Ray LaMontagne’s Nostalgic Journey “Long Way Home

As the American summer sun casts long shadows, Ray LaMontagne welcomes listeners on a reflective journey with his latest single, “Long Way Home,” which serves as a prelude to his highly anticipated ninth studio album of the same name, which will be released on August 16.

“Long Way Home” is the album’s second single, released under LaMontagne’s new label, Liula Records. The music is a sad, bittersweet homage to the past, with LaMontagne’s distinctive raspy voice weaving through memories and meditations on days gone by. The song’s words, “Summertime, summertime / Said goodbye at the garden wall / From the house I can hear my momma callin’,” convey universal nostalgia, a yearning for youth’s simple and innocent days.

The single follows the success of “Step Into Your Power,” which marked a significant milestone in LaMontagne’s career as his fastest-moving track in the last decade. The preceding track achieved meteoric success at the radio, accompanied by a stop-motion music video animated by LaMontagne’s son, Tobias.

“Long Way Home” has a poignant contemplation on the path of life. LaMontagne, inspired by a live performance of Townes Van Zandt he saw at 21, recalls a passage from Van Zandt’s “To Live Is To Fly” that has stayed with him for three decades: “When here you been is good and gone, all you keep is the getting there.” This phrase captures the heart of the album, as LaMontagne honors the twisting path of life’s experiences, both victories and trials.

The new album promises to be a rich tapestry of LaMontagne’s growth as an artist and person. With production by Seth Kauffman, known for his work with Angel Olsen and Lana Del Rey, and backing vocals from The Secret Sisters on the album’s first three tracks, “Long Way Home” is set to be a modern folk and Americana music classic.

In support of the album, LaMontagne has planned a series of solo headlining U.S. tour dates beginning September 17, with The Secret Sisters as support. Ray LaMontagne’s next tour with Gregory Alan Isakov will provide fans with a unique opportunity to witness his intimate and thoughtful music in person.

As we await the whole album, “Long Way Home” demonstrates LaMontagne’s continuing brilliance and ability to portray the human experience through music. It serves as a reminder that the journey, with all of its ebbs and flows, shapes us, and that sometimes taking the long way home is the most gratifying path of all.