engineering. He began to experiment with sampling synthesis. His first project "The Hiroshima Lovers" was recorded between 1988-1989 with Tom and Robert Dearing (The Zero Hour). The music was a unique mix of rhythmic/noise loops, audio manipulations, noise and heavily treated vocals.
David's second project 'Cathouse(Cat-hous)' was the collaboration between himself and fellow college mate Jason Farrell. The music was heavily inspired by post-punk gloom bands of the 80's and the movie 'Alice in Wonderland'. Cat-hous performed several shows in the local Tempe goth scene in the early 1990s and self released a tape of their music. Shortly after, abandoning the project altogether.
The LYCIA Years
In the spring of 1993 David was contacted by Mike VanPortfleet of Lycia to assist him in live shows supporting the new CD 'A Day in the Stark Corner'. They got together in the studio to work on a 20 minute song to be performed a local darkwave/ethereal music festival of local musicians. The festival was aptly named "Night of Beautiful Noise". On April 30th, Mike VanPortfleet and David Galas took the stage as Lycia and performed "The Last Thoughts Before Sleep" for the first time. During the summer, Lycia practices for what would be known as 'The Stark Corner Tour'. Lycia toured California in the first week of October 93'. Projekt Records recorded portions of the shows and releases it under the name 'Lycia - Live'. A week after returning from the tour, Mike and David sit down and plan out a side project to explore the more chaotice aspects of Lycia. This side project was named 'Bleak'. Recording began in November of 93' and lasted until February of 94'. The recording of 'Bleak' was completed in February. The CD is titled "Vane". Shortly after the completion of that project discussions were held about the production of the next Lycia CD and in March of 94' Galas and Vanportfleet began production and record 'The Burning Circle and Then Dust'. The recording of Disc 1 was completed that Summer. However, many songs are cut out due to time constraints. During the summoer 94' a side project was initiated called 'Tetsuo'. The idea initially involved many musicians. The group consisted of: Mike Vanportfleet, John Fair and David Galas of Lycia, Jason Farrell and Josh Graham of 'The Sycamore Trio'. The project was abandoned rather quickly, and only a couple songs were actually recorded. In August of 94', Mike Vanportfleet and Tara Flower form yet another side project called 'Estrella' and they record two songs at David's home studio. In September 94' Projekt Records suggests that 'The Burning Circle' become a double CD release because of the amount of music that was recorded for the initial disc. As a result, two songs that were recorded as 'Estrella' (Nimble and Surrender) ended up being used on Disc 2 as Lycia tracks, and Tara Flower becomes a member of Lycia. Shortly after, production begins for the remaining songs for Disc 2. The recording lasts through until December. Following the release of 'The Burning Circle' Lycia performs shows in California and then throughout the east coast in 1995. Frustrated with the tension of performing live, David discontinues performing live shows with Lycia. In January of 1996 Lycia begins production on the 'Cold' CD. The initial 7 songs that Mike and Tara wrote together are recorded first. David quickly assembles two songs (Colder and December) and records them. 'Cold' is quickly finished by February of 1996. David stops writing music for his project 'Snowblind' and in August moves back to Arizona. David plays guitar for Rob Dearing's band 'The Zero Hour' between the fall of 1998 and spring of 1999. David unexpectedly moves back to Kent, Ohio
The 21st Century
Between 2000 and 2004, struggling with periods of inactivity, massive depression and unemployment, David manages to slowly write and produce music that would become the work of his solo debut CD. Sometime in November 2004, tired of writing music, David begins selling his equipment to his brother Jonathan Galas and planned to quit music completely. Jonathan Galas, also a musician and producer whose work is unique and extraordinarily euphoric, if you can find it. David was contacted shortly after by Joseph Cortese of Vendlus Records. Vendlus offers to release his music. David completes the entire production by October 2005. The final mix is completed on Los Dias De Los Muertos. 'The Cataclysm' was released initially in September 2006, and then fully released in January 2007. 'The Cataclsym' has gathered critical acclaim and many excellent reviews.[citation needed]
Equipment
Guitars - Fender Telecaster, Fender Jaguar Baritone, Schecter Damien-FR, Takamine 12-string acoustic, Alvarez 6 string classical, Fender P-Bass fretless, Ibanez(sr506) - 6 string bass.
Effects - Focusrite Voicemaster Plat. Pro, Line6 Podxt Pro, Lexicon MPX1, Dulop 535Q Crybaby Wah pedal, Ebow.