John Statz on traveling, Bo Ramsey, and his latest, Old Fashioned

John Statz, a thoughtful, ramblin’ Americana artist, is accustomed to traveling around the world. In fact, he gains inspiration from places that aren’t familiar. “To me, travel is the biggest influence,” he says.

But for Statz’s most recent record, Old Fashioned, he recorded at home, at a studio in Iowa City with producer Bo Ramsey. Ramsey also played lead and electric guitar on the album, and Ramsey’s wife, Pieta Brown, sang harmonies.

We recently spoke with Statz and found out how hometown inspiration propelled his current record, how he recruited Ramsey, and where he’s headed next.