John Bliss
Designed by the Clockwork Flowers
© the Clockwork Flowers 2017
Anthea Bliss
John Bliss (aka ZOULOU) is a multi-talented music producer / songwriter / musician / artist who doesn’t hesitate to express his feelings through his art which is boundless. He has a precious knowledge of traditional recording techniques used in the 1960’s and 1970’s. As a singer-songwriter, he took part in the ‘Neo Beatnik Movement’ in the 1990’s London.
He started learning classical violin when he was three years old and also started learning painting when he was six. Until the age of fourteen, he was involved with various orchestras and quartets. After this he developed an interest in composing pop music and playing guitar. After living in various countries and moving to Tokyo he formed a group called ‘New Boots & Panties’ and then left Tokyo for London with his partner Anthea Bliss in the 1980’s.
In London, he played extensively as a solo artist and was met with a very good response. In 1994, he set up his own record label ‘Sundial Records’ and released his legendary record ‘Flowers’ from the label. In the same year, he met Ray Davies (The Kinks) and improved his songwriting skills, recording techniques and also started playing the piano. After he moved to Avebury, Wiltshire he started working with Anthea Bliss.
In 1996, he left England for India and finally arrived in Dharamsala, India where he spent more than a decade studying religion and Indian classical music. Even in the Himalayas, he performed for many concerts (including The 3rd International Himalayan Festival and Free Tibet Charity Concert) while he was appointed as a music teacher at Tibetan Children's Village school. In 2005, he formed 'The Clockwork Flowers' with Anthea Bliss as a part of 'Great Bliss Movement’.
He returns to the world in the late 2007 by arriving Tokyo. The Clockwork Flowers performed extensively in Tokyo's international music scene until 2012. In 2009, his song 'Autumn Afternoon' made Japanzine's Gaijin Sounds Top 10 and also The Clockwork Flowers' Beatles tribute album 'FLASHBACK' received a brilliant review from the magazine. In 2010, his song ‘Here We Go Round Avebury’ was awarded at Mike Pinder’s (The Moody Blues) Songwars songwriting competition. In 2011, his songs ‘Good Morning, Lord Kitchener’, ‘Take Off’ and ‘The Time’ were awarded individually at Songwars songwriting competition.
The Clockwork Flowers stopped performing in 2012, when a poet / musician / radio-personality Ronnie Would introduced their music for the first time in the US (also worldwide streaming) in his radio show 'Acoustic Nation' on WRFA-LP 107.9FM, Jamestown, NY. Since then, WRFA constantly playing songs from a double EP 'Six Mono Songs / Six Stereo Songs' by The Clockwork Flowers, released in 2013.
In 2014, The Clockwork Flowers completed a co-written project 'Clockwork Flowers’ and ‘Moonlight in the Sky' with British 60's psych legend songwriter / musician Keith Law from Velvett Fogg / Jardine. These 2 songs (brand new single) were played exclusively on 'Acoustic Nation with Ronnie Would' for the first time along with other 4 songs by The Clockwork Flowers on 6th March. Meanwhile, he started painting / drawing again after a decade.
Anthea Bliss is a multi-talented artist / designer / musician whose works include painting, drawing, bead jewellery design, fashion design, photography and cookery. Her style is deeply influenced by the 1960's pop culture and Art Nouveau. She also performs drums and percussion for The Clockwork Flowers since 2005.
She started her career as a fashion stylist for a leading fashion magazine in Tokyo. She left Tokyo for London with her partner John Bliss in the 1980's. In London, she started designing and making bead jewellery / ornaments. She regularly held exhibitions in the 1990’s London and her works were featured in various publications in the UK and the USA. After she left London and moved to Avebury, Wiltshire, she started painting / drawing and working with John Bliss.
In 1996, she left England for India and finally arrived in Dharamsala, India where she spent more than a decade studying religion and various painting skills (including Tibetan Thangka painting and Indian miniature painting - Kangra style) while she was assisting John Bliss who was appointed as a music teacher at Tibetan Children's Village school. In 2005, she started playing percussion to form 'The Clockwork Flowers' with John Bliss as a part of 'Great Bliss Movement'.
