Josh Ritter pens an ode to an unexpected muse with ‘I Believe in You, My Honeydew'
Before the album arrives on Sept. 12, Ritter will return to Massachusetts this weekend for performances at the
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I called Ritter at his Brooklyn home to discuss his formative years as an artist in Massachusetts, his next novel, and the time Bob Dylan covered his song.
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Q.
You're an Idaho native, and you've lived in Brooklyn since 2008 or so, but I consider you a New England artist. You
A.
I really did. After graduating [from] Oberlin, I moved to Providence, R.I. around 2000. I did temp work — a lot of filing work in the basements of hospitals; a Samsonite luggage factory; a landfill. I'd leave work every day at 4 p.m. to hustle to Boston for gigs.
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I'd play Passim, Kendall Cafe, the Cantab Lounge — anywhere I could maybe sell one record and drink for free. Then I moved to Somerville, Everett, then Arlington.
Q.
Both of your parents were neuroscientists. You initially went to college for that.
A.
Neuroscience was kitchen table talk growing up. I don't think I had a conception that there were other jobs for me. Then I took organic chemistry, and realized there would
have
to be some other job.
Q.
Why songwriting? Is that something you had a passion for as a kid? It feels innate in you.
A.
It was by chance that I discovered it when I was around 16, but innate, yes. There was something there. It was like I was catching water, and it was a while before I found out the water could take the shape of a song. It was decades before I realized it could take the shape of a novel.
Q.
Your second novel '
A.
I just finished the first draft. I'm excited. With a song, you've got to keep it
so s
mall. I've always had that longing to follow some characters farther than a song. As you know, I'm sure, the whole bugbear of writing is concision and editing, no matter how much you want to [write].
Q.
I also relate to a lot of the songs on your new album, an ode to your muse. Why do you call your muse 'honeydew'?
A.
I wanted to have a public name for the [muse]. I felt like the private name is for me and the muse. But in terms of a thing that I felt was the most unearthly everyday object, I would say, would have to be a honeydew melon.
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It's so ghostly and almost luminescent. Then you open it, and it's like this wild tangle of biology, and you're supposed to eat it. [laughs] Everything about it is so strange. That's the only way I can express how I felt about the thing itself.
Q.
What sparked these songs?
A.
Empathy for this otherworldly thing that helps me write. Realizing I can do things my muse can't: I can eat, sleep, get in arguments, pet the dog. I can do all these material things. My job is to say [to my muse]: 'Come on in. I know you're there.'
Q.
What songs stand out to you?
A.
I'm proud of '
Q.
How did it feel to have Bob Dylan cover your song in Japan in 2023? He sang 'Only a River,' which you wrote with Bob Weir.
A.
Absolutely incredible. I was in Ireland, about to play a show. I was poking through backstage to see if there was any snacks, and my friend Josh Kaufman — who made the Bob Weir record with me — wrote me: 'Oh my gosh, this song just showed up [on Dylan's setlist] and I think it's your song.' I still haven't metabolized it. It seems like a glitch in the matrix.
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Interview has been edited and condensed.
JOSH RITTER
& THE ROYAL CITY BAND
At the Arcadia Folk Festival. At the Mass Audubon Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, 127 Combs Rd., Easthampton, Saturday, Aug. 23, 6 p.m. Tickets: $49.99 - $79.99.
With Bhi Bhiman. At Boarding House Park, 40 French St., Lowell, Sunday, Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $62-$181.
Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter
and Instagram at
.
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Back when Before the album arrives on Sept. 12, Ritter will return to Massachusetts this weekend for performances at the Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up I called Ritter at his Brooklyn home to discuss his formative years as an artist in Massachusetts, his next novel, and the time Bob Dylan covered his song. Advertisement Q. You're an Idaho native, and you've lived in Brooklyn since 2008 or so, but I consider you a New England artist. You A. I really did. After graduating [from] Oberlin, I moved to Providence, R.I. around 2000. I did temp work — a lot of filing work in the basements of hospitals; a Samsonite luggage factory; a landfill. I'd leave work every day at 4 p.m. to hustle to Boston for gigs. Advertisement I'd play Passim, Kendall Cafe, the Cantab Lounge — anywhere I could maybe sell one record and drink for free. Then I moved to Somerville, Everett, then Arlington. Q. Both of your parents were neuroscientists. You initially went to college for that. A. Neuroscience was kitchen table talk growing up. I don't think I had a conception that there were other jobs for me. Then I took organic chemistry, and realized there would have to be some other job. Q. Why songwriting? Is that something you had a passion for as a kid? It feels innate in you. A. It was by chance that I discovered it when I was around 16, but innate, yes. There was something there. It was like I was catching water, and it was a while before I found out the water could take the shape of a song. It was decades before I realized it could take the shape of a novel. Q. Your second novel ' A. I just finished the first draft. I'm excited. With a song, you've got to keep it so s mall. I've always had that longing to follow some characters farther than a song. As you know, I'm sure, the whole bugbear of writing is concision and editing, no matter how much you want to [write]. Q. I also relate to a lot of the songs on your new album, an ode to your muse. Why do you call your muse 'honeydew'? A. I wanted to have a public name for the [muse]. I felt like the private name is for me and the muse. But in terms of a thing that I felt was the most unearthly everyday object, I would say, would have to be a honeydew melon. Advertisement It's so ghostly and almost luminescent. Then you open it, and it's like this wild tangle of biology, and you're supposed to eat it. [laughs] Everything about it is so strange. That's the only way I can express how I felt about the thing itself. Q. What sparked these songs? A. Empathy for this otherworldly thing that helps me write. Realizing I can do things my muse can't: I can eat, sleep, get in arguments, pet the dog. I can do all these material things. My job is to say [to my muse]: 'Come on in. I know you're there.' Q. What songs stand out to you? A. I'm proud of ' Q. How did it feel to have Bob Dylan cover your song in Japan in 2023? He sang 'Only a River,' which you wrote with Bob Weir. A. Absolutely incredible. I was in Ireland, about to play a show. I was poking through backstage to see if there was any snacks, and my friend Josh Kaufman — who made the Bob Weir record with me — wrote me: 'Oh my gosh, this song just showed up [on Dylan's setlist] and I think it's your song.' I still haven't metabolized it. It seems like a glitch in the matrix. Advertisement Interview has been edited and condensed. JOSH RITTER & THE ROYAL CITY BAND At the Arcadia Folk Festival. At the Mass Audubon Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, 127 Combs Rd., Easthampton, Saturday, Aug. 23, 6 p.m. Tickets: $49.99 - $79.99. With Bhi Bhiman. At Boarding House Park, 40 French St., Lowell, Sunday, Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $62-$181. Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@ Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at .
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