Brand new album from ZZ Ward

Los Angeles-based artist ZZ Ward is a decorated singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who’s been on a thrilling musical adventure over the years. She first made her mark in 2012 with her debut EP Criminal, followed by her full-length record Til the Casket Drops that same year, quickly gaining traction and breaking into the AAA Radio Charts Top 10 with her first single “Put The Gun Down” and landing a second hit with “365 Days,” which climbed to #2. Her unique style, based in blues traditions yet infused with modern energy, has seen her become a musical sensation celebrated by fans around the world.

Following the success of her debut, ZZ continued to impress with her 2017 sophomore album The Storm which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart and featured collaborations with GRAMMY-winning artists Fantastic Negrito on “Cannonball” and Gary Clark Jr. on “Ride,” which found a home as the end title song for Pixar’s Cars 3. In 2023, she took full creative control with her independently released album Dirty Shine, a critically acclaimed LP that saw her continue going from strength to strength.

Now, ZZ opens up a new chapter with her latest studio album, Liberation, a project that represents her most personal and blues-infused work to date. Signing with Sun Records, a label that’s long been a cornerstone of Americana, she reconnects with her musical roots while exploring new creative spheres. The album serves as both a return to form and a statement of independence, with ZZ fully embracing the spirit of classic blues while adding her own modern twist.

Opened by “Mother,” the shuffle of drums and lick of bluesy guitar are locked into a smooth groove as elegant piano notes and ZZ’s soulful voice combine to deliver a stunning blues rock jam full of exquisite musicianship and incredible vocal performance. “My Baby Left Me” follows with the jump of bouncy rhythms where uptempo rolling drums, intricate guitar layers and impassioned vocals lay down a timeless jam of dusty blues that’s lively and catchy throughout.

The record’s lead single, “Love Alive,” draws from the gritty, uncompromising energy of Son House-era blues, blending handclaps, stomping rhythms and ZZ’s powerful vocals. Thematically, the song explores keeping love strong during difficult times, particularly the challenges of early parenthood. “Having kids can really test your relationship. This song is about keeping the love alive during the trying times,” she shares.

“Naked In The Jungle” takes on a different but equally striking theme, using swampy, Creedence Clearwater Revival-esque instrumentation to paint a picture of grappling with motherhood with ZZ explaining, “It’s like you’re dropped in the jungle with no tools, and no one to guide you. The thing that works one day, doesn’t work the next, and you’re contending with a lack of sleep.” The song captures both the beauty and chaos of the experience, distilling it into a blues-driven anthem.

The album’s title track, “Liberation,” puts ZZ Ward’s classic songwriting and vocal performance panache on full display via a slow burning jam filtered through a vintage lens. With a laid back lilting rhythmic sway and subdued instrumentation, ZZ’s enchanting vocals cast a dazzling sonic spell on this charming and mesmeric number. Closing the record with “Close To You,” ZZ serves up one final outing of animated pop-inflected blues rock where crunching lead guitars dance alongside her gripping vocal vocal, driven by the charge of drums to offer a spectacular finale to her sensational new album.

Commenting on the release, she shares, “I didn’t plan to make a blues album about motherhood, it just sort of happened naturally. I’ve always written to get through things in life. Suddenly, I was faced with a new job that’s 24/7 with no breaks, and that’s what I wrote about. But when you get tested, you discover who you are, and this album comes from a feeling of empowerment.”

Listen to Liberation below