Ray LaMontagne: on music, succes, and push-ups

ATLANTA — To say Ray LaMontagne is understated is an understatement.

The folk singer, known for his forceful, passionate voice and such swoon-worthy songs as “Trouble,” “Shelter” or “You Are The Best Thing,” is notoriously celebrity-wary, preferring the comforts of a good book and his Massachusetts farmhouse to rock-star parties and the red carpet.

But you have to admit, that makes him more interesting.

His well-known path to fame is unusual and nearly mythical: while working at a shoe factory in Maine in the late 1990s, he heard an inspiring song on the radio and decided to give up his blue-collar job to become a singer-songwriter.

We caught up with LaMontagne, 27, while on tour in Colorado:

Question: Many musicians tell the stories behind their songs in concert, but you're known for rarely announcing a song or sharing its tale. Why so?

Answer: That's kind of the way I do it. I never liked that as a listener, when I would go to a show. I always felt like it detracted from the show to hear a songwriter talk about the songs in between songs. It is sort of like going to see a magician who does a trick or something and tells you how he did it. It takes away from the mystery.

Q: Your early albums had a folk rock, almost ethereal vibe. Your third, “Gossip in the Grain,” showed elements of blues and ragtime. How would you characterize the sound of your most recent album, “God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise,” with the Pariah Dogs?

A: I really couldn't tell you. All I know is that I just love playing with these musicians and over the last couple of tours that we've done together, I just kept thinking at the end of the night that this is really special and we're making a really beautiful sound together and I really wanted to capture this. I just love the sound we make.

Q: Have your personal influences changed in the past few years?

A: That's hard to say. The initial influences that get written about were the ones from the very first interview I ever did and they've been repeated and repeated. It's not like I sit around listening to Stephen Stills all the time.

Q: Your speaking voice is rather soft and elegant. It's fairly different from your singing voice. How do you take care of it?

A: I don't warm up or anything. I have a good friend on the road who works for Emmylou Harris and has for 25 years or so. He's always telling me “Ray, you need to warm up. You need to warm up if you want that voice to last.”

For me, I sort of learned early on where to sing from. I just haven't had a problem thus far, unless I'm sick or something. If I'm healthy, it just never seems to be a problem.

Q: What do you do on the road to decompress?

A: On the road, really, I just read a lot. And I do a lot of push-ups. Isn't that wonderful and so romantic? I also carry a rower in a travel case. I'm very dedicated to it.

Q: When do you write?

A: I just write whenever a song comes knocking ... I try to give it some time. Because if you don't, they just leave, you know? They just leave.

Q: What do you say to those trying to chart your personal life from your song lyrics?

A: There are always bits of truth in there, but that would be pretty hard to sift through I think.

Q: What do you make of your career and success so far?

A: I'm very pleased with it. I always hoped I would be able to make a living as a songwriter, so for that to come to fruition is really nice. I certainly know nothing is ever guaranteed and who knows what the future will hold, but I'm pleased with how the future is going.

It seems to be growing very naturally. And it also seems to be in direct relation to how much work I have put into it.