Modern guitar virtuoso and Progressive instrumentalist Nick Johnston returns with his new album, “Child of Bliss,” set for release on March 08, 2024. The artist has unveiled the official video for the title-track, watch it through the YouTubeplayer below:
On his seventh album, Nick explores new musical territory on his latest musical journey. Having discovered a love of synths over the covid lockdown, “Child of Bliss” boasts layers of textures and atmosphere, which complement his unique and innovative guitar playing style.
Nick comments: “These songs were written as a collection of songs celebrating my wife. Child of Bliss is my wife’s name, Sachiko, translated from Japanese to English. I wanted to make an organic sounding record with a strong focus on melody and authentic playing. I tried to make everything sound as live and real as possible. This was also the first record where I played piano and all synthesizers.”
With Nick handing keys / synths and guitar duties, “Child of Bliss” features a collection of incredible guest musicians who help bring his creative vision fully to life: Eli Bishop (strings), Liam Mitro (sax, woodwinds) Mark Rynkun (bass) and Thomas Lang (drums). The album was mixed by Scott Giffin and mastered by Noah Mintz.
Hailing from Toronto Canada, Nick Johnston is known for his catchy, melody-driven instrumental music. With his guitar, Nick has been able to carve out his own unique style within a crowded landscape of instrumental guitarists. Nick is a firm believer that “you are what you eat” and that by listening to many different styles, a songwriter can be exposed to different harmonies, rhythms, time signatures and tones. This eclectic inspiration is evident in his sound, which ranges from blues to Prog, to Jazz, to Gypsy, spanning anything and everything in-between. Though his style is ever evolving, his music is consistently detailed and technical while managing to be instantly recognisable as Nick Johnston.
Hailed as a modern guitar virtuoso, Nick remains incredibly modest, his success attributed primarily to a strong work ethic and genuine love for his instrument. This energy spans beyond his playing, translating into a sincere respect for the people working around him, be it the neighbour boy who first introduced him to guitar or the legendary musicians he’s developed relationships with throughout his career.
These relationships make up the backbone of Nick Johnston’s music. His music has attracted guest solos from guitar icons Paul Gilbert and Guthrie Govan and has included rhythm sections featuring Marco Minnemann and Bryan Beller, of The Aristocrats. Additionally, Nick has been featured on records for other artists including guest guitar solos for prog-rock bands Periphery and Polyphia respectively.
2024 will see Nick tour the world in support of “Child of Bliss,” with dates to be announced very soon.
Forthcoming Gigs/Tour Dates:
16 March – Larvik Guitar Festival
24 April 24 – 24 May – Electric Guitar Lands tour
Pre-Order the album and purchase merch here: https://www.sheethappenspublishing.com/artists/nick-johnston
Tracklist:
1 Black Widow Silk
2 Child Of Bliss
3 Through The Golden Forest
4 Moonflower
5 Himawari
6 Memento Vivere
7 Little Thorn
8 Voice On The Wind
Lineup:
Nick Johnston / Keys, Synths, Guitars
Eli Bishop / Strings
Liam Mitro / Sax, Woodwinds
Mark Rynkun / Bass
Thomas Lang / Drums