Ask Josh Ritter - March 11, 2013 discussion
Ask Josh!
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Margo
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Feb 08, 2013 02:44PM
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Question for Josh: How have you found writing songs and stories to be different? What was the single most challenging aspect of writing Bright's Passage?
Josh, There seem to be 10 careers I could spend my life in and sincerely enjoy, including as a singer/songwriter (my current pursuit), writer, politician, professor, and an author. I feel you might have faced this same overwhelming affliction once as well- how and why did you choose the path you did?
Joey Coe
Hi Josh,Just want to start by saying I love the new album. :)
I am wondering whether "New Lover" is a follow up song to "Rattling Locks"?
There seem to be connections in the lyrics from one song to the other, especially from "All along I thought I was giving you my love but it turns out you were just stealing it, now I want back every single thing that you took" in Rattling Locks, to "I feel like a miser, I feel low and mean for accusing you of stealing what I was offering for free" in New Lover.
Josh, While many early reviews have labeled this as your "break-up album" is there anything else in this album's message that may not be apparent at first listen?
Hi Josh,I was very lucky to see in the UK a few years ago with the wonderful Joan Baez. How much influence does performing with such artists have on your music and songwriting and when will we see you in Wales, UK again?
Josh,Do you find that the process of writing a book is similar or very different from writing songs? Which do you prefer?
Hi Josh, been a fan since The Animal Years released! I was 16. Thank you for working so hard at your craft brother.I've been writing songs since I was young and I'm currently sorting through a few to record for my first demo.
When I listen to artists who inspire me, I push myself at refining my work and exploring new ideas. It can fuel many a sleepless night! But it seems I always encounter one eventual thing: I go through heavy phases of finding it difficult to feel the songs are "done" or ready for recording or release.
I was curious from your own experience, how do you know when a song or album is ready? How does it feel to you, in your own opinion, that they are ready for the big old curtain reveal? Have you come to recognize this? The ghosts that do not seek rest!
Thanks Josh
For all the inspiration. You inspire to keep going and work really, really hard at what you love. I admire hearing you talk about being lucky and thankful, even for small battles won. Getting folks to dance at my last gig was a great great feeling! Hope to repeat that again. I enjoy reading your thoughts on a life in music. Hope to catch you performing in Asheville, NC with my older sister soon. (you signed her a copy of Brights Passage)
Cheers!
(ps! Come back to tampa bay again! We love you down here!)
Hello there Josh,Having also grown up in rural Moscow, I have a question: Would you consider the remoteness of the Viola area to be influential in shaping the direction of your creativity, particularly the narrative style of your song & novel writing?
Dear Josh,i get all my inspiration for my songs from you and i was wondering who is your inspiration? And i would just like to say i really love right moves and rumors, there easily my favorite songs of all time :)
Hi Josh!What is your favourite time and place to write - be it novels, songwriting, or journaling?
Where does the inspiration for all the stories you tell so beautifully come from?
From,
A Smiler
Hi Josh,Met you after a Burlington,VT show years ago and you asked me what books i was reading. I'd love to know what books you're reading these days and what are you listening to as well.
Hi Josh, My daughter Faith and I were so happy to meet you in Albany NY! We were so happy we forgot to ask you this question! We've wondered about the curse...does the mummy transfer his curse to the woman...? Does he do it intentionally?
Praying for you nearly every day. :-)
Margaret
Hi Josh,Thanks for the opportunity to pick your brain, and many thanks for the amazing music you continue to create and share with the world. I just saw your SoulPancake interview and would like to know, if you could get into Rainn Wilson's Metaphysical Milkshake magic van and time travel to any point in history before you were born, where would you go and why?
