Jadis

Biography

Jadis are a British neo-prog group. They play guitar-driven rock with the use of synthesisers to add depth and atmosphere, and an emphasis on melody. They were previously signed to InsideOut Music.
The name Jadis is taken from the novel The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis. The same character appears as the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

History

Jadis were formed in 1982 and in 1987 self-released the cassette Jadis, which was produced by Marillion's Steve Rothery. In 1992, More Than Meets the Eye was released and was received well in the progressive rock scene.
Jadis are led by Gary Chandler (vocals, electric guitar), although generally the whole group are given songwriting credit. Other original members of the band were Trevor Dawkins (bass), Pete Salmon (keyboards) and Paul Alwin (drums), who was replaced by Mark Law in July 1988. Later members were Martin Orford (keyboards), John Jowitt (bass) and Steve Christey (drums). Orford and Jowitt were also members of IQ during that time.
In the late 1990s, Orford and Jowitt left the band for a while and were replaced by Mike Torr (keyboards) and Steve Hunt (bass), but they returned for 2000's Understand. After completing their album Photoplay×Photoplay24 February 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1There’s a Light4:572What Goes Around5:183Asleep in My Hands5:394Standing Still5:215I Hear Your Voice6:156Make Me Move5:327Who I Am6:078Need to Breathe4:509Please Open Your Eyes5:3510All You’ve Ever Known6:4211Photoplay4:19 in 2006, Orford left the band for a second time because he retired from the music industry. He was replaced with Italian session pianist/keyboardist Giulio Risi but has since rejoined. The same year, Jowitt also left the band again, and was replaced with session player Andy Marlow. The band released the album See Right Through You×See Right Through You3 September 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1You Wonder Why7:362Try My Behaviour6:553What If I Could Be There7:104More Than Ever5:505All Is Not Equal5:396Nowhere Near the Truth6:057Learning Curve6:218See Right Through You8:159I Just Let It Happen6:56 in 2012, followed by No Fear of Looking Down×No Fear of Looking Down20 July 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Listen to Me5:342Where Am I5:233Just Let It Happen7:094A Thousand Staring Eyes4:525Change of the Season5:086Seeds of Doubt4:337Abandoned6:078No Fear of Looking Down6:38 in 2016. After two compilations the album More Questions Than Anwers was released in 2024.
The band are based in Southampton.

Studio albums

Jadis (LP, 1989)
More Than Meets the Eye (1992), (2005) Special Edition, (2017) 25th Anniversary, Edition 2cd
Across the Water (1994), (2026) Expanded 2cd
Somersault (1997)
Understand (2000)
Fanatic (2003)
Photoplay (2006)
See Right Through You (2012)
No Fear of Looking Down (2016)
More Questions Than Answers (2024)

EPs

Once Upon a Time (1993)
No Sacrifice (1994)
Once or Twice (1996)
Racing Sideways (Promotional CD to support the "Understand×Understand2000 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Where in the World5:532Is This Real6:543Alive Inside4:514Between Here & There2:565Racing Sideways4:446Understand6:347Giraffe Chariot5:098Counting All the Seconds7:01" Album) (2000)
The Great Outside (Promotional CD to support the "Fanatic×Fanatic28 April 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1The Great Outside6:412Into Temptation6:413Each & Everyday6:154I Never Noticed5:265Fanatic4:066Yourself Alone5:597Take These Words4:228What Kind of Reason8:239Who Can We Be Sure Of5:0110The Flame Is Burning Out4:22" Album) (2003)

Live and compilation albums

As Daylight Fades (1998) (live)
Medium Rare (2001) (compilation of two earlier EPs, Once Upon a Time and Once or Twice, plus some additional tracks)
Alive Outside (2001) (live)
Starting Point (2017)
Medium Rare II (2019)
Live Snapshot (2025)