Christina Ward is a singer-songwriter hailing from Philadelphia who’s been making a name for herself in the indie folk scene with her moving and melancholic sound. A versatile artist, her talents extend beyond her soulful vocals to include adept guitar and banjo playing.
Her journey into music was shaped by a challenging childhood, marked by her mother’s struggle with schizophrenia. Seeking solace and understanding, Christina immersed herself in music, initially inspired by Prince and later finding a love for Led Zeppelin, which led her to master the guitar at a young age. Her musical influences span a wide array of legendary artists from Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan to more modern indie acts like Pixies and Cat Power, blending to create a unique sound that’s at once nostalgic and original.
Christina Ward first made her musical debut in 2020 with the single “South,” and has since built an impressive catalogue of singles and EPs. Her latest release, “Darkstar,” is the lead single from her upcoming EP, Neon, set to drop on the Bad Catt Records imprint. This follows her earlier 2023 EP Shapeshifter and a series of successful singles.
Christina Ward’s growing reputation in the music industry has led to significant recognition, including praise from NPR Music and WXPN, and an invitation to join Anthony Green on a short run of shows. Neon is set to be a defining project for Ward, as it features her full live band for the first time, including drummer Tim Arnold, bassist Nawi Avila and keyboardist Tony Dunst.
The EP is mixed by acclaimed Philadelphia-based engineer and producer Jeff Ziegler, known for his work with The War on Drugs and Kurt Vile. “Darkstart” is brought in by the soft plucks of guitar and Christina’s airy vocals, the arrangement tumbles together with the shuffle of drums and guitar strums capped by delicate vocal leads to form a progressive folk rock sound.
Flowing with an intricate balance of bright elements and a subtle darkness, it’s a laid back outing peppered with piquant synth textures and wrapped in a hazy grungey aesthetic. The perfect showcase of her original songwriting and unique sound, “Darkstar” sees Christina Ward deliver another enthralling slice of her sonic vision while building the hype for her upcoming EP.
Commenting on the single, she shrares, “The song is partly about my life as a kid, growing up with a schizophrenic mother, and how it’s affected me in my adult life and my own mental health.”
Listen to Darkstar below
More from Music
JK LAB releases “Bare Aura” featuring KXNE
Coming out of Villach in Austria, JK LAB is a producer whose musical vision has been influenced by a passion …
Frannie B drops new single “Echo”
Based in Oxford, Frannie B has been making an impact in the UK music scene with a pop-focused sound that …
Brand new single from Nick Norton-Smith
London-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Nick Norton-Smith has built a decorated career across an unusually diverse musical landscape, moving between film, …
