Moscow-based producer Ilya Chunakov is set to unveil a new LP on EC Underground later this month, under his Gliesse alias. Entitled Lost Data, the release features four original tracks as well as four remixes, from Syrte, Paul Begge, and Serge Geyzel.
Chunakov, who also performs as Quellsy, is associated with Piranha Siberia Dub in Russia, and is a contributor to the US-based label Science Cult. He’s developed a reputation for layering sonic textures and melodic elements in his tracks, which is strikingly evident on Lost Data.
909originals caught up with him.
Hi Gliesse, thanks for talking to us. For those unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe your latest release?
The new album is about ‘lost data’. It draws attention to the idea that what we see in the sky has already happened. One of the title tracks is CEERS, which is dedicated to the search for primitive civilisations in the universe.
Does the title of the project have a particular meaning or resonance? Digital entropy perhaps?
The album carries the idea that we live inside a very large organism and are probably not alone, but we are simply unable to reach each other because of the vast distances. We live inside matter, like inside a giant computer, where the universe is creating a mega-brain and evolving into it. All our basic problems are insignificant compared to the scale of the world we are in.
EC Underground have coined the term ‘electro mutant’ to describe your hybrid approach to production – how important is a genre-defying approach to you when making music?
I really love eclecticism in music and all kinds of hybrids. I write in different styles and try to bring something interesting from one style into another, always searching for something completely new and parrying between different currents.
What artists – or personal experiences, environments, or concepts – have inspired you and your sound?
At different periods of my life and at different moments, I am constantly inspired by academic classical music, as well as by contemporary artists who approach sound in a thoughtful, almost academic way.
Very different kinds of music and performers can trigger dopamine in the body, so the list of influences could be very long. I especially respect those who lean toward hybrid styles rather than staying in a stagnant, single genre.
How do you decide when a track is ‘finished’, particularly given that you are working with so many evolving sonic textures?
Usually, I just sit down and make music. If it gives me pleasure to listen to, then I try to slow down before over-saturating it. Most of the time it happens naturally and intuitively – there are no secret sauces. In general, how ‘full’ a composition should be is a very subjective question.
You can make a track feel rich with a minimal number of elements by using a more minimalist storytelling approach, or you can try to tell a more detailed story with many elements.
Did any part of this release surprise you when you were putting it together – something that emerged unintentionally?
Yes, I really like Syrte’s vector of musical thought and where this hybrid approach is leading him. I have a lot of respect for him and for his techno project, and I am very glad that such maestros are taking part in the release of this album.
Syrte, Serge Geyzel and Paul Begge contribute remixes to the project. Have you worked with them before, and what does each of them bring to the table?
Yes, I work very closely with Pavel Begge (Paul Begge) as part of the Palata 303 project, where the three of us play live performances on analog synthesizers without any limits or stylistic restrictions. Another member of our project is Andres Clover. I respect them both very much – friends with a capital “F” and great professionals with extensive musical experience.
With Syrte, I released a mini album, The World in a Telescope, on his label Science Cult just last year. I have a lot of respect for his label and for Stefan himself for developing non-trivial approaches to writing and popularising IDM / electro / techno music. By the way, this EP still seems to be in the label’s top sales on Beatport, and the track Observer is in the label’s top 10.
What’s next on the agenda for you in 2026?
There will be a lot of music in 2026. I am finishing several EPs and four albums in different styles. Listen to Lost Data, and remember that we are not alone in the universe. Many thanks to EC Underground for the huge work they put into this album release.
Gliesse – Lost Data is released on 29 May 2026. More information can be found here.