Jakob Thonander Glans (b.1998) describes himself as a brutalist composer – linking his art to the style of brutalist architecture. As it is usually bold, simplistic, heavy and “cheap”. His music is known for featuring extreme dynamics, fast tempi and a punkish harshness and intensity. Ranging from extremely dissonant to completely consonant and being neither strictly experimental nor traditional. Often utilizing theatrical elements and inspirations from unlikely places not typically associated with contemporary music. His art is a clear consequence of his background from the underground punk-scene and he states that his most important mission as an artist is to attempt to create “extreme instantaneous reactions through brutal, comical or sentimental aspects”.
Glans’s production frequently features perspectives from the outskirts of society and extreme subject matter. Themes related to substance abuse, eroticism, and underground subcultures are in particular often a part of his output. He wishes to be a contemporary composer for outsiders, loners, thrill-seekers and the misunderstood, much more so than one for the academically-motivated.
Jakob has worked with a number of ensembles, musicians and institutions spanning Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Poland, USA, Croatia, Spain, England, China, Austria and Japan. Ensembles he has worked with include: the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Bit20, SISU, Airborne Extended,Trio Brax, Alpaca Ensemble, Fyri Flute Quartet, Ensemble GAEA, Mean Steel, Ensemble Obsidian, K!ART, Gageego!, Gothenburg Wind Orchestra, Titania, Ensemble Matters, Galdre Sinfonietta, Arepo Ensemble, KRÆKK, Ensemble Rex and Insimul Sinfonietta. Acclaimed soloists he has worked with include Fukuhara Sawako, Ragnhild Sannes, Han Qiao, Tore Eide Bordal and Alessandra Rombola. He is currently a board-member of Komponistenes vederlagsfond (2026-2028), a past board-member of ny-Musikk komponistgruppe (2022-2025), a member of the Norwegian composers union (komponistforeningen), and a member of the Norwegian artists foundation (Kunstnerforeningen).
He graduated from The Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg, Sweden with a bachelor’s degree in composition spring 2021. Previously he also studied as an ERASMUS-exchange-student at The Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland. His teachers included Malin Bång, Ole Lützow-Holm, Rune Rebne, Dariusz Przybylski and Esaias Järnegard. In later years he has recieved mentor guidance from Gisle Kverndokk and Rolf Wallin.
Following his graduation in 2021, Jakob has worked full time as a freelance composer. His music is frequently performed and commissioned in Norway and the Scandinavian countries. In 2023 he won the composition award from Midgardskonkurransen, and in 2024 he was nominated for piece of the year with “symfoni I” by the Norwegian composers union. 2025-2026 he is supported through “statens kunstnerstipend” from the Norwegian council of culture.
He was born and raised in Oslo, Norway, and his family is Swedish-Norwegian. Currently he spends most of the time in Warsaw, Poland with his wife. Though he frequently travels throughout Scandinavia as this is his artistic base.
Outside music Jakob is a devoted amateur practioner of muay-thai (thai-boxing), a former political activist, and an instagram micro-influencer.