New Zealand singer-songwriter Lawrence Arabia passed over more control to his producer than ever before – and reckons he’s been rewarded with his best album yet.

The troubadour, real name James Milne, has recently released his fourth record, Absolute Truth, and will perform it at the Hug and Pint next Wednesday.

It’s a combination of the singer’s thoughtful, witty lyrics and classic indie pop melodies, and comes after a period of time that saw him become a father and move to New York for a spell.

That meant James gave some studio control over to collaborator Mike Fabulous, of New Zealand band the Black Seeds.

“It wasn’t as difficult as I might have expected,” explains James, who cites the Kinks and Syd Barrett as major inspirations on his career.

“I chose to work with Mike because I really trusted his instincts as a producer and engineer and, to be honest, coming out of the writing process I wasn't especially inspired by the idea of the arranging, just because my head was so much in the space of being a new father.

“Between writing the record and looking after my daughter there was just nothing left there. But I did check back in when we actually recorded – the arrangements are mostly mine, and Mike focused more intensely on the actual sounds of the instruments, rather than the notes that they were playing.”

As with the singer’s previous album, The Sparrow, many of the lyrics gaze towards the past. In the case of tracks on Absolute Truth, however, the nostalgia is often accompanied with a sceptical eye, as on the mellow album closer What Became Of That Angry Young Man?

Instead of rose-tinted glasses, James appears to be looking back with a degree of cynicism.

“I've always been an intensely nostalgic person, but I think this brand of non-nostalgic nostalgia is somewhat new for me,” he explains.

“Perhaps it comes from that odd and slightly sad blend of envy and condescension you start to feel for younger people as you grow older. It becomes harder to think so warmly of your own actions as a twenty-two year old.”

Now James is a man in his mid 30’s, and getting used to being a dad to his daughter Isobel. That has changed his viewpoint on the world in certain ways, too.

“For all the joy I experience through my daughter, it's hard not to conversely see some of the awfulness of the world that we're bringing her up into,” he says.

“But the world's always had its cruelty and pestilence so I try hard to focus on Isobel's uniquely silly point of view. It’s another fine argument for getting offline!”

That’s a reference to views he’s previously expressed regarding a dislike for the internet. While he supports sharing platforms like Spotify, he was wider concerns about people consume information.

“You don't remember anything when you're scrolling down your feed, you just think ‘oh that's terrible,’ accumulate a little black dust in your soul and then move onto continuing to not do anything productive,” he says.

“I think the internet has a negative impact in most situations. About the only arguably positive thing it has done is provide an infinite supply of LOLs!”

After previously being based in London and then New York, James returned back to New Zealand to record Absolute Truth. Now he’s got the touring bug again, though, and with a keen love of some Scottish acts over the years he’s looking forward to his Glasgow return next week, where he'll play a solo show.

“Glasgow has very much pitched a tent in a small corner of my heart over the last ten years,” he adds.

“I'm fond of a lot of Scottish music, too. The Incredible String Band, Ivor Cutler, Orange Juice, Camera Obscura and Belle and Sebastian all leap to mind.”

Lawrence Arabia, Hug and Pint, Wednesday September 21, £6.50, 7.30pm