Jim Ward of At The Drive In, Sparta and Sleepercar fame has got a new solo album out, although as he explains to Tone Deaf’s Anaya Latter, the material itself was recorded over four or five years.
He describes his song writing, “a lot of its fiction, you know,” informed by his day to day surroundings. “It’s pretty much day to day living I keep somewhat of a journal if something pops in my head I’ll track down an idea and expand on that,” he says.
Having had such distinct sounds and band experiences under his belt, Ward reflects on the culmination of his career to date: “I think the whole thing is a journey so of course all of my experiences have led to this, but I don’t think this is by any means the end, it’s just one of the stops on the journey. I don’t think I’ll be making records like this forever, I think I’ll make lots of different things, I hope I do, that’s my plan.”
Ward has a philosophical streak, espousing “everything kinda leads to where you’re at that day – you know? I don’t have any way of knowing where that’s going to take me, I mean you can look backwards and see how you get somewhere. But I think that everything is sort of because of everything, if that makes sense?” In fact, it does make sense when you listen to his new release Quiet in The Valley, On The Shores The End Begins where Ward expresses himself in an intimate and explorative way.
When it comes to the recording process, Ward reveals [he has] “four years of evolution captured on this record, capped off with this 6 song electric EP which is sort of like me just saying you know, when you go out there, you never know what it’s going to be, it could be electric.”
Originally recorded at home in his private studio, the project was eventually moved to a much bigger studio space “But it’s still like my home,” he says. “It’s not at my house but that’s where I am right now, part of my day is being at the studio. It’s super comfortable that’s the best thing there’s a big container with all my stuff in it and see what I’m looking for and chip away at songs, and you know, watch a movie if I want to, because I’m not on the clock.”
“I started making this record when I was in Sparta, like on the Sparta tour and then I took a little hiatus from Sparta and I did some Sleepercar touring and built a bar in El Paso, that I own, just kind of did some other stuff.”
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Ward has other artists contribute to tracks on the record, explaining that this can be an exciting aspect of solo work. “Doing a solo record leaves a big door open for your friends to come and contribute on. Theres not so many voices and so many opinions in the room saying what should happen. There’s a lot more room for input because there isn’t a band, you know, …which I like sometimes, and I then I also other times really don’t, so that’s why I flip between both worlds quite often.
Ward will be touring the solo album from the 10th – 13th of August in Australia, then tour through the US for a couple of months, with Europe in his sights after that. He adds that they are doing the new Sleepercar record which should be complete by the end of the year.
Ward reveals he has a fascination with travel, “I’m reading a book on this British explorer obsessed with the Amazon, finding the city of Z. I think when I was a kid I had a real wanderlust, I think that’s why I started playing in bands and touring since I was 18. Because I wanna go all the time, and I wanna see new stuff.”
It will come as no surprise that Ward loves a diverse range of music – John Lennon and The Beatles, Fugazi, Elliots Smith. He reveals he regrets never meeting the troubled artist. “I’m a huge Elliott Smith fan. I never got to meet Elliot Smith, … I really wish I had, to be honest.”
His confession comes a little later. “I love Billy Joel, people make fun of me for that all the time. But I think Billy Joel’s songwriting – he’s like one of the best American storytellers. If you listen to ‘Scenes from an Italian Restaurant’ such a genius song, but people always think of these Christie Brinkley videos and shit.”
Jim Ward’s instrument of delight, is unsurprisingly, the guitar. “My main thing is the guitar, I love all the other ones, but they’re kinda like mistresses I get bored of them after a while. I always go back to the main girl.”
Reflecting on Quiet in The Valley, On The Shores The End Begins, Ward says “I hope people check it out. It’s a different thing for me. Everyone who’s been responding to it – it means the world to me. I’m real grateful for the career that I’ve had and the people that I’ve found that surround me. It’s not lost on me, I truly am very happy and respectful of what I have.”
WED 10 AUG – ANNANDALE HOTEL, SYDNEY
With Isaac Graham
Tickets available from www.annandalehotel.com, 02 9550 1078 or in person at the venue over the bar (17 Parramatta Rd, Annandale)
FRI 12 AUG – EAST BRUNSWICK CLUB, MELBOURNE
With Jamie Hay
Tickets available from www.eastbrunswickclub.com, 03 9388 9794 or in person via Corner Box Office (57 Swan St, Richmