ZZ Ward | |
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.jpg) Ward performing in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Zsuzsanna Eva Ward |
| Born | (1986-06-02)June 2, 1986 (age 38) Abington, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Origin | Roseburg, Oregon, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | www |
Zsuzsanna Eva Ward (born June 2, 1986)[1] is an American singer-songwriter fromRoseburg, Oregon. She signed withHollywood Records to release her debut extended play (EP),Criminal (2012), which preceded the release of her debut studio album,Til the Casket Drops, that same year.[2] Her second studio album,The Storm (2017), peaked atop theBillboard Blues Albums Chart. Her third studio album,Dirty Shine (2023), was released independently, and met with critical acclaim.[3]
Born in Abington, Pennsylvania, Ward grew up inRoseburg, Oregon,[4] where she joined her first band, with her father, at the age of 12.[5] Ward recalled the first song she sang was "anAlbert King track called 'As the Years Go Passing By'".[6]
Ward's maternal grandmother, Zsuzsanna Friedman, was a Jewish Hungarian who converted to Catholicism to avoid persecution during the Holocaust. On discovering this, Ward, who grew up in a secular household, took an interest in reclaiming her Jewish roots.[7]
After moving to Los Angeles and signing toE. Kidd Bogart's Boardwalk Entertainment Group, Ward began recording theCriminal EP, as well asEleven Roses, a free mixtape on which she offered her interpretations of tracks byKendrick Lamar,Childish Gambino,Tyler, the Creator,[8]Freddie Gibbs andWiz Khalifa.[9]Eleven Roses features "Better Of Dead", "Got It Bad", "Overdue", "Criminal", "Morphine", and "Cinnamon Stix". It was released on 3 November 2011.[10] For the recording of "Criminal", she sampled the beat from "Oil Money" by Freddie Gibbs, who was so impressed by Ward's remake that he asked to contribute a guest verse to the official version on the EP. TheCriminal EP was released on May 8, 2012, and features the songs "Til the Casket Drops", "Put the Gun Down", "Move Like U Stole It", and "Criminal" (feat. Freddie Gibbs).
Ward's debut album,Til the Casket Drops, was released on October 16, 2012.[11] It includes the singles "365 Days", "Put the Gun Down" and "Last Love Song", the song "Cryin' Wolf" with Kendrick Lamar, as well as appearances fromRyan Tedder,Ali Shaheed Muhammad,Theron "Neff-U" Feemster andFitz ofFitz and the Tantrums.[12] Ward performed the album's first single, "Put the Gun Down", onVH1'sBig Morning Buzz Live withCarrie Keagan on September 19, 2012,[13]The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on November 1, 2012,[14] andConan on January 10, 2013.[15] In March 2013, theNew York Times said of Ward, "Her energy evokes Tina Turner's, her chops Aretha Franklin's and her soul Etta James's",[16] and she was named one ofFuse TV's 30 must-see artists atSXSW.[17] Ward performed her second single, "365 Days", onGood Morning America[18] andBig Morning Buzz Live,[19] both on March 7, 2013; on the September 3, 2013, episode ofThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno;[20] and on the January 30, 2014, episode ofThe Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
On April 20, 2013, forRecord Store Day, Ward released a limited edition 7-inch vinyl that included her cover of "Grinnin in Your Face", written and originally recorded bySon House,[21] and a previously unreleased song, "Everybody Wants to Be Famous".[22] The 7-inch cover features an image taken of Ward when she was 11 years-old.[23] The following month, Ward, in conjunction with her second single release, launched her 365 Days of ZZ Ward app.[24]
Notable live appearances in 2014 includeCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival,[25]Bonnaroo Music Festival,[26] and a short tour withEric Clapton.[27]
Ward's second EP,Love and War, was released onHollywood Records on August 28, 2015.[28]
On February 11, 2017, Ward performed at theAmericana Music Association's tribute concert toLoretta Lynn at theTroubadour inWest Hollywood, California, performing a cover of "The Home You're Tearing Down".[29][30] She performed at the inaugural Arroyo Seco Weekend festival in June 2017 at theRose Bowl inPasadena, California.[31]
On March 2, Ward released the single "The Deep", featuring Chicago MCJoey Purp. The track is built around a sample of "As Long As I've Got You" by The Charmels, which is also sampled in "C.R.E.A.M." byWu-Tang Clan. The song is about Ward's feelings of being trapped in a bad relationship.[32] The song's music video premiered onW magazine's website on March 9, 2017.[33] Also in 2017, Ward collaborated withGary Clark Jr. on "Ride" from the soundtrack to thePixar filmCars 3. Ward performed "Ride" onDancing with the Stars on April 17, 2017.[34]
Ward's second studio album,The Storm, was released on June 30, 2017, throughHollywood Records.[35] It peaked at number 1 on theBillboard Blues Albums chart in July 2017,[36] at number 12 on theBillboard Rock Albums chart,[37] and at number 75 on theBillboard 200.[38] The music video for the single "Cannonball" (featuringFantastic Negrito) was released in July 2017.[39]
In 2019, Ward released a new single which was speculated to be the lead single from a potential third studio album, the single "Sex & Stardust" was released on December 13, 2019.[40] On 2020, Ward released three more singles[41] "Break Her Heart", "The Dark", and "Giant",[42] these songs would be her latest releases under Hollywood Records before parting ways with the label.[43]
In 2021, Ward became an independent artist when she funded her own labelDirty Shine Records, the name being a nod to Ward's fanbase which reference themselves as"Dirty Shine Fam.”[44] She also announced her first independent single "Tin Cups" withAloe Blacc which end up being the lead single of her third studio albumDirty Shine;[45] five singles were released prior the album release.[46] The album dropped on September 8, 2023, to widespread critical acclaim by music critics, who praised Ward's versatility and overall performance.[47][48]
On February 9, 2024, Ward released the single "WTH Did I Do?". She followed it up with the single "Best Friends" on March 8. Both songs were included on her third EP,Where Did All the Love Go?. On May 20, Ward announced that she had signed withSun Records.[49] Her first release with them was "Mother" on July 19. An extended play of thesame name, was released on October 4.[50]
Ward marriedrecord producerE. Kidd Bogart in May 2017.[51] Their first child, Ezra Jack Bogart, was born on February 3, 2021.[52] Ward announced her pregnancy in November 2020 in the music video for her song "Giant".[53] In October 2023, Ward announced via her social media accounts that she is expecting her second child.[54]
Ward is sometimes called "the hat girl" due to her always wearing afedora onstage.[55] She began doing this at 12 years old when she performed with her father's blues band and wanted to feel "more confident likeMuddy Waters andBig Mama Thornton."
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 2018 | Wally Got Wasted | Officer Sanders | Acting debut |
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