Ryan Martin John is a folk/ Americana singer-songwriter with a penchant for dreamy harmonies and intimate guitar playing. Based on Kaurna Country (South Australia), his songs walk the line between inward self reflection and outward curiosity of the world, nestled in the familiar tones of 70s era Laurel Canyon songwriters.
While 2023’s debut album ‘Goodness, Gracious, Graceless’ was a much loved vintage country band record, Ryan’s 2026 follow up record ‘Big Love’ has zoomed into a more focused, intimate acoustic sound, leaning into minimalist songwriting. People with a love of classic storytelling and songcraft will find something warmly familiar. Usually playing live shows alongside main collaboarator acclaimed guitarist, Tom Kneebone, and on occasion Tasha Stevens on upright bass the three weave their voices and guitars around each other resulting in an inviting folk & country sound that’s as detailed & intimate as it is spacious.
“I love the sound of that, I had to play it again. I love a good story song in the folky country world!” - Beccy Cole on Ways To Fall single (ABC Country, Saturday Night Country)
“I thoroughly enjoyed Ryan Martin John’s August 2025 single “Ways to Fall”, but this latest offering is a revelation, an elevation, and easily as good as anything from 2023’s Goodness Gracious Graceless album.” - Steve Hocking on Starline single (3D Radio/ Amrap)
"Shiny, laidback and soulful. This one has a nice glow to it" - Steph Hughes on I've Been Waiting single (Triple J)
Since 2023, Ryan released his debut album ‘Goodness, Gracious, Graceless’ to notable acclaim (Winning SCALA ‘Best Performance’, Folk Alliance nomination for ‘Best Artist’, Adelaide Roots & Blues Association ‘Best Roots Album’ nomination, SA Music Major Award nomination for ‘Best Solo Artist’). Ryan was also a semi-finalist in the Nashville-based International Songwriting Competition of 2025. Drawing influence from vintage singer-songwriters of the 70s,, his album was a full country band affair. With big drums, big harmonies, and a sound that’s very nostalgic of a golden era of country folk-rock crossovers. Since then Ryan’s songwriting has transformed into the more current sparse and intimate sound audiences have become familiar with. In 2025, Ryan unveiled the first of many singles ‘Ways To Fall’ and ‘Starline’, along with fan favourite 'Honey, Honey' being added to high rotation on ABC Radio
Ryan is also one of SA's acclaimed recording engineers, which has led him to both produce and guest on records including but not limited to multi-ARIA Award winners The Audreys (on 2025's full length album Ruin & Repair) and Barkindji Songwoman Nancy Bates (on 2025's Share Your Love) amoung many, many others. Ryan's prowess as an engineer is self evident in his own work, having self recorded, mixed and produced all of his own releases thus far.
(For fans of Americana/ country/ folk with nods to the likes of Gillian Welch, Neil Young, Gram Parsons, Milk Carton Kids)
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