Tree63 back after seven-year hiatus
JOBURG - Following a seven-year hiatus, internationally-renowned South African rock band Tree63 has announced its return.
The band announced the launch of a Kickstarter campaign for its fans to participate in the recording and promotion of its seventh full-length album slated for release this winter.
Following the enthusiastic reception the band received at a series of reunion events last year in South Africa, John Ellis, Darryl Swart and Daniel Ornellas reformed the trio and is now in the studio working on new music.
While Tree63 has been on hiatus, Ellis moved back to South Africa from the US and released a solo album, while Ornellas has been living in Nashville touring and producing, with Swart starting a recording studio in Canada.
“We’ve stayed in touch over the years and stayed friends. Even though we’ve all ventured into other musical projects since, there hasn’t been anything like the special experience of playing as Tree63,” said Ellis.
“So when we got back together to play a few dates in South Africa in April last year, we talked about making new music. John has songs he’s written since, so we decided to come to Nashville and record this new album,” added Ornellas.
Formed in 1996, the three-piece band first received international attention with the release of their second album, 63, in 1999, followed by the 2001 self-titled release on US-based InPop Records that sparked the radio hits Treasure and Look What You’ve Done.
Picking up a Dove Award that year for Rock Album of the Year, the band went on to record four more critically-acclaimed albums and released numerous radio singles including the No. 1 hit and Billboard’s most-played Christian Song Of The Year in 2004, Blessed Be Your Name, from 2004’s The Answer To The Question.
With the success of the albums and singles, Tree63, known for their dynamic live performances, toured with Jeremy Camp, Delirious, Rebecca St. James, Festival Con Dios and others.
They also made numerous appearances with the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, headlined Canada’s multi-denominational Christian youth conference (YC) events and more.
