Ray LaMontagne owes his career to Stephen Stills. Actually, he can thank many of the Stills clan.
It goes like this: At 4 one morning, LaMontagne awoke to hear Stills singing “Tree Top Flyer” on his clock radio. He blew off work that day to track down the record and set off on a path to become a singer/songwriter. Fast forward a few years, and LaMontagne finds himself opening in a small club for Jennifer Stills, Stephen’s daughter, with dad in the audience. Ethan Johns, who happens to be a close friend of Stephen Stills’ son, singer Chris Stills, then produces LaMontagne’s debut, “Trouble,” released in September.
Not bad for a soft-spoken, earnest guy who lives in Maine near the Appalachian Trail in a home he built with his own hands.
You know, for a white guy from New Hampshire, you sure sound a lot like Otis Redding singing “Try a Little Tenderness,” especially on the song “Trouble.” Where does that come from?
(Laughs.) I have no idea. I just … I’m not sure how to answer that. Your voice is an instrument. I thought it was important when I started playing to study different records. Some songs hit you on a different level. If you can use your voice as an instrument and explore your whole palette, you have a better chance at getting people’s attention.
How does it feel to be a critic’s darling?
I’ve heard a few things that are good, but I don’t read the press. I hear things secondhand. I’ve heard some negative things, and basically I’ve steered clear of it. When I did read some things, they weren’t that flattering, so I decided to keep myself separate from what other people think.
How has your life changed?
I was plugging away, working a full-time job, building my own house. Music was something I loved to do. I never expected to make a living at it. If I made $20 at a show and got dinner, I was really psyched. I could go home feeling good about it.
You talk about having been in a dark place in your life–what was it about music that healed you?
Once you find your form of expression and you stop internalizing things, then you’re on your way. It took me forever to find my own way of expressing my emotions. Growing up, I internalized things. Once I found a way to release that stuff and work through it in a healthy way, I was on my way to have a better outlook on life.
I hear that you and Ethan Johns are working on a new album. How does it differ from “Trouble”?
Now I have a little more time to construct a song. I was always scrambling for time to write, but now I can let a song sit for a little while and dig into it a little deeper. Melodically it’s more interesting.
It’s interesting that Stephen Stills was the catalyst for you becoming a singer and that Ethan Johns, who’s one of Chris Stills’ friends, produced your album. Is that coincidental?
It’s pretty odd and interesting how life works. I think it’s more coincidence. Sometimes, I think about it myself that it’s really cool. They’re all really nice people.
Ray LaMontagne
When: 9 p.m. Feb. 15
Where: Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Tickets: Sold out
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popmusicwriter@yahoo.com
Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Kris Karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com)
