Country-folk artist Ryan Martin John loves with the details when it comes to songwriting. Based on Kaurna Country, his songs walk the line between inward self reflection and dreamy outward curiosity of the world, nestled in the familiar tones of 70s era Laurel Canyon songwriters. Live performances feel like a hang with a friend you feel you’ve known forever, with Ryan often warmly playing down the seriousness of his songs whilst asking “does anyone else feel this way?”. Usually playing alongside his close friend and acclaimed guitarist, Tom Kneebone, the two weave their voices and guitars around each other in harmony resulting in an inviting folk & country sound that’s as detailed 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’, showcasing a closer, warmer style of writing that garnered high rotation on ABC Country and national radio airplay.
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 song 'I Remember Everything') and Barkindji Songwoman Nancy Bates (on songs 'In This Together' and 'Long Dark Night') 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. Currently Ryan is shaping up his Sophomore LP with an expected release of 2026.
(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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