Dear John

Dear John are dynamic duo Dirk-Jan ‘DJ’ Smit and Ruud Bos, two Dutchies whose music sounds nothing like the local weather. With melodies like early morning birdsong and lyrics like the sunset, Dear John lifts your spirit like a summer breeze. Things Will Change is their first duo-release and celebrates the life lived positively. Whatever gets you down, it’s little things of beauty that get you back up. This essential approach to life is true for all of their songs, centered on the simple combination of two acoustic guitars and DJ’s soulful voice. Where DJ is the singer-songwriter, Ruud is the crayon, adding splashes of color with his vibrant guitar play.

Dirk-Jan and Ruud first connected during college in a band named Rosewood when Ruud was already playing lights-out guitar but DJ was still only singing. Wanting to be just like big bro Ruud and surf hero Jack Johnson, DJ picked up the strings too and thought himself the chords and keys. Rosewood eventually withered but the two friends stayed in touch, playing together on Friday nights in Ruud’s home studio. Wanting to explore his own sound more deeply, DJ created a solo persona, Dear John. With his catchy style and meaningful lyrics, Dear John quickly got listeners’ attention singing beautiful songs about hope, traveling, light-heartedness, love and vibes of the good life. So much so, that he reached the semi finals of the Grote Prijs van Nederland in 2013. Two weeks later, Dear John self-released his debut EP ’When the Morning Comes’.

Fast forward five years and the two friends are still jamming but now in a proper studio with Dutch music legend and producer Laurens Joensen. Back together again but now as a duo under a single name, Dear John has delivered a song of singular freshness and conviction. Hear Things Will Change and feel your troubles wash away like the ocean greeting your sandy feet.

Dear John’s tracks

• Interview Dear John - Radio A-FM - Joosten in het Weekend by Dear John
• Things Will Change by Dear John
• Read Between The Lines (ft. The Rude Box) [demo] by Dear John
• Just So You Know by Dear John
• Future Plans by Dear John
• Make My Day by Dear John
• Just A Memory by Dear John
• Carry On by Dear John
• It's You I Hold by Dear John