Joe Jaber relishes the freedom of the open road on “Ride With Me.”

The Novi, Michigan, singer-guitarist captures that sense of adventure and the enjoyment of sharing it with someone special on his latest blues-rock single.

“We all have so much in our daily to-dos, and sometimes we lose track of what’s important,” Jaber said. “Traveling with someone that lights your fire and exploring what’s on the open road without restrictions makes us feel alive.”

Backed by fiery electric guitar, upbeat piano, and pounding drums, Jaber sings, “Gotta get away / Can’t wait another day / The grind is going to beat me down / I know you’re the one / Let’s ride under the sun / Our destiny is now.”

“I hear a little Bob Seger inspiration in that one,” he said. “I’ve been releasing some of the deeper-side-of-life songs lately, and I wanted to put one of the many I haven’t released yet that has that roll-the-windows-down and crank-out-the-jams vibe for summer. I’ve been told this one will deliver.”

Once he had “Ride With Me” written, Jaber shared it with producer Bryan Reilly at Scramble Shack recording studio in Ferndale. The two recorded the song with guitarist Pete Peltier, who brought an explosive sound.

“It was especially fun in the studio with the band, and Pete Peltier is an excellent guitarist and so easy to work with,” Jaber said.

“He had a great tone and drive for the song throughout it. At the end, I heard an outro melody in my head that I loved. I verbalized it to Pete, and he nailed it. I love the final stamp on the song.”

Jaber and his band The Last Divide will share songs like “Ride With Me” and his previous single “Paper Doll” during a September 18 show at Cadieux Café in Detroit. He will also premiere the new video for “Paper Doll” at the show.

“The setlist will be a variety of songs … but we will also be playing some good-time Americana / blues rock,” Jaber said. “We are playing with up-and-coming artist Cami Rose, and we are still finalizing an opener. Both the opener and the closer will be great female artists.”

I recently spoke with Jaber about his background and recent releases ahead of the show.

Q: How did you develop a love of music?

A: I’ve always been an absolute freak about music my whole life. I didn’t start playing guitar until high school, but when I did, it was to get together with some buddies. I didn’t really know what I was doing. We played chords and messed around with songs, but it wasn’t anything serious.

Then I went through a divorce 15 years ago, and I bought a new guitar. That’s when I started writing like crazy, and I didn’t even know I could write. A whole new world opened up … and I felt like I was falling down a hole, but I found my songwriting voice at the same time. I took something positive out of it.

Q: What inspires the hopefulness that you bring to your songs?

A: It’s really all over the board. I have hopeful songs, and I have songs that are about having a good time. I also have a song called “Take It in Stride,” which is about my ideal of not caring about what anybody thinks or says. It’s about being 100 percent yourself, which I think is everybody’s goal. I find myself writing songs about my ideals and who I want to be.

I go through phases where I’ll write sadder songs because that’s what I feel, or it just hits me when I pick up the guitar. That’s one thing I love about what I’m doing. If somebody wants me to do an acoustic singer-songwriter show and do deeper-type tunes, I can do that. If someone wants me to do a stomping rock-blues-Americana show, I can do that. I like writing [and performing] in so many genres; they all feel like me.

Q: How did you form The Last Divide?

A: I got connected with some people. Kate Hart is a vocal coach in the area, and she connected me with Mike Welchans. He’s a producer and was in a band called Blue Eyed Soul with Chris Draheim and other people throughout the industry. Mike connected me with his old drummer and bass player, and then we were out there playing as a band.

Q: What’s the current lineup of The Last Divide?

A: Right now, I play with multiple people because I’m in that situation where I have amazing band members, but they’re also in other projects. The main group is Mike Nagy on bass, Mike Leslie on lead guitar, Bryan Reilly on drums, and Erin Marie on backup vocals.

Sometimes, Bob Mervak comes and plays keys, and then [guitarist] Pete Peltier plays with me. He’s definitely been around with the band for a long time. Sometimes, it really depends on the situation and who’s available at the right time.

Q: “Paper Doll” pays tribute to the grit, stamina, and resiliency of women. How did the women in your life inspire this song?

A: There are so many awesome women out there, like my sister. She works so hard, and she’s so respected—she’s a teacher-counselor. She helps kids who come from less advantaged situations, which we all did as well. She’s the person who takes care of getting us all together for Christmas and Thanksgiving.

It’s for people like that who need to be recognized for being there for everybody else and always being the strong one. I have friends like that, and my mom’s amazing. I don’t feel like I hear songs about that, and it just poured out. I thought this would be a nice tribute to a lot of people.

I had started playing it at shows before it was released, and I can’t tell you how many people came up to me and said, “That song’s about me.” When that happened, I said, “We have to do something with this [song], and more people need to hear it.”

Q: How did your mom respond to “Paper Doll” when she first heard it?

A: My mom is my biggest fan, and she loves everything. She glows every time I give her something. Sometimes, I’ll pick her up in my car, and we’ll drive around listening to music. We have that type of relationship. She was so happy, but she’s so biased that she’s always happy. She’s been in my corner, and she’s the only parent I’ve ever had in my corner.

Q: Tell me about the writing process for “Paper Doll.”

A: I had the guitar lick, and I remember messing with it years ago. I go through phases where I get so busy that I don’t get a chance to play music that much, and other times, I finally break down and do it. I really don’t even know how long it took; I don’t think it was a tough finish. It wasn’t to the point where I was laboring over lyrics—the lyrics came very naturally. I had the idea a long time ago, but life got in the way.

Q: What was it like to record “Paper Doll?”

A: I finished recording it over a year ago. Bryan Reilly helped a lot on this song. Pete Peltier played guitar, Mike Nagy played bass, Bob Mervak played keys, and Bryan played drums. We had a four-piece come in and do strings on it. I definitely feel blessed because I work with great people, and I love how the sounds came through on this song.

Q: What can you share about the new video for “Paper Doll?”

A: We knew more people needed to hear it, so that’s why we started making the video. I have several singer-songwriters from Detroit involved in the video, including Jill Jack, Olivia Dear, and Jacki Daniels. The video also features real women from our communities who were nominated by organizations they uplift and serve. We filmed it at CenterPeace Healing and Event Center in Farmington and other Michigan-based locations.

Q: How do your songs typically come together with Bryan Reilly in the studio?

A: Bryan and I joke around all the time about how I come in with an idea, and then we’re in lockstep. We always agree, so there’s never a conflict. We know what sounds good and what doesn’t; we’re always on the same page. It’s been fun, and I think I’m gonna go back in the wintertime to start recording a couple of demos.

Q: What does fall look like for you?

A: Later this fall, I will probably release one more upbeat, fun song, and then I will be releasing “I’d Rather Be With You” and “Heaven Can Wait” as winter arrives. I want to continue releasing a variety of songs to keep us all on that emotional roller coaster of life. I’m also talking about doing a few more shows this year.

Q: What plans do you have for new material?

A: I have 30 songs almost recorded to release that I haven’t released yet. I have several songs ready to go, and a bunch of demos that will become final recorded songs. I need to let them out because I’ve been sitting on them for so long. It’s a good problem to have, and I’m very blessed to have that problem.

Joe Jaber and The Last Divide perform September 18 at Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.