Tree63 Return with Voyage, Their First New Album in a Decade
Tree63 Return with Voyage, Their First New Album in a Decade.
One of South Africa’s most celebrated rock bands is back. Today, Tree63 officially releases Voyage, the band’s long-awaited eighth studio album and their first collection of new material in over ten years.
Formed in Durban in 1997 and led by acclaimed singer-songwriter John Ellis, Tree63 became one of South Africa’s biggest musical success stories, earning international recognition through timeless songs including Treasure, Stumbling Stone, A Million Lights, Anxious Seat, King and the Billboard No. 1 hit Blessed Be Your Name. Following years of global touring and multiple award-winning releases, the band returns with an album that reflects not only where they’ve been, but where they are today.
Released through Just Music, Voyage is the first Tree63 album recorded in South Africa since 2002’s The Life and Times of Absolute Truth. Produced by John Ellis and renowned producer-engineer Dave Langemann at Creative Native Studios in Cape Town, the album features ten brand-new songs that explore faith, perseverance, hope and the realities of navigating an increasingly uncertain world.
“The album is really about surviving the journey,” says Ellis. “Life has a way of testing everything you thought you knew. The confidence you begin with gets knocked, sometimes repeatedly, but Voyage is about finding the courage to keep going. It’s a reminder that we’re not alone, even when the road ahead feels daunting.”
The songs on Voyage were written after Ellis relocated from Durban to Cape Town in 2022 following an extended break from music. After focusing on family life, teaching and academic work, he rediscovered his passion for songwriting, eventually reforming Tree63 with bassist Deon Knipe and drummer Angus Warden.
“I never imagined I’d write another Tree63 album after Land,” Ellis reflects. “But the voyage is never really over. These songs are conversations from the road, stories of victories, failures, doubts and hope. They’re written from the perspective of someone who’s travelled a little further and still believes there’s more to discover.”
The album’s first single, How Much Longer? introduced listeners to this new chapter earlier this year, while tracks including Turn For Home, Fire Goes On, Seeker, Still There and Believe Anyway continue the band’s tradition of combining thoughtful songwriting with soaring alternative rock melodies.
More than simply a comeback, Voyage is the sound of a band embracing both its legacy and its future. Honest, reflective and deeply hopeful, the album captures the maturity of musicians who have lived through life’s storms while remaining committed to the journey ahead.
