M. Ward
M. Ward is a one man band hailing from Portland, Oregon; his experimental, all American sound is steeped in a rich history of esteemed collaborations. Prior to touring alongside suitably American icons R.E.M and Bruce Springsteen in 2004, Ward found his feet showcasing a collection of live recordings around his home town; resulting in the recording of self released Live Music & The Voice of Strangers. However, Ward’s career really picked up speed after joining forces with Merge Records; giving his abstract commentary on stateside life a solid platform from which to develop.
Over the course of his 3 solo efforts with Merge, Ward has formed a greater creative versatility, working alongside the likes of Norah Jones and Conor Oberst. 2006’s Post-War addressed a nation beginning to anticipate change; whilst altering his style to incorporate a full band, Ward didn’t lose an ounce of emotion. The new album Hold Time will attempt to follow up his previous successes, addressing an audience who have experienced vast social, cultural and political developments since his last release.
In between his solo work, M. Ward is an active member of She & Him, a collaboration project with actress Zooey Deschanel. The pair met on the set of The Go-Getter in which Zooey plays the starring role, subsequently recording and releasing Volume One in March 2008. The follow up is highly anticipated; however there’s been no talk of a release date as of yet.
MWARDMUSIC.COM: Tidy and interactive, with a number of multimedia features - the only place you need to go to find out anything about M. Ward
MWARDMUSIC.COM: Sparsely laid out, featuring all the important information - easy to navigate and straight to the point.
MERGERECORDS.COM: M Ward’s stateside label (it’s Matador in the UK), Merge are an experienced independent with an eye for unique talent; they’ve developed a knack for transforming underground favourites into commercial commodities.
FILTHY FRIENDS MIXTAPE – ALBUM REVIEW: “Amidst the exterior of such rose-tinted ethics, the album holds core moments with a profound sense of loneliness...” – J J Florio
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