So the story goes...

Ralph Nicastro (Wreaths, Aviso Hara, Sparks Fly from a Kiss) started making demos for a new project in 2016; recruiting a variety of friends along the way to round out the sounds he was looking for. From this effort came several songs that were circulated to friends through Soundcloud.

Fast forward to January 20, 2018. Frank Bridges (Magic Mountain, Duochrome, kiaro skuro) posted an image of his newly acquired black Newark St. Edition Guild Starfire bass on Facebook, asking, “Who wants to start a shoegaze band?” Within a few hours a band was formed with Nicastro; long-time friend, Albie Connelly (Angular Brothers, Stuntcocks, Urchins), on additional guitars and backing vocals; and Bridges.

The new band not only drew from Nicastro’s growing songbook, but they took on his working title of the project – San Tropez.

After a few false starts with drummers, Bridges suggested long-time friend and bandmate, Andy Fountas (Magic Mountain, The Border States, Duochrome) in late 2018. The final addition was Phil Pirri (Blaa Fugl) on keyboards in late 2022. San Tropez was now solidified as a band.

San Tropez’s debut 10-song album, Maybe Tomorrow, on Mint 400 Records converges the band’s musical roots in 1990s shoegaze, dream pop, and indie rock. Maybe Tomorrow signifies nearly five years of creative effort across four recording sessions with creative support from many friends along the way.

Photo by Eric K. Andersen