JOHN ELLIS
TELLS
PRESS RELEASE
MAY 2017

Durban-based singer-songwriter John Ellis has released his third full-length studio album, entitled “Tells”. Following on from his last solo release, the 2013 5-track EP “Bush Telegraph”, John’s new album contains 10 self-produced new compositions, his first album since 2012’s “Rural”.

The former guitar player, singer and songwriter of Tree63, John decided on a solo career in 2010 with the release of his debut solo album, “Come Out Fighting”. The album was nominated for a SAMA award and gave John two radio hits, the title track and “Own Way Home”.

John followed this almost immediately with the recording of “Rural”, featuring acclaimed drummer and percussionist Barry van Zyl. Recorded over three days on a farm in Knysna in 2011, the album’s rustic, unvarnished live performances gave John an ideal opportunity to perform these new acoustic songs as a solo singer-songwriter.

Interest from Sony gave John another solo radio hit in 2012, with the stand-alone track “Get You” featuring prominently on South African radio playlists. John’s relationship with Sony further resulted in the 2013 “Bush Telegraph” EP, after which John gave some attention to his old band, Tree63.

Tree63’s short reunion tour of South Africa in 2014 (featuring a headline slot at the 25th Splashy Fen Anniversary festival) spawned the idea of a new Tree63 album, and later that year the band convened in Nashville to begin work on its 7th studio album. “Land” was finally released internationally in 2015 to welcome reviews, and was feted by the Nashville-based CCM industry.

Following the renewed Tree63 experience, John decided to step back indefinitely from recording and performing his own songs. However, songs written ostensibly for a “Rural” follow-up were finished and ready to record, and finally in January 2017 John, together with long-time engineer Brent Quinton, committed himself to recording one more studio album. 

The self-produced “Tells” is the first time John has played every instrument on a recording himself. The songs portray his deep love of classic pop writing, from British Invasion bands (The Kinks), to the jangle of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, to the moody craftsmanship of Crowded House and XTC. John’s abiding love for the artistry of The Beatles and Brian Wilson’s Beach Boys is also at the fore here, as is his deep respect for Canadian singer-songwriters Ron Sexsmith, Bruce Cockburn and Neil Young.

As well as the first single “Set Your Self On Fire”, the album contains John’s original version of his song “Standing On It”, which Tree63 borrowed for 2015’s “Land”. TELLS IS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD HERE: https://itunes.apple.com/za/album/tells/id1236085951