Blues Chanteuse ZZ Ward Brings ‘Dirty Sun’ Tour to Belly Up in Solana Beach

The past few years have been a whirlwind of change for ZZ Ward, the powerhouse singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for her smoky voice and bluesy swagger.

In that time, she became a mother twice over; parted ways with her longtime label, Hollywood Records; launched her own independent label, Dirty Shine Records; and, just last month, released new material, a six-song EP called Mother under exclusive license to the storied Sun Records.

As you might imagine, the mini-album’s title is reflective of Ward’s introduction to parenting, and the challenging 24/7 commitment it presents.

“When I first became a mom, I was totally overwhelmed,” she shares by phone, as her tour bus rolls toward Missoula, Montana. “I was like, ‘Whoa! This is crazy! The life I knew before having my son was gone.”

Ward, who brings her Dirty Sun tour to the Belly Up in Solana Beach on Nov. 22, is quick to add that the journey has also been transformative. “I love being a mom. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life without question. But, when we’re talking about the blues, that’s that safe space where I get to talk about the struggle that I’m feeling.”

The 38-year-old LA-based artist found herself at a crossroads in 2021, when she split with Hollywood Records after a decade, during which she released two studio albums and three EPs.

“It was a pivotal time for me where it was like, ‘How do I keep my music going?’ I really felt like that safety net of having a major label wasn’t there anymore, and I was scared,” she reflects. “I was like, ‘I love music and want to keep going, but I don’t know how to do this.’”

With her husband and longtime collaborator, GRAMMY-winning producer Evan Kidd Bogart, by her side, Ward took a leap of faith. “We’re just going to go for it,” she says, recalling when they decided to launch their own label. “We’re going to put out music that we’ve always wanted to put out, I’m going to go on the road, and I’m going to make these music videos to go alongside the songs. It became an empowering part of my career.”

In late 2023, Ward released her first full-length on Dirty Shine Records, a 14-song album aptly named Dirty Shine. Critically acclaimed, the album deftly blended blues-rock and hip-hop, and featured collaborations with Aloe Blacc, Vic Mensa, and Jean Deaux. Ward also worked with talented guitarist Ryan Spraker to co-write the catchy song “Friends Like These.”

“When I talked to him in the studio during that session, I realized he has a very deep knowledge of the blues and soul music,” Ward says of Spraker. “I never forgot that. So, I told him I really feel like you’re the person who can help me create this new album, and we started writing the songs and recording (Mother).”

The new Spraker-produced EP, a return to Ward’s bluesy roots, begins with the raw honesty of “Mother,” in which she sings, If you think you might break/Then you can relate to the brand new mother in me. She also puts a new spin on two of her beloved songs — “Put the Gun Down” and “Lil Darlin,” both from her 2012 debut Til the Casket Drops — and pays homage to three of her favorite Sun Records hits, including Elvis Presley’s “My Baby Left Me.”

Ward shares that the partnership with Sun Records felt serendipitous. “I grew up going to thrift stores with my dad and him showing me the Sun label on vinyls and telling me all about Sun Records. So, (when they called to express interest), it was a no-brainer.”

The second leg of Ward’s Dirty Sun tour will continue until April 2025, but that’s not the big news she unveils on our call. “I’m putting out an album next year,” she reveals. “I’m really excited. I’m just in love with this new album. I’m so proud of it and I can’t wait for people to hear it.”

Acknowledging that this is the first time she has talked about this with media, Ward adds that it will be a blues and soul album slated for release in March, and that she’ll play a couple of new tunes to appear on the forthcoming album at her live shows.

“I love the music I’m making right now,” she says. “It just feels like home for me. I finally have the freedom to create the music that I really love and want to make.”

Donovan Roche, a San Diego-based writer and editor, has covered the music, entertainment and arts scene for more than 30 years. Send your story ideas to droche617@gmail.com.