Started in 1999, Eric Shans' project Phenotract's first foray into music captured an at times aggressive but always melodic electronic sound. The very first Phenotract recordings were influenced by industrial music of the late 80s and early 90s but then evolved with more techno and house leanings by the time the first real album "Within A Second" was released in 2003. Produced by both Eric and Isaac Glendening of Cesium 137, it was an album which had a myriad of hooks, melodies, and aggressiveness to it while maintaining a distinctly new wave pop sound.

Fast forward 4 years later to 2007 and "Transient Messages" was released. This time around, it contained the vocal talents of Niabi Caldwell whose both angelic and romantic voice catapulted Phenotract's sound into worlds it hadn't been before. The coupling of Eric and Niabi's vocals with the music made the album a combination of blissed out dreamy electronica and harder edged dancefloor sounds. Reviews were positive and it was at this time Phenotract really had a vision of what the future might hold. A remix EP "Shades and Color" followed after this release.

2010 saw the release of "Shifting", a more introspective downtempo album which had heavy new wave and shoegazer influences and featured several guest vocalists Katherine Heller, Niabi Caldwell, and Anaben. A cover of 1983 hit by The Cars "Drive" followed after and a new album is in the works currently, Songs from it will be up on soundcloud soon.