She returns to the world in the late 2007 by arriving Tokyo. The Clockwork Flowers performed extensively in Tokyo's international music scene until 2012. As The Clockwork Flowers, 'Autumn Afternoon' (written by John Bliss) made Japanzine's Gaijin Sounds Top 10 and also the duo’s Beatles tribute album 'FLASHBACK' received a brilliant review from the magazine in 2009. In 2010, ‘Here We Go Round Avebury’ (written by John Bliss) was awarded at Mike Pinder’s (The Moody Blues) Songwars songwriting competition. In 2011, ‘Good Morning, Lord Kitchener’, ‘Take Off’ and ‘The Time’ (all songs written by John Bliss) were awarded individually at Songwars songwriting competition. She also launched her couture jewellery brand ‘Anthea Bliss Collection’ in 2011 after having had the idea for a decade.
In 2012, she started running weekly cooking classes and taught original 5 course meal recipes based on monthly theme for more than 100 students. In the same year, The Clockwork Flowers stopped performing when a poet / musician / radio-personality Ronnie Would introduced their music for the first time in the US (also worldwide streaming) in his radio show 'Acoustic Nation' on WRFA-LP 107.9FM, Jamestown, NY. Since then, WRFA constantly playing songs from a double EP 'Six Mono Songs / Six Stereo Songs' by The Clockwork Flowers, released in 2013.
In 2014, she started playing drums for a co-written project 'Clockwork Flowers’ and ‘Moonlight in the Sky' with British 60's psych legend songwriter / musician Keith Law from Velvett Fogg / Jardine. These 2 songs (brand new single) were played exclusively on 'Acoustic Nation with Ronnie Would' for the first time along with other 4 songs by The Clockwork Flowers on 6th March. Meanwhile she continues painting / drawing / designing.
DISCOGRAPHY
1991 Album ‘ZOULOU’ in the UK
1992 Album ‘Wish I Could Stop This World' in the UK
1994 Single 'Flowers’ in the UK
1995 Unreleased album 'The Time' in the UK
Compilation album ‘Ructions Rally' in the UK
1998 Album ‘Live In Dharamsala 1997-1998’ in India
2006 Album ‘An Hour Trip With the Clockwork Flowers' in India
2007 EP ‘Three Fab Tunes !' in Japan
2008-2012
Unreleased album ‘FLASHBACK ( Beatles tribute )’ in Japan
2009-2011
Unreleased album ‘Wonderland’ in Japan
2010 Album ‘Live in Tokyo 2010 - John Lennon 30th Anniversary
Tribute’ in Japan
2013 Double EP ‘2013 Demos - Six Mono Songs by John Bliss/
Six Stereo Songs by the Clockwork flowers in Japan
2014 Co-written project with Leith Law ‘Clockwork Flowers’ and
‘Moonlight In The Sky’
2015 Unreleased album ‘Clockwork Flowers’ and 10th anniversary
special single ‘Upside Down’ / ‘Lady Shady’ in Japan
Mini-album ‘Colours vol.1 - Red’ in Japan
2016 Mini-album ‘Colours vol.2 - Blue’ in Japan
2017 Mini-album ‘Colours vol.3 - Yellow’ in Japan
12th anniversary single ‘Uncle John’ in Japan
Special single ‘A Butterfly in the Rain’ dedicated to Keith Law
in Japan
2018 7” record, CD/DVD set ‘Clockwork Flowers Super Deluxe Ultra
Limited Edition’ in Japan
Mini-album ‘Colours vol.4 - Green’ in Japan
2019 Mimi-album ‘Colours Unplugged: Black & White’ in Japan
PERFORMANCE
1991 King’s Cross Music Festival in the UK
1992 The Glastonbury Festival in the UK
1993 The 1st Earth Spirit Festival in the UK
Japan Tour
