Alternative blues artist ZZ Ward, is gearing up to perform at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood on Saturday, November 4th. ZZ is fresh off the release of her new album ‘Dirty Shine,’ which marked her first album and tour as both a mother and an independent artist.
An edgy, blues-inspired artist who infuses the genre with hip-hop, pop, R&B, neo-soul, and rock, ZZ started singing the blues at the age of 8, inspired by her father’s record collection. At 16, seeing the similarities between blues and hip-hop, she ventured out to the clubs in her hometown of Eugene and began singing and performing with acts around town. She busked, booked her own tours, and sold demos in parking lots, sleeping on an air mattress in her brother’s place and hustling for shows. It wasn’t long before she became a buzzed-about artist, earning a record deal with Hollywood Records. She quickly broke into Billboard’s Top 40 with her debut release, and her sophomore album peaked at #1 on the Billboard Blues chart, highlighted by singles featuring GRAMMY-Award winners Fantastic Negrito and Gary Clark Jr.
Now, ZZ is welcoming a creative and career rebirth as an independent artist. Her new album ‘Dirty Shine’ is spilling over with bold electronic textures, rugged hip-hop beats, acoustic Delta blues riffs, and sensual R&B vocals. She’s also a label owner, video director, and even a hat maker now, personally handcrafting signature fedoras in her kitchen, creating a direct connection with her fans who can purchase them through her website. This new chapter has also become a family affair. Her brother Adam is helping bring ZZ’s high-concept, action-packed cinematic fantasies to life through ambitious mini-movies for her songs. Her husband, GRAMMY-winning songwriter Evan Kidd Bogart, is also serving as her label partner and manager. Removing the influence of big corporations has brought ZZ closer to her fan community, engaging with them directly every morning. With the recent addition of their firstborn, this time of creativity and personal growth is especially meaningful for ZZ.
