Since signing to Top Dawg Entertainment in 2019, Zacari has been methodical with his releases, scattering singles and visuals while dropping just one EP, 2019’s Run Wild Run Free. Now, however, it’s time for the genre-bending talent to make his formal debut on his first studio album: Bliss.

“I’ve spent so many years trying to nail this sound,” he says of the long-awaited LP, which took him roughly five years to perfect. “I spent years searching for stories and sounds, and right now just felt like the right time to put it out into the world.”

In addition to his hunt for the perfect personal sound over the past years, the self-described “lone wolf” has also been tapped as a contributor on many other TDE artists’ projects, including Isaiah Rashad’s The Sun’s Tirade, Ab-Soul’s Do What Thou Wilt. and, most notably, Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN.

“TDE gave me everything,” he explains, reminiscing on recording “LOVE,” the first project he worked on with the TDE crew, in ScHoolboy Q’s backyard, first meeting Rashad mid-studio sesh, and living with Ab-Soul before signing to the label.

“Just getting to be and sit in the studio with the artists while they were recording taught me so much.”

In a full circle moment, “LOVE”’ producer Teddy Walton worked with Zacari on production for a majority of the 17 tracks across Bliss, assisted by other frequent TDE collaborators Jay Lewis and Aaron Bow. Zacari offered his production hand to many parts of the final product, including the final switch-up in “Believe” with Doechii – just one of the TDE artists he tapped to contribute to the album, others including Rashad on “Bliss” and Ab-Soul on “Icarus Outro.”

Guest spots extend beyond the Top Dawg world as well, with James Fauntleroy on “Reverse,” Ty Dolla $ign on “Ave Maria,” Blxst on “Bless Her Heart” and BEAM on “Faith + Sight” – which also sees production from Skrillex.

For someone so well-connected in the music industry, it’s ironic that Zacari refers to himself as a lone wolf, a motif that resurfaces across almost all of the album’s visuals and even the ruling concept behind one of the lead singles “Lonewolf Still.”

A firm believer in divine signs – another driving force behind many cuts on Bliss – the inspiration behind the wolf struck in another full-circle moment for the musician. After moving out to Alaska post-high school, he had a three-year stint working at the Brooks Park Wilderness Lodge, a period that he’s openly described as a transformative personal experience.

At one point during his third year, he was out gathering wood when a lone wolf crossed his path. “Usually lone wolves are skinny and malnourished and it’s hard for them to survive on their own – but this one was such a perfect image of a wolf,” he recalls.

“If you’re going to move through life alone, make sure you’re that strong lone wolf.”

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Stream ‘Bliss’ on Spotify and Apple Music now.