Out Now: This Bliss welcome you to ‘Retroshade’
Boston electronic-pop duo release highly anticipated new album via Mint 400 Records
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Fresh off the release of white-hot lead single ‘Friend’, out now across all streaming platforms
BOSTON, Mass. -- Back in January, This Bliss sent the world a “Friend” request. But the Boston electronic-pop duo’s flashy new single wasn’t so much a warm embrace as it was a call-out of all the alleged “friends” who aren’t who they say they are. With its influencing styles that range from electro to funk to R&B to freestyle, it was the perfect set-up for This Bliss’ new album, Retroshade, due March 5 via Mint 400 Records.
Retroshade takes This Bliss to impressive sonic heights, building on the electronica foundation of 2018 debut album Forensic Styles and the following year’s Dramatization of Real Events EP. The songwriting is a chemistry-fueled collaborative process between singer/guitarist Jess Baggia (The Shallows), and Nick Zampiello, the Party Bois’ percussionist and producer and owner of Somerville’s New Alliance East Studio.
“Like many musicians, we've struggled a bit with the idea that we should just represent one genre,” Baggia admits. “Our first record was more downtempo and trip-hop inspired, and as a result, we've typically been associated as such. Realistically, we have more range and are more 'pop' than anything else. That said, this new record is the best embodiment of what our 'sound' is to date -- it's cohesive but song to song you'll feel the range of energy and influences.”
Over nine vibrant, pulsating tracks, Retroshade and its many moods and vibes reflect the true sound of 2021. And it almost comes off like its own greatest hits package, where each track can be considered a single. From the seductive electro-R&B swagger of “No Gravity” to the breaks n’ beats platter of “Human (Be Like)” to the late-night groove sincerity of “Wandering Star,” there’s a sonic unity to each of the tracks, but all nine compositions speak their own futuristic pop language. Both Baggia and Zampiello have creative and musical strengths, and both are in perfect harmony through Retroshade’s 30-minute runtime.
“Retroshade is by far the best record we've created to date,” Baggia says. “It captures our genre range while remaining cohesive. It's electronic with 'modern' elements but we utilize actual analog gear and play everything ourselves as opposed to using digital plug-ins. The result is that 'throwback' feel.”
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Retroshade album artwork:
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This Bliss bio:
Based out of Boston, this is not another laptop band. With heavy beats, layered textures, and character-driven vocals, This Bliss explores the world of pop and electronica through the lens of a storyteller.
Formed by Nick Zampiello, owner of New Alliance East Mastering in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and singer-songwriter and Boston favorite Jess Baggia, This Bliss marries Zampiello’s affinity for drum machines and synthesizers with Baggia’s pop-songwriter sensibility to create noir-inspired electronic songs.
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Recent praise for This Bliss:
"...a mesmeric, pulsating slice of excellent new electro synthwave music..." _A1M Records
"[T]his beautiful musical piece that makes old and new school hold hands and walk along side by side, just waiting for you to hear it... It’s warm, it’s gritty, it’s atmospheric, it’s punchy… it’s just great!” _lessthan1000followers.com
"The shimmering, whirring track engulfs you in heavy electronica in a pop style similar to CHVRCHES but more atmospheric." _Impose Magazine
"[This Bliss] blend such U.K. styles as grime and trip-hop with a film noir feel. Start with the track ‘Make It Real’, where Baggia’s cool vocals slink and sway over electro beats and tremolo guitar." _Boston Herald
"[‘Believe’] finds a confident middle ground between shimmering electronic-pop and heavy-beat alt-R&B, and sets an intriguing tone for This Bliss’ debut album… billed as ‘a cinematic dreamscape that explores the world of trip-hop and electronica -- through the lens of a crime novelist’. _Vanyaland
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This Bliss are:
Jess Baggia - Vocals, Guitar
Nick Zampiello - Drums, Sampling, Synths
With Danni Vitullo (Synths, Sax, Bass) and Tom Maroon (Guitar, Synths)
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Retroshade gear list:
Sequencers: Simmons SDS-6, Roland MSQ-700, MFB SEQ-01,
Bass: Sequential Circuits Pro 1, Arp 2600, Korg MS-10
Synthesizers: Fairlight CMI III, Kurzweil K2000, Roland Jupiter 8 Kenton, Roland Jupiter 6 Europa, Roland MKS-80, Roland MKS-70, Roland Juno-60, Oberheim DPX-1, Oberheim Xpander, Ensoniq Mirage DS-8, Electronic Music Labs EML-200, Sequential Circuits MultiTrak, Sequential Circuits Maxx, Oberheim OB-8, Korg VC-10, Korg MS-20, Fender Rhodes
Drums: Simmons SDS-V, Linndrum LM-2, Oberheim DMX, Oberheim DX Stretch, Roland TR-909, Roland TR-808, Korg MS-20, Ludwig Vistalite
Guitars: Gretsch Silver JEt, Fender Princeton, Gibson Discoverer GA-8T, Electra Bass
press contact: thisblissmusic@gmail.com or michael@publisist.co
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