American-Australian musician John Butler – known for his soul-stirring lyrics, masterful guitar work, and powerful social commentary – is entering a new phase of his career.
With the release of 'Still Searching', the second album in his ambitious Four Seasons project, Butler is poised to embark on a deeply personal and transformative journey, both musically and emotionally. This instrumental album reflects the artist's process of healing and rebuilding after years of personal loss, professional challenges, and global upheaval. The Still Searching tour, featuring more intimate spaces rather than the large venues Butler typically fills, provides the perfect setting for audiences to experience this raw and cathartic music in its purest form.
The Four Seasons project, of which 'Still Searching' is the second instalment, is deeply intertwined with Butler's life experiences. The project arose from John's attempt to return to his creative roots while confronting major life changes, including the passing of his father and father-in-law within 40 hours of each other during the pandemic, which left a profound mark on his psyche and artistic vision.
What began as an attempt to self-record a new album turned into something so much bigger as his confidence floundered. "It's like this four-album cycle concept came to me when I totally gave up trying to record the album," Butler explains.
The project itself is a reflection of John's inner journey – one of starting anew after experiencing death, and difficulty with interpersonal relationships. 'Still Searching' serves as a metaphor for Butler's own recalibration and rebirth, a process that began with his ambient album 'Running River' and continues with this instrumental record.
These albums have allowed Butler to reconnect with his passion for music by stripping away external pressures and simply create for the sake of healing. Butler notes that 'Running River', the first album of the cycle, was "healing myself and. . . doing something [I've] always wanted to do". It was a deeply personal exercise, helping him recover his confidence and regain creative flow after a difficult few years.
The lengthy four-album project serves as Butler's therapeutic outlet, a catharsis through music, as well as a spiritual and emotional journey for his listeners. In 'Still Searching', Butler delves into the realm of instrumental music, where his beloved guitar takes centre stage. The album's title encapsulates his ongoing quest for deeper understanding and peace.
While the album is technically without lyrics, each track tells a story through complex rhythms and melodies, drawing on Butler's fascination with various musical textures and tunings. A particular focus on lap steel guitar, influenced by his grandfather's musical style, emerges in 'Still Searching'.
Butler's love for lap steel was further enriched after he spent two weeks in India studying with slide guitar maestro Debashish Bhattacharya. John's exploration of Hindustani slide techniques now colours his music, creating a unique fusion of Western and Eastern styles. "It's given me a little more dexterity and more colours to paint with," Butler shares.
The process of creating 'Still Searching' was not only musically satisfying, but also part of Butler's journey toward healing. "It was like, 'okay, I'm going to do this instrumental album and create these big Celtic beats and tribal beats with this guitar thing. I think I know what I'm doing.'"
For Butler, this tour marks a reunion with some key figures from his musical past, including percussionist Michael Barker. Their history of playing together, sharing stages, and building deep camaraderie over the years is now being rekindled as they prepare to hit the road again.
"It's a lovely reunion with a lovely troubadour," Butler reflects. "Someone I've done time with – good time with – and such a fantastic player." Butler's joy at working with Barker not only speaks to his broader journey of reconnecting not just with old friends, but with his own passion for music. Despite the challenges of recent years, from the disbanding of his former line-up to pandemic isolation, Butler has embraced this moment as one of renewal.''
The upcoming 'Still Searching' tour stands in contrast to Butler's previous tours. Instead, this tour will focus on smaller, more intimate venues that provide the perfect environment for the instrumental nature of the new material.
"I don't want to play Riverstage [in Brisbane] and only play instrumentals," Butler remarks, emphasising this tour is designed to spotlight the musicianship and emotional depth of the instrumental work. Don't expect to hear 'Zebra' at these shows either.
"I think you have to let things kind of honour an approach and with all things, you gain some and you lose some," Butler explains, "and I think, yeah, people might lose hearing their favourite, but they might gain this other experience, which is me indulging in the whole other craft of what I do and what I have done that they love."
For Butler, playing these songs live represents a new kind of emotional experience. "They're a lot more internal. I am not singing to an audience. . . I'm meeting my maker and trying to play these songs to the best of my ability," he explains.
"I guess a blessing of my limitations is I'm not a virtuoso, so it takes everything I've got to play a song, like everything every night, or those are the songs I can play to the end of my ability."
Without the familiar structure of songs with lyrics, Butler's focus is purely on the music, allowing his guitar and rhythms to take centre stage and tell the stories he wants to share. This intimate setting also reflects the unique bond between artist and audience, a more personal exchange that John hopes will leave listeners with "the chills" that only live music can provide.
"I'm always hoping that at some point in time, they get the chills, and there's a little bit of wonder, because in those moments where I get the chills, there is a little wonder," he says. "It's like, 'oh, that's right, there's something bigger going on that I'm a part of'. It's exciting. It's hopeful. It's f...ing hopeful."
With 'Still Searching' complete and the tour soon underway, Butler is already looking toward the next two albums in the 'Four Seasons' project. The third album, a solo effort, has nearly wrapped, and Butler is excited to continue pushing his creative boundaries.
The fourth album, or 'season' will bring Butler back to a more collaborative setting with a brand new band – a marked evolution from the deeply personal, introspective process that birthed the first two albums.
Butler's new musical project, and the 'Still Searching' tour, offer fans a rare glimpse into an artist not just creating music, but using it as a vehicle for self-discovery and healing. For Butler, this project is more than just a collection of albums; it is a reflection of the cyclical nature of life, filled with both loss and renewal.
As he continues to explore new musical landscapes, his journey serves as a powerful reminder that even in the face of life's greatest challenges, music has the power to heal and transform.
John Butler 2024 Tour Dates
Sat 2 Nov - The Playhouse (Canberra)Mon 4 Nov - City Recital Hall (Sydney)
Tue 5 Nov - The Tivoli (Brisbane)
Wed 6 Nov - Hindley Street Music Hall (Adelaide)
Thu 7 Nov - Athenaeum Theatre (Melbourne)
Thu 14 Nov - Octagon Theatre (Perth)