Also, I'd like to request a Josh Ritter/Scott Hutchinson/Rainn Wilson super-group collaboration. :)
Hi Josh,I have been a fan since Hello Starling, and have sort of been able to track your sound[s] by listening to each new album as it's released since then. In a lot of ways, So Runs the World Away felt like something totally different. I wasn't sure if it was a break away from a trend or a truth, or simply an evolution in your music, but Beast in its Tracks feels a whole lot like your older stuff. Do you feel this album is more honest than So Runs? Or just another step in your musical journey perhaps? Do you see it as a return to your less-orchestrated roots?
Love from Idaho,
-Hannah
p.s. could you play Moon River next time you're in Boise? I never miss a show when you come here and I always enjoy chatting a bit afterwards!
Hi Josh!What did you learn from writing your first novel that you would want to apply when writing your next novel? Are you working on anything now?
Also, what stories do you like to read to tell your daughter? Would you ever consider writing a children's book?
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. I love the new album and I can't wait to see you play live in York, PA in May!
-Adrienne
Hi, Josh!I've been a fan of your music since my first listen to Golden Age of Radio. I especially love the energy you bring to your live shows and am looking forward to seeing you for a 3rd time in May in Northampton, MA.
I'm wondering, along with a few others it seems, how your writing process from Bright's Passage felt different to you from your songwriting.
Cate
Hi Josh,Thank you for your generous gift of time! I've been a fan since your performance of "To the Dogs or Whoever" on The David Letterman Show. Have you ever had a creative block and if yes, what worked for you to get past it? Also, I have heard other song writers state it is much easier to write songs about heartbreak than happier times. Do you find this to be true for you? Not sure if this is the best question for you since many of your songs are stories.
All the Best to you!
Tori
P.S. Finished Bright's Passage this weekend. Enjoyed it very much!
P.P.S. Skip my question if need be. I know the Internet Gremlins had their hold on GoodReads today. Plus so many great questions I'd like to see answered!
Hello Josh,I am a huge fan of your music and have loved seeing you live (We would love you back in Des Moines, IA!), but I wanted to talk to you about Bright's Passage.
I have always been so intrigued by WWI as it was that bridge between the last 'old war' and the first modern war. Seeing you give credit to Barbara Tuchman tells me that you have to be pretty familiar with history. I am wondering what it is about that time period that interests you, and what did you feel was important to convey about the Great War when writing Bright's Passage?
Thank you for all your work,
Andrew
Hi Josh,The relationship, overlap, and identity of animals and humans seems to play a role as metaphor and symbol in a lot of your music (ie. Wolves) as well as in Bright's Passage. I've been reading Wrobelewski's Story of Edgar Sawtelle, and its style reminded me of Bright's Passage almost immediately - even before I realized how large a role animals would play in it. My questions - Have you read Edgar Sawtelle, and did it influence Bright's Passage at all? And to what would you ascribe the continued influence of the animal world on your writing?
Just saw you at Le Poisson Rouge on Monday and looking forward to the next NYC show in May!
Thanks for sharing with us,
Jeff
Strangely enough, just as this page came up "Joy to You Baby" ,from your new album, came on my music player. Enjoy your writing - both of the song and literary kind - immensely. Have you ever thought of adapting one of your songs - thinking specifically of "The Curse" or "Another New World" - to a full-length novel? I also think "Galahad" would make a marvelous short story.Bright's Passage was a wonderful first novel. I can't wait to see what's next from you.
Thanks!
Eric Arvin
Josh,When are you going to write a space western song or story? I love the weirdness of your subject matter pitted against the folk style and hope to see more of it. What creatures have you been breeding lately?
Hello, Josh,I think I read someplace that you're working on another novel. Will you give us a hint as to plot, setting, anything?
We're looking forward to seeing you in Dallas very soon!
Lucy in Texas
Are you planning on writing more novels, or maybe a collection of some sort? If so, will they be written similarly? Thank you! I really enjoyed both Bright's Passage and your music.
