John Butler Announces New Album ‘PRISM’
John Butler, one of Australia’s most prolific independent artists has today announced a September 5 release date for his tenth studio album PRISM, available to pre-save and pre-order now.
While PRISM possesses a full throttle band sound, it was crafted entirely solo by Butler and uber producer James Ireland (POND, San Cisco), both sharing instrumentation and production responsibilities.
Marking a formal departure from the John Butler Trio moniker and hurtling headlong into the power of the one-man “band” that kicked it all off back in the early days of JB’s busking prowess, PRISM celebrates the fire and brimstone of this raw talent.
The ARIA award winner’s deft musicality has kept him on our airwaves for more than 20 years, and new single So Sorry, the second song to be released from PRISM, is out today.
You can listen to So Sorry here, with Butler saying, “Long relationships end up having a lot of water under the bridge. We end up saying and doing things we live to regret. You get together as “kids” and if you’re lucky, you learn how to regulate and become adults together. But no one gets out unscathed.”
On PRISM, Butler laces his deeply personal tales with an epic soundscape and reclaims his classic groove-laden force, brimming with fierce guitars, robust percussion and meteoric choruses.
There are radio-friendly ear-worms that will generate instant festival singalongs, moshpit frenzied rock outs, and soulful ballads that are as pensive as they are stirring.
PRISM is Season Three of Butler’s Four Season roll-out – which includes an album of meditations (Running River) and a fully instrumental album (Still Searching).
“It’s a big life and, the world, in many ways, is in turmoil. Personally, I did a lot of soul-searching and reflecting as this record took shape,” Butler explains. “For me, PRISM is a cathartic release, a celebration of going solo, moving away from the John Butler Trio moniker, and yet another sonic stretch as I continue to refine my musical journey. The title reflects the sonic and emotional “bandwidth” I wanted to explore: the whole spectrum of what it is to be human. Love, death, politics, inner and outer turmoil and redemption.”
First single Trippin On You is awash with honky tonk swagger, sunshine stomp and a pop-fuelled chorus that defies Butler’s roots-inspired alternative rock foundations, while simultaneously exploring the realities of working hard to keep a relationship buoyant.
Butler’s ability to mine the depths of the human condition, most especially his very own heart space, while consistently expanding his musical tapestry, layering explosive percussion with hypnotic string pickings is second to none.
PRISM is both contemplative and explosive, joyous and free, funk-filled, cinematic and unapologetic.
With his new band–featuring original JBT member Michael Barker on drums, Michael Boase on percussion and Ian Peres on Bass/ keys, Butler recently toured nationally as part of the SummerSalt lineup, alongside Missy Higgins, Fanning Dempsey National Park, The Waifs and more, before playing Bluesfest.
In June, July and August he will undertake an extensive US tour. Stay tuned for the announcement of Australian dates soon!
New album PRISM – Released September 5
Pre-Order HERE
John is also playing a show at the Adelaide Guitar Festival on Sept 10 at Her Majesty’s Theatre, with Emma Donovan as special guest.
