Radiate by This Bliss
Change is an almost constant presence in our lives, and its effects can often be profound. It’s a theme that permeates its way through the five songs on Radiate, the new EP from This Bliss.
Indie-pop oriented This Bliss comprises Jess Baggia and Nick Zampiello, a wife and husband duo whose blend of infectious electropop and singer/songwriter stylings is woven into melody-driven songs laden with vintage-sounding analogue synths.
Boston, Massachusetts, based Jess and Nick founded the band back in 2018, releasing their first four records via New Jersey’s Mint400 Records. After a period of self-releasing their music, the duo signed to AnalogueTrash at the end of 2023.
After an appearance on the seventh edition of the AnalogueTrash: Label Sampler series with Timeless, the duo has dropped two singles via the label - June’s One Day and July’s First Takes All - both of which will feature on the EP.
Jess and Nick draw their musical inspiration from a diverse range of sounds and genres, including Prince, Portishead, Nick Cave and FKA Twigs, framing those influences within the context their own experiences as well as a desire to experiment with sounds and technology to create a sometimes-nostalgic sound.
Though the songs work wonderfully on their own, they also feed into the overall themes of self-discovery, renewal, and catharsis that thread their way through the EP, giving it a very cohesive feel.
The genesis of the EP can be traced back to a tumultuous time at the beginning of this decade. Ranging from the deeply personal, to the artistic and creative, and even affected by global occurrences; Radiate looks at a series of events where life changed suddenly and permanently for band member Jess.
Reveals Jess, “In 2020, a few key events changed my song writing: the death of my best friend, the pandemic, and the social toxicity of my current music 'scene' reaching a climax I could no longer tolerate. Before this, Nick wrote most of our music and I wrote the lyrics and melodies.”
“However, that year, I decided to take a new approach to the instrumentals and construction. I was searching for an intersection of singer/songwriter ethos with electronic music. Admittedly, I am still searching, but that journey produced the songs on this EP. The songs represent over three years of writing with Radiate being the oldest and One Day the newest.”
“Over those years, my perspective has shifted but the themes remain the same: searching for my voice (and place) while grappling with what it means to be an artist in a world that often forgets the value of art. The lyrics of Radiate capture that sentiment: ‘I try to find it in me, but I got lost in routine’.”
Radiate captures a very personal experience, but the message and experiences of the lyrics is one that listeners will easily identify with, as Jess and Nick shine a bright and warm light on the universality of a journey towards finding your new place in a world that has been changed utterly.
Tracklist
| 1. | Indiana | 2:34 |
| 2. | First Takes All | 3:19 |
| 3. | Radiate | 3:11 |
| 4. | Love Song | 3:29 |
| 5. | One Day | 2:36 |
Credits
Written, produced and performed by This Bliss
Mixed and mastered at New Alliance East Studio
Artwork by This Bliss
This EP is dedicated to Christine Kalish.
License
All rights reserved.
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 electronica through the lens of a storyteller.
Formed by Nick Zampiello (New Alliance East), and singer-songwriter, Jess Baggia, This Bliss marries drum machines and synths with a pop-sensibility to create noir-inspired electronic songs.