Josh! I just saw an interview you did a few years ago where you spoke about the West and cowboy and train folklore and imagery. Your early work evokes more of a feel of American roots music than your more recent stuff. Do you feel like this is because you are evolving as a writer/person or is there a more conscious effort on your part to "sound" less folksy? How much of the research you did in college played a role in your early songwriting? Do you think it still impacts your writing today? --Amy (historian and history museum curator)
Dear Josh Ritter,I chose Bright's Passage for our bookclub several months ago, and we were somewhat divided on whether you intended the angel to be a symptom of mental illness, like post traumatic stress disorder, or a truly supernatural phenomenon. Would you care to shed any light on our discussion, or do you want to leave that deliberately unresolved?
Thank you,
Casey
Hi Josh! I am loving your newest album. Congrats on putting out another winner! I'd also like to thank you for reading the audio version of "Bright's Passage." My question: I really enjoyed your collaboration with Mark Geary on "Ghosts," and I was wondering if you were planning on working with him again at some point.
Hi Josh,Just wanted to congratulate you on the success of Bright's Passage and new album. It's truly deserved. Looking forward to any news on your next novel and hope to see you back in Ireland again soon!
My question: Who would you have considered to be your biggest influences during your time working on Bright's Passage and have you found they contrast with those of your music?
Thanks!
Dear Josh,One of my former teachers introduced me to your work two years ago. He made me a mix of your songs and I have since fallen in love with your work.I have actually gotten a few of my current teachers into your work now. Of course, they're all English teachers. ;)
I've noticed that in some of your writing there are sometimes mentions to either faith, God, or someone/something that is indirectly connected with faith. MY QUESTION: I was wondering if you have a lot of faith in God or are just more of a spiritual person? Did you turn to God when your divorce happened?
I can personally relate to your pain on the record, but also your hopefulness that things will get better. My Dad recently passed and it has been really difficult. I know there are different types of emotional pain, but pain is pain either way. How did you know things would get better? What did you do to get yourself through the pain (besides writing)? Writing helps me, but I feel as though strength sometimes comes from something larger then ourselves. Do you agree?
Thank you so much for writing beautiful words and letting your voice shine on the world. Your music has been helping me get through the pain tremendously. Thank you so much for everything, Josh.
Kelsey
Be seeing you perform for the third time, in april. What are the chances of finally hearing The Remnant?
Hey Josh,I find I turn to certain songs and books like one turns to comfort food when I am feeling down and low, or just need to know that things will, eventually, get better. There is a particular book that I read at least once a year, and it never fails to make me feel better about whatever I am doing.
Do you have certain music, songs, and books that you always find yourself turning to when you need a smile or some familiar comfort? If so, do you turn to your own words, or do you find comfort from other musicians and authors?
I have loved your music for a long while now, and a quite a few of your songs are in my "comfort food" music list as well.
Thanks for all you do, and for writing such beautiful music and prose. I'll hold it high for you, since you've done the same for me (even if you didn't realize it.)
-Rae
Hi Josh, I have been listening to your music since my early teens and recently rediscovered your song The Temptation of Adam. As an 'aspiring writer' (cringe) I have been writing bits and pieces for years but somewhat unexpectedly I have found myself writing a novel based on your song (I hope you don't think that too much like idea pinching!) So, I was wondering what inspired you in writing that song to begin with? And if the story or the song came first?
Thanks for your beautiful writing, music and poetry; no matter the years or the number of listens it never fails to pull at my heart strings.
Georgia
Hi Josh, Brights Passage and so many of your songs use religious imagery or ideas. What makes you explore these themes? Do you have religious beliefs? Since many of your songs seem to reference each other sometimes, do you have an overall message regarding religion?
Please write more novels. Brights Passage was amazing. I've read it twice.
-Andy
Dear Josh,Thank you for all of your work! Lyric snippets have been accompanying me every day since "The Beast in its Tracks" became available on NPR's First Listen and I'm looking forward to hearing it live in Dublin this summer.
I've been wondering for quite some time now if the song "Remnant" and "Bright's Passage" are connected in any way?
All the best,
Esther
Josh,Since the first time I saw you preform in Denver four years ago, you have inspired me to follow my dreams while also showing me what a true performance consists of. Since then, I have seen you every time you're in town and every time I have a blast.
My question for you is at what age did you decide to really pursue a life in music and have you ever been close to giving up?
Thanks for the read,
Chris
Josh,West Virginia native here. First time I saw you play was in a little hole-in-the-wall joint in Huntington, WV. Love your work and was delighted and amused with your choice of setting Bright's Passage in my home state.
Why did you choose West Virginia as the setting? What piqued your interest in the area? Pearl S. Buck is from here, but we all know she DIDN'T even write about this play so much.
Secondly, if you have time to answer two, you are big with "playing on words," is the title of the book one your "plays?" Passage seems to have multiple meanings here.
Thanks and keep up the good work,
Colby Barthelmess
Josh,It's extremely difficult to carve out a career as a musician or a writer, yet you have found success in both fields. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians/writers?
Sheryl
One of my favorite high school classes was history. The teacher brought the stories to life, adding a personal perspective most classes lacked. With your love of American history, have you ever considered writing for a younger mindset?
Hi Josh,I've had the pleasure of seeing you play live a few times and getting a hug from you at a Borders CD signing.
I know you're a runner and I'm one, too. What's your favorite running shoe and why? What's on the iPod that your run with?
Peace,
Kristin
Any new books in the works? And, any chance Bright's Passage will be made into a film?
Also, what's your writing schedule, if you even have one? In that regard, how do you eliminate distractions and structure your day when there's very little external structure placed on it?
Hi Josh.My husband and I love your music so much, we named our daughter Aurora after the opening line from "Kathleen" (yes, we have to explain that several times to people). We are planning to see you in Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago this year. And may end up seeing you next week when we're both in San Fran.
My question is: Do you ever start writing song lyrics or threads of a song and think it would make a better book? Or vice versa?
Loving your new album.
Liza (from Milwaukee)
Josh, Similar to Colby above, my question involves setting. I loved Bright's Passage, but was somewhat surprised that your first novel was not set in the Pacific Northwest (though hooray for being unpredictable!). As a person that feels a great deal of pride in my home state of Kansas, I've always appreciated how much your love of Idaho has shaped your sound and the lyrics you've written. After 5 and a half years living in Moscow, I left in July - and your music will always draw me back to a time and location that had such a great impact on my life.
Long story short, can we expect a story about the Northwest in the future?
Thanks,
Christina
PS – I moved from Moscow to Lawrence, KS – and as luck would have it, that song came on as soon as we pulled out of town. Thank you for being the soundtrack to my life.
Is there a song that you have written that made you think, "maybe someday I'll turn that into a book" because you can't fit the whole story into a five minute song? Also, you're the best.
That is all.
Hi Josh!Some friends and I are headed to Austin this Friday so we will be missing your shows on Thursday. If you will still be around Friday night and interested in hanging out with some of your fans we would love to meet you and explore Austin together!
Hey Josh!My question's a bit silly, but - I've been considering an "Another New World"-inspired tattoo, and it's led me to wonder how an artist feels about tattoos based on their work. Is it inspiring or odd to know that your words and images are physically, permanently imprinted on other people?
Recently had the honour of seeing you for the first time in Hamilton, Ontario, and my friends and I were buzzing on a wonderful music-high for hours afterward. Thanks for a great night and for being so good to your fans.
Hi Josh! I'm a huge fan! :) My sister and I have always wondered what "Drive Away" is about? It speaks of someone being sick in a hospital bed. Is this from a real experience? Thanks! P.S. My first concert ever was to see you. We drove 8 hours to St. Louis just to here you play. Best night of my life! Can't wait to see you again in April!
Josh:I know a lot of your fans travel to see your shows. How do you feel when you see a familiar face in an unfamiliar setting?
What's the one drink that you like best when writing songs, Josh?
