“I think the blues speaks to something universal. As a Jewish artist, I’ve always connected to its sense of longing and resilience, themes that also run deep in Jewish history. It’s not about religion, it’s about emotion. Both the blues and folk music turn struggle into strength, and that still feels relevant today. Music reminds us that even when our stories are different, we can still understand each other.”

ZZ Ward: Liberation …under the Sun

Blues artist ZZ Ward's new album, Liberation (2025), celebrates her love of all things blues. Her third release on Sun Records, features originals like "Mother," a song about her new role as a working mother, with covers of classics like Son House's "Grinnin' In Your Face." ZZ's bold vocals also shine on her take on songs from the historic Sun catalog, like The Jesters' "Cadillac Man," and Alvin Robinson's "Something You Got." One of the most profound lessons ZZ Ward learned from growing up listening to the blues greats was to be authentic to your story. When the LA-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist began to write new music, she found herself in the midst of one of the biggest life changes a person will ever experience: motherhood.

(ZZ Ward / Photo by CJW3 Photography)

At the time she wrote this fiercely individual body of work, ZZ found herself without a home for her music after a decade on a major label. It was a painfully complex time, and she sought solace in the blues, her most formative influence. ZZ started singing the blues at the age of 8, spurred on by her bluesman father and his righteous record collection. She started performing blues music when she was just 12 years old. However, as a professional female musician, ZZ often felt she had to compromise her blues tendencies to satisfy music industry demands.

Interview by Michael Limnios    

Special Thanks: ZZ Ward & Marco Polo Santiago/72 Music Management (72MM)

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

It’s made the world more enjoyable for everyone I think! It’s given me a way to express myself and connect with people

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? What is the driving force behind your continuous support for your music?

I think my sound is throwback but modern, it’s like blues from different eras with a fresh twist. My stories are very authentic because writing is my release. I love creating music the most, it’s like making something magically appear from nothing. 

Why do you think that the Sun Records music legacy continues to generate such a devoted following?

I can tell you why I am a devoted follower of the Sun Records legacy. So much of the music that came from Sun was just fantastic, so many real artists. The music was also recorded in a way that really doesn’t exist anymore, it had a grit and a realness I think so much of modern music lacks. 

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I miss the imperfections of past music. Things used to be out of key, a guitar, a vocalist, a few notes here, or there but we didn’t notice it so much because nothing was programmed. It drives me nuts when music is so tuned these days it just feels robotic and won’t hold up.

“I feel like it’s not really a man’s world anymore. When I first started touring, I would have never seen a female audio engineer at a venue, it’s much more common now to see females out touring and on stage and it’s wonderful.” (Photo: ZZ Ward, LA-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist)

From Bob Dylan and Mike Bloomfield to Chess Brothers and Janis Joplin…What were the reasons that made many Jewish musicians to be connected with the Blues/Folk researches? What is the role of music in today’s society?

I think the blues speaks to something universal. As a Jewish artist, I’ve always connected to its sense of longing and resilience, themes that also run deep in Jewish history. It’s not about religion, it’s about emotion. Both the blues and folk music turn struggle into strength, and that still feels relevant today. Music reminds us that even when our stories are different, we can still understand each other.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

So many that it’s hard to narrow it down to only a few. I think one of my top ones is make music because you love it and you will never fail. Don’t do it for any other reason. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, about every facet of your career. 

What does to be a female artist in a Man’s World as James Brown says? What is the status of women in music?

I feel like it’s not really a man’s world anymore. When I first started touring, I would have never seen a female audio engineer at a venue, it’s much more common now to see females out touring and on stage and it’s wonderful. 

How can a band/musician truly turn the blues into a commercial and popular genre of music for the today's audience? Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues?

I don’t know that there’s a single formula for making the blues “commercial” again, but I do know it’s the foundation of almost all modern music. Even when it’s not on the surface, the blues is always there, hidden in the soul of every genre, and it always finds its way back around. Preserving it matters because the blues is like learning to crawl before you walk; it teaches musicians how to feel, listen, and truly play with others. It’s a musical language built on honesty and emotion, one that values simplicity over business, and that’s something worth keeping alive.

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(Photo: ZZ Ward)