Rising alt-R&B singer Zacari has shared his long-awaited debut album, Bliss, via Top Dawg Entertainment.
The sprawling 17-track set features James Fauntleroy, Ty Dolla $ign, Ab-Soul, BEAM, Doechii, Isaiah Rashad, and Blxst.
Speaking on Bliss, Zacari notes, “I see myself as a wanderer. My music delves into the complexities of human emotion—love, hate, and the blurred lines in between. It’s about posing questions that resonate deeply, even if the answers remain elusive.”
Bliss was preceded by the James Fauntleroy-assisted “Reverse,” produced by J-Louis and Aaron Bow.
“‘Reverse’ came from a time when I was first falling in love with a person and that passion you feel in the first few months,” explained Zacari. “It captures the longing I would feel whenever you’re apart from a new love — when it consumes all your thoughts.”
He added, “Sonically, this track really showcases my ‘R&B ADHD’ … or simply how scatterbrained I can be at times. I wanted to find a sound where I could sing melodic hooks, the beats still excited audiences, and – most importantly – could keep up with how fast my mind wanders. I wanted to let loose creatively on this upcoming project and ‘Reverse’ is a perfect introduction to this new sound.”
Bliss arrives five years after Zacari’s debut EP, Run Wild Run Free (2019). “This EP really goes back…I’ve been working on the music for 2 years and some of the lyrics are even from high school. This being my first project I wanted my experiences up to this point to be reflected in the music,” Zacari explained.
“A lot of the sounds and tones are drawn from my experiences in Alaska. I want the project to feel like a breath of fresh air. After you listen to it I want you to feel like you’re ready to go back into the real world.”
Zacari will support his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmate SiR on his Life Is Good Tour. The North American treks begins July 23 in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Stream Zacari’s debut album, Bliss, below.
