On August 7, to celebrate 12 years of touring and playing the song “Ocean,” John Butler will issue an official video of the fan favorite and give away a revelatory re-recording of the cherished track, tying into his latest live double-disc release, Tin Shed Tales (Jarrah Records). The stunning performance-style video of “Ocean” will be released with a free MP3 download. It’s Butler’s way of thanking his fans for more than a decade of support and inspiration.
“‘Ocean’ is part of my DNA,” the artist says. “It conveys all the things I can’t put into words: life, loss, love, spirit. As I evolve, so too does ‘Ocean.’” The powerfully expressive instrumental dates back to his very first album/cassette, Searching for Heritage, which Butler sold on the street when he was a busker. It was later recorded for his self-titled debut twelve years ago.
“Ocean” has become a live performance centrepiece — the live videos online culled from various festivals and sessions have garnered more than 25 million views. Fans are mesmerized by the emotional virtuosity inherent in the composition and the fluid ways in which the song has grown. It’s a powerful showcase for the guitarist’s innovative and breathtaking acoustic technique.
The track was recorded this past February 22 in Butler’s favorite studio, his own self-built Compound, in Fremantle, Western Australia. The video was beautifully shot on location at the Compound and filmed and edited by Roly Skender. Its multiple-angle approach grants fans and guitar-heads total access to Butler’s unique artistry. It’s a goose bump-inducing performance: dazzling and inventive technique packed with the deep feelings of revisiting a treasured foundational tune.
Last December John surprised his Perth fans with a solo concert. The show was announced a day before the performance and, with only 300 seats available, sold out immediately. Butler shared anecdotes with the audience and performed songs from his five studio albums. The relaxed intimacy of the show inspired the "Tin Shed Tales" concept in which Butler recreated the work shed where he writes his music—complete with old skateboards and vintage guitars—as a touring performance space.
The Tin Shed Tales album is a live document of this raw and impassioned return to roots. It’s a wonderful opportunity to intimately hear Butler’s groundbreaking vision, as he’s playing solo, live.
Best known for his John Butler Trio, the Australian guitarist/vocalist has released nine albums in 12 years. John Butler has an active and engaged fanbase. He has a robust viral presence with over 500,000 Facebook “likes,” and over 19,000 fan-submitted videos on Youtube. These three upcoming releases—the official video, free download, and live double disc, Tin Shed Tales—celebrate a strong and meaningful fan-to-artist connection and musical dialog.
Butler’s message to his fans on the eve of these exciting releases is: “I’d like to thank you for your continued support over all these years. It means so much to me. I would like to thank you by offering the first studio recording of ‘Ocean’ in over a decade as a free download. This marks just another fleeting moment in a career that is very much ongoing. I look forward to bringing you many new songs and albums in the future and continuing this amazing journey with you all. Thank you!”
