Amos Lee's self-titled 2005 album brought the Philadelphia native critical raves, favourable comparisons to the likes of John Prine, Bill Withers and James Taylor, and high-profile tours with Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard and the aforementioned Prine.

But with a follow-up folk-and-soul disc, Supply and Demand, freshly pressed, the laid-back singer-songwriter casually allows that he does not feel any undue pressure to reach the next level.

"Fortunately for me," Lee says, "my label isn't driven that way. They already have someone who makes them a lot of money."

It's possible that were he to ask Blue Note Records directly, Lee might be surprised to learn that like most record labels, they would not be adverse to having at least two artists making a lot of money for them. But he is not mistaken about the success of labelmate Norah Jones, a performer with whom Lee has also toured -- and whose voice can be heard on the 2005 Amos Lee release.

And if Lee prefers to take things at his own pace, one must concede it suits him.

"There are certain songwriters from the '70s that are an influence," Lee says, "but I try to keep my ears open. There's a lot of music to be influenced by. I would never say I've been influenced solely by one thing or one era. Plus, really, even if we listened to the same music, it would probably mean something different to you than it would mean to me."

That being said, Lee does not hesitate to name Prine as his favourite songwriter. Certainly, a song such as the acoustic-based Sweet Pea can be heard as an homage to the legendary singer-songwriter. A mighty good one, too.

Sweet Pea is but one of 11 well-crafted tunes on Supply and Demand - songs penned during a hectic year spent primarily on the road. The songs reflect the restlessness of that life, and a longing to be home again.

"All these songs were worn in on the road," Lee says. "Writing on the road came easily, really. It was more of an adjustment for me to learn to live in those situations.

"A lot of these songs are inspired by things I've observed, a lot of my life over the past year or two has been observational. Being on the road is like being suspended in a water tank."

Whatever his level of success, Lee is set to continue with a new round of touring. And another after that. All conducted in a typically laid-back manner.

"It has a lot to do with just being the type of person who likes to work," Lee claims. "People in my family tend to feel that if they're not working, they're not living. And I've been given a great opportunity to play that I don't want to squander."

And so Lee and his band will ride into town prepared to work. And to play. To a degree.

"It's a hard life and it's an easy life too," Lee says of touring. "You don't have the normal stabilizers out there to ground you. But, fortunately, we haven't reached the status where anyone is trying to clean up after us or deny us reality.

"Not yet, anyway."