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Ez Jon Erikson is a traditional singer-songwriter influenced by life's experiences, its drama, intensity, negativity, positivity and humour. He believes in being innovative, not immitative.
Ez, real name Eric Johnson, was born in the district of Saddleworth, near Manchester, UK, where he is still based. He began writing and recording his own songs at school, and formed the duo Erikson Flindle with his friend Julian Flindle. The pair have remained close friends since and in 2001 they joined forces with Ez's brother Sam Johnson to form the acoustic rock pop trio DETOURS. They have no particular political theory or ideology, but write from observations of the human condition. Their songs are influenced by life's many experiences, its highs and lows, its joy and challenges. They are songs of situations, analysis, questions, opinions, friendship, hope, unity, fear, successes and failures, love found and lost. Songs that everyone can relate to. They believe that the spirit of rock music is democratic, its pain redeemable, and its joy communal.
Since they founded, DETOURS have performed at small theatres, cafés and bars around the Manchester area, including performances at the prestigious Saddleworth Festival Of Arts 2003, Manchester's Night and Day Café, Ashton's Witchwood, the Rock For Tsunami, Rock For Malawi & Saddleworth Unplugged festivals to name only a few. They have collaborated with the very talented, young singer/songwriter Kristyna Myles (who won BBC Radio 5 Live's 2005 Busk Idol and has since gone on to appear on 'Songs Of Praise', UKTV's 'Wogan: Now and Then', and record and tour with multi platinum selling Chris De Burgh), appeared on Stereo Graffiti Radio Show 19, and supported Mesh-29 (who enjoyed Top 40 Chart success in Summer 2007).
DETOURS perform as an acoustic act in concert, which captures an urgency and immediacy, comprising of harmonised vocals, acoustic guitars, trumpet, harmonica, and minimal percussion. Their studio recordings bring in fuller arrangements, with the inclusion of drums, bass, electric guitars, piano, accordion, keyboards, hammond organ, mandolin, dobro, steel guitar, ukelele, banjolele, balalaika, cello, violin, saxophone, and didgeridoo, yet they always remain true to their acoustic roots.
To date, with the assistance of their multi-talented producer/session musician/sound engineer Paul Adshead, Detours have recorded four albums together, and two EPs including a Christmas EP, with solo work to add to that - an extensive body of work! An independent band, DETOURS handle all their booking, management and recordings under Detours Music, an independent record label which Ez set up out of frustration with the in-house politics that occured with record labels that DETOURS previously negotiated signing with. The band now feel they have their artistic freedom rather than the restrictions that would otherwise be placed on them. All of their CDs are available to purchase through Paypal from their website Detours.Info for which a Paypal account is not required.
Sense Of Purpose
DETOURS' latest release ‘Sense Of Purpose’, their fourth studio album, is an incredibly mature acoustic rock pop album, full of thoughtful lyrics, melodies and harmonies, with rock, soul, gospel, folk, country, and bluegrass influences. Ez Jon Erikson wrote the title track after he took inspiration from the Native American Indian Chief Sealth's reply to a Government offer to purchase the remaining Salish lands. In 1854, the United States Government offered to buy two million acres of Indian land in the Northwest. Chief Sealth's reply to president Franklin Pierce in December of that year has been described as the most beautiful and prophetic statement on the environment ever made.
"I believe that the way the world is developing, mankind is losing its sense of purpose to a degree" Ez comments. The closing track to the album, 'Thrownaway', echoes these concerns asking the question "is nothing sacred anymore?" "I feel that we now live in a throwaway world" Ez continues. "It is easier and less expensive to replace a damaged product with a brand new one rather than mend it, and technology moves on at such a frantic pace that we throwaway items that are in perfect working order. What disturbs me though is that many relationships seem to suffer due to the hectic pace in life. We keep in touch by text messages and e mails rather than taking the time to talk to people or spend quality time with them, so items and people are thrownaway by society, as are buildings that have stood the test of time. Is nothing sacred anymore?"
The album is available as an official digital release through iTunes and TuneTribe, and is also available on CD along with their previous releases from Detours Music Store on their website.
Their back catalogue will also be released digitally over the next few months, along with Ez Jon Erikson's solo albums. Look out for Detours' next three digital releases on 12th November, their third album 'A Dark Storm', and two EPs 'The Bells Of St Mary EP' and 'Snowballed The Christmas EP'.
The Bells Of St Mary EP is in aid of St Mary's Church Greenfield Restoration Fund and St Mary's School New Playground Fund, and a donation from the royalties in respect of the title track to their new album 'Sense Of Purpose' will also be made to the Restoration Fund.
