John Ellis of the once popular Christian rock band, Tree63 recently gave me a few minutes of his time and revealed what goes on in the mind of a so-called ‘rebel of religion’. Here’s what he had to say:

How has becoming a solo artist changed the way you feel about making music?

I feel liberated. A band carries a certain type of corporate agenda, but as a solo artist, I can make any kind of record I want to – without having to ask other peoples’ permission.

What are some of the issues that you are most passionate about relaying to your South African audience, specifically?

That all depends on whether South African audiences want to even hear rock music with issues! I’m a fan of The Clash, Bruce Cockburn, Woody Guthrie, people who have made careers marrying their music with the social concerns of the times they lived in, so it’s natural for me to apply that same paradigm to South Africa. I’m not going to be doing “We Are The World” type songs, it’s more like, “Who Are These Bastards Destroying Our Democracy?”!

Your music may be angry, but it speaks of issues that really affect South Africans and the political and social realities that they face. It seems to me that you are deeply passionate about the poverty, heartache and deceit that surrounds (South) Africans (especially noticable in your track, Government Song). How do you feel, then, when some people respond to your music with lines like, “I thought you were a Christian?”.

My first response to a question like that is, “well, what exactly is a Christian anyway?”. There’s an assumption that Christians are meek and mild, but Jesus was anything but. Anger is as much a Christian response as forgiveness, we’ve just had too much of the latter and not enough of the former. South Africa is a miracle, and it’s being bled dry by some extremely selfish individuals. That makes me and millions of other South Africans, some of whom are worse off than during apartheid, very pissed off.

What are some of your plans for the next five years? (In terms of festivals, forthcoming albums, collaboration with other artists, etc.)

At least one festival, another album, and a collaboration with Johannes Kerkorrel! I don’t know, five year plans are dangerous things. I have a one week plan at the moment which, so far, is already off track.

What is the single most important thing that you have learned about your home country, having been away from South Africa for a number of years?

Just how incredibly special it is. It truly is a one-of-a-kind place. If it takes expensive trips around the world to be able to appreciate your own country, so be it. There’s nothing like living in American suburbia to make you yearn for the adrenaline of Africa.

What is your ultimate goal in creating music? It is fairly clear by your past experiences that you are not entirely in it for the ‘fame and fortune’. What, then, are you seeking to achieve/fulfill in your musical career?

Cash! Groupies! Smuggling! Cover of Heat magazine! All the usual stuff! But seriously. Rock ‘n roll is a potent medium for change, and that will always excite me. Plus, I just can’t not do it. Fame and fortune or not, I will always be making music.

Finally, is there anyone in particular you would like to acknowledge for having provided you with emotional (or financial) support throughout your artistic journey?

Mom, for teaching me piano chords, and Dad, for bankrolling my first electric guitar and amp. It all started there! Obviously, in the music industry there are many more coat-tail riders and thieves than there are givers, but there have been a few who’ve been faithful. Darryl Swart, the original drummer in Tree63, is one of them; my drumming brother, Antony is another; my wife Tracy – always; my cricket-playing brother, Chris; and a few friends and fellow musicians in Durban and Joburg. The rest have all been lessons learned the hard way! A career in music is not for sissies, people!