ZZ Ward Serves Up Songs Her Way

Newcomer ZZ Ward is wowing audiences with her blend of blues, hip-hop, R&B, rock and neo-soul sound.

“I’m touring the country and watching the crowds grow,” ZZ told me at a recent Grammy event in Los Angeles. “And knowing that my record (“Til the Casket Drops”) and writing are resonating with the people is an amazing feeling.”

Born Zsuzsanna Eva Ward in Abington, Pennsylvania and raised in Roseburg, Oregon, the singer/songwriter honed her skills by playing in her dad’s blues band as a pre-teen as well as throwing down with hip-hop acts in Oregon before deciding to take her chances in Los Angeles. In a relatively short time, she released the free 2012 mixtape, “Eleven Roses,” which featured her interpretations of songs by other artists including Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator. In October 2012 her debut album, “Til the Casket Drops,” was released on Hollywood Records.

“My record is about the ups and downs of a relationship.” ZZ said. “You want this perfect relationship but sometimes you don’t get it and so I write about the true stuff - the dirty stuff.”

ZZ is currently touring the United States playing in venues of varying sizes like the House of Blues in Los Angeles, to a bar and grill in Nashville to an amphitheater in a small town in Washington State. ZZ said the best thing about touring is, “Just meeting my fans and meeting people. Some people come up and tell me that my songs have helped them get through a situation. I was writing those songs in Los Angeles in my apartment and sometimes you don’t know that your music can touch the world and that’s amazing.”

ZZ, who also plays the guitar, piano, and harmonica, added this message for aspiring songwriters, “I would say really listen. Listen to other songs. Listen to songs that you like and learn from that and it’s really important that you write your own music. Just do it. Even if you don’t think you know how just do it.”

Her single, "Put The Gun Down," hit the top 40 Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Check out ZZ Ward’s tour schedule on her website at http://www.zzward.com.