Josh Ritter talks Chris Smither tribute + new album

"Zack Hickman and Josh Kaufman did those harmonies and are also great guys,” Josh says of his contribution. “I wanted the vibe of the recording to be different in musical arrangement, but I wanted the living, breathing side of ‘Rosalie’ to reflect Smither's own live delivery of the song. A lot can come through that is real when we stop trying to be precise."
When not being a fanboy, Josh has been assembling the follow-up to last year’s The Beast In Its Tracks.
“I recently played several shows of brand new material,” he resumes. “I've never thought to do that before, but it felt great and I learned a lot about the songs and how they might work better.
“I’m writing and writing these days, reeling in songs as they come, trying not to judge them except by their own weird merits. I don't think I've ever had this much fun writing.”