Liberation is the upcoming fourth studio album by American blues singer-songwriter ZZ Ward. It is slated to be released on March 14, 2025, via Dirty Shine and Sun Records.[1][2]
The album follows the release of Ward's third studio album Dirty Shine and extended play, Mother, and includes four out of six tracks from the EP.[3] The album is produced by Ryan Spraker, who also produced Mother.[4] To promote the album, Ward will embark in a new leg of her Dirty Sun Tour in March 2025.[5][6]
"Love Alive" was released on January 17, as the lead single of Liberation, alongside its music video.[7][8][9]
Background and release
According Sun Records press release, the album is "a celebration of Ward's love of blues".[10] The record includes both original songs, and some covers.[10]
In an interview with Darryl Sterdan of Tinnitist, Ward said: “This is who I’ve always wanted to be — a blues artist, on my terms,” she continued. “It just took me a long time to get here.”[7] Sterdan went to describe the record as a "fearless exploration of empowerment, authenticity, and self-discovery." he went further teasing some details about the album content, saying it was: "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."[7]
“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.”
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Producer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mother" |
| Ryan Spraker | 2:56 |
| 2. | "My Baby Left Me" | Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup | Spraker | 2:13 |
| 3. | "I Have No One" |
| Spraker | 2:33 |
| 4. | "Cadillac Man" | Tommy Minga | Spraker | 2:20 |
| 5. | "Love Alive" | Ward | Spraker | 3:27 |
| 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" |
Notes
- "My Baby Left Me" is a cover of the 1950 single written by Arthur Crudup.
- "I Have No One" is a cover of the 1968 single by Big John Hamilton.
- "Cadillac Man" is a cover of the song written by Tommy Minga and recorded and released by The Jesters in 1966.
- "Grinnin' In Your Face" is a cover of the song written and recorded by Son House, which Ward previously covered in 2013.[12]
Personnel
Credits adapted from Apple Music:[13]
- ZZ Ward — vocals (all tracks), composer
- Ryan Spraker — producer, composer
- Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup — composer (track 2)
- Jett Gallindo — mastering engineer (track 2)
- Big John Hamilton — composer (track 3)
- Leroy Loyd — composer (track 3)
- Tommy Minga — composer (track 4)
- Son House — composer (track 9)
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 14 March 2025 | [1] |
References
- ^ a b Liberation by ZZ Ward on Apple Music, 2025-03-14, retrieved 2025-02-02
- ^ Staff, B. R. R. (2025-01-17). "ZZ Ward announces "Liberation"". Blues Rock Review. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ Mother - EP by ZZ Ward on Apple Music, 2024-10-04, retrieved 2025-02-02
- ^ Willschick, Aaron (2025-01-19). "ZZ Ward Releasing New Record 'Liberation' on March 14th". V13.net. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ Roche, Donovan (2024-11-22). "Blues Chanteuse ZZ Ward Brings 'Dirty Sun' Tour to Belly Up in Solana Beach". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ "ZZ Ward @ City Winery Boston". Bandsintown. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ a b c Sterdan, Darryl (2025-01-17). "ZZ Ward Knows How To Keep The Love (And The Blues) Alive". Tinnitist. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ "ZZ Ward strives to keep "Love Alive" on new single – EARMILK". Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ ZZ Ward (2025-01-17). ZZ Ward - Love Alive (Official Music Video). Retrieved 2025-02-02 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Liberation, available March 14th, is the new LP from ZZ Ward celebrating her love of all things blues. By Sun Records | Facebook. Retrieved 2025-02-01 – via www.facebook.com.
- ^ https://bluesrockreview.com/2025/01/zz-ward-announces-liberation.html
- ^ "Exclusive Video Premiere and Interview: 'Grinnin' in Your Face,' ZZ Ward". Interview Magazine. 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2025-02-02.
- ^ Liberation by ZZ Ward on Apple Music, 2025-03-14, retrieved 2025-02-01
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