1994 Sundial Records Launch Party in the UK
1995 Japan Tour
1996 A Kaleidoscopic Evening with ZOULOU (monthly music event)
in the UK
1997 The 3rd International Himalayan Festival in India
1998 Free Tibet Charity Concert in India
2005-2006
An Hour Trip with the Clockwork Flowers (weekly music event)
in India
2006 Catch Flowers While You Can Japan Tour
2007 East Meets West Concert in India
2008 ‘FLASHBACK’ CD Launch Party in Japan
Benefit Concert for AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL in Japan
2009 Japanzine’s The 1st Gaijin Sounds Live West (Osaka) in Japan
Japanzine’s The 1st Gaijin Sounds Live East (Tokyo) in Japan
The 1st Japan Music Week in Japan
2010 The 2nd Japan Music Week in Japan
John Lennon 30th Anniversary Tribute by The Clockwork Flowers
in Japan
2011 Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Charity Event at YCAC in Japan
Christchurch / Tohoku Charity Event in Japan
EXHIBITION
1992 'The 3rd Annual Beadwork & Bead Fair' in London
1993 'The 4th Annual Beadwork & Bead Fair' in London
Solo exhibition in Japan
1994 'The 5th Annual Beadwork & Bead Fair' in London
1995 'The 6th Annual Beadwork & Bead Fair' in London
Solo exhibition in Japan
1996 'The 7th Annual Beadwork & Bead Fair' in London
PERFORMANCE
2005-2006 An Hour Trip with the Clockwork Flowers
(weekly music event) in India
2006 Catch Flowers While You Can Japan Tour
2007 East Meets West Concert in India
2008 ‘FLASHBACK’ CD Launch Party in Japan
Benefit Concert for AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL in Japan
2009 Japanzine’s The 1st Gaijin Sounds Live West (Osaka) in Japan
Japanzine’s The 1st Gaijin Sounds Live East (Tokyo) in Japan
The 1st Japan Music Week in Japan
2010 The 2nd Japan Music Week in Japan
John Lennon 30th Anniversary Tribute by The Clockwork Flowers
in Japan
2011 Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Charity Event at YCAC in Japan
Christchurch / Tohoku Charity Event in Japan
DISCOGRAPHY
2006 Album 'An Hour Trip With the Clockwork Flowers' in India
2007 Demo EP 'Three Fab Tunes !' in Japan
2008-2012
Unreleased album ‘FLASHBACK ( Beatles tribute )’ in Japan
2009-2011
Unreleased album ‘Wonderland’ in Japan
2010 Album ‘Live in Tokyo 2010 - John Lennon 30th Anniversary
Tribute’
2013 Double EP ‘2013 Demos - Six Mono Songs by John Bliss /
Six Stereo Songs by the Clockwork flowers in Japan
2014 Co-written project with Leith Law ‘Clockwork Flowers’ and
‘Moonlight In The Sky’
2015 Unreleased album ‘Clockwork Flowers’ and 10th anniversary special
single ‘Upside Down’ / ‘Lady Shady’ in Japan
Mini-album ‘Colours vol.1 - Red’ in Japan
2016 Mini-album ‘Colours vol.2 - Blue’ in Japan
2017 Mini-album ‘Colours vol.3 - Yellow’ in Japan
12th anniversary single ‘Uncle John’ in Japan
Special single ‘A Butterfly in the Rain’ dedicated to Keith Law in Japan
2018 7” record, CD/DVD set ‘Clockwork Flowers Super Deluxe Ultra
Limited Edition’ in Japan
Mini-album ‘Colours vol.4 - Green’ in Japan
2019 Mimi-album ‘Colours Unplugged: Black & White’ in Japan
BOOKS
Introduced in.....
1993 'Bead Jewellery Work Station' in the UK and the USA
1995 'Collectible Beads' in the USA
1996 'Fashion Beads' in the UK and the USA
1999 'The Polymer Clay Techniques Book' in the UK and the USA