Ez Jon Erikson, a traditional singer-songwriter who believes in being innovative, not immitative, represents the independent artist in the digital age. His music does not fit into any typical stereotype, but is very eclectic. Ez has no particular political theory or ideology, but goes back to a basic sense of songwriting from observations of the human condition. His songs are influenced by life's many experiences, its highs and lows, its joy and challenges. They are songs of situations, analysis, questions, opinions, friendship, hope, unity, fear, successes and failures, love found and lost. They are songs that everyone can relate to. Ez believes that the spirit of rock music is democratic, its pain redeemable, and its joy communal. In true British tradition his songs are full of poetry, social commentary, and a sense of humour. He has a talent for melodies, harmonies and rich instrumentation, celebrating love and friendship. These are thought provoking and entertaining songs. There is definitely a sense that as an artist, Ez is somehow different and unique. On the one hand he sounds authentic and creative, and on the other hand he is accessible, catchy and energising.

Ez, real name Eric Johnson, was born in the district of Saddleworth, near Manchester, UK, where he is still based. He has been described by his fans and critics as something of a cross between Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie and Elvis Presley. As a very charismatic and flamboyant singer, songwriter and performer, Ez has been heavily influenced by the aforementioned and by a diverse range of musical styles and artists such as Billy Joel, Big Country, Kiss, The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Bon Jovi, David Lee Roth, Hall and Oates, George Michael, Duran Duran and Bee Gees to name only a few. He began writing and recording his own songs at school, and formed the duo 'Vis-a-Vis' with his friend Julian Flindle, which later became 'Erikson Flindle'. The pair have remained close friends since, writing and recording many great songs together, and in 2001 they joined forces with Ez's brother Sam Johnson to form the acoustic rock pop trio DETOURS, writing, recording and performing their own material, drawing on all of their rock, pop, folk, country, soul, gospel and even brass band influences.

Ez handles all of the booking, management, recordings, video editing and website construction of Detours and his own solo work under Detours Music, an independent record label which he set up out of frustration with the in-house politics that he and his fellow Detours members experienced with major record labels. Ez now feels they have their artistic freedom rather than the restrictions that would otherwise be placed on them. All of their releases are available to purchase digitally on leading digital music providers including iTunes, and by CDR On Demand from their website DetoursMusic.co.uk through Paypal, for which a Paypal account is not required. They have achieved recording sales and support worldwide.

Detours perform as an acoustic act in concert, which captures an urgency and immediacy, comprising of harmonised vocals, acoustic guitars, trumpet, harmonica, and minimal percussion. Their studio recordings bring in fuller arrangements, with the inclusion of drums, bass, electric guitars, keyboards, hammond organ, yet they always remain true to their acoustic roots with the inclusion of piano, accordion, mandolin, dobro, steel guitar, ukelele, banjulele, balalaika, cello, violin, saxophone, didgeridoo and other ethnic instruments that feel appropriate. To date, with the assistance of their multi-talented producer/session musician/sound engineer Paul Adshead, Detours have recorded four albums together, Debut, No Evil, A Dark Storm, and Sense Of Purpose. They have also recorded two EPs, Snowballed The Christmas EP, and The Bells Of St Mary EP (with Kristyna Myles and Morgan) have a 19 track compilation Collection available, and now a 5CD boxset of 74 previously unreleased tracks, Memory Lane The Boxset Treasury which includes live concert, soundcheck and rehearsal recordings, alternate studio mixes, demos and home recordings. With solo work from Ez to add to this catalogue, the albums Summers Of My Life, Ramshackle World and Ezposure (The Acoustic Performancez), this is quite an extensive body of work! Ez is also currently working on an extensive DVD project.

Prior to forming Detours, Ez recorded two solo albums 'Summers Of My Life' and 'Ramshackle World' under the label Ezstatic Music, which he originally issued himself to sell at local shops, gigs and around family and friends. He followed this up with an album entitled 'Ezposure (The Acoustic Performancez)' which included acoustic mixes and performances of songs from SOML and RW, and two new, "ezclusive" acoustic songs. 'Ramshackle World' and 'Ezposure' were digitally released during 2008, and 'Summers Of My Life' in 2009, along with a single remix of the opening track 'Fun In The Sun' exclusively on iTunes.

To appreciate the true depth and versatility in Ez's songwriting it is essential to study his own solo work along with the songs he has written for Detours. His lyrics contain a clever mixture of humour, observation, analysis, fear, isolation, rejection, hope, unity, anti-racism, romance and love. There is almost a schizophrenic quality to Ez's music, as he is able to balance humour and energy (Fun In The Sun, Mama's Goin' To The Ball Tonight, His Bark Is Worse Than His Bite, That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles, Snowballed, Fun In The Snow) with intensity (Half The World, Live To Die, Fear Of The World, Ramshackle World, To Feel Young Again, Escape (In The Night), One More Time, Reality, Been Here Too Long, A Dark Storm, Room To Breathe) and easy listening (Otiose). Above all, his songs make sense and the average person can easily relate to them, which is one of the reasons why they are so good. There is also a strong sense of melody and a variety of musical style in Ez's music.


A new EJE solo album is planned, entitled 'What Will I Become?' Recording started during Summer 2011, and the title track was released as a digital single on 5th November 2011.