Acclaimed singer-songwriter ZZ Ward is back with her most authentic and blues-infused work to date. Liberation, her debut album on the iconic Sun Records, is set for release on March 14, marking a bold new chapter in her celebrated career. Leading the charge is the album’s first single, Love Alive, out now alongside a striking video — and showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Picking up where recent tracks like My Baby Left Me and Mother left off, Love Alive finds Ward putting her own fresh stamp on classic southern blues, soul and gospel. Fuelled by a handclap beat, twangy low-neck guitars and lush soaring vocals — infused with contemporary ambience, pop-infused melodies Ward’s powerhouse vocals — the track draws respectfully on the past while living fully in the present. And makes Liberation an album to look forward to.
Inspired by blues greats and her own life’s most transformative experiences, Liberation is a fearless exploration of empowerment, authenticity, and self-discovery. Written during her journey through motherhood, the album finds Ward returning to her blues roots, reflecting the raw, unfiltered emotions of life’s trials and triumphs. “I didn’t plan to make a blues album about motherhood, it just sort of happened naturally,” Ward shares. “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.”
Ward’s relationship with the blues began in her early childhood, spurred on by her father, a bluesman with a rich record collection that became a soundtrack for her upbringing. She started singing the blues at age eight and performing by the time she was 12. But as her career evolved, Ward often found herself navigating industry expectations that pulled her away from her blues roots. “I used to care so much about what other people wanted my music to sound like, but after I became a mother, my priorities changed,” she says. Liberation marks a triumphant return to her formative influences, blending them with her singular voice and vision.
Love Alive is the perfect introduction to this new era, conjuring the haunting echoes of the Delta with clapping, hollering, and a signature Ward twist. The song’s emotionally resonant chorus reflects the struggles and hopes of maintaining connection in the face of life’s challenges. “Having kids can really test your relationship. This song is about keeping the love alive during the trying times of early parenthood,” Ward explains. The music video for Love Alive further amplifies the song’s emotional core, with striking visuals that mirror its themes of resilience and vulnerability.
Liberation follows the release of Ward’s critically acclaimed Mother EP last year and her summer tour with Slash, where she previewed this bold new material. Produced by multi-platinum producer Ryan Spraker (Eli “Paperboy” Reed, Weezer, In This Moment), the album brings Ward full circle, embracing the soul-blues stylings of Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone and Etta James, alongside the foundational sounds of Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Big Mama Thornton that she grew up listening to with her father.
“Signing with Sun Records felt serendipitous,” Ward reflects. “Howlin’ Wolf recorded for Sun! It was the perfect alignment for me to truly embrace my identity as a blues artist.”
On Liberation, Ward brings her singular touch to both originals and reimagined blues classics, blending greasy Chicago blues, Delta foot-stomping rhythms, rootsy garage rock, and vintage soul. It’s a reclamation and a rebirth — a declaration of her artistry on her own terms. “This is who I’ve always wanted to be — a blues artist, on my terms,” Ward says. “It just took me a long time to get here.”
Liberation Track List
1 | Mother
2 | My Baby Left Me
3 | I Have No One
4 | Cadillac Man
5 | Love Alive
6 | Naked In The Jungle
7 | Liberation
8 | Lioness
9 | Grinnin’ In Your Face
10 | Dust My Broom
11 | Sinner’s Prayer
12 | Something You Got
13 | Clairvoyant
14 | Next To You
Watch the video for Love Alive above, hear more from ZZ Ward below, and catch up with her on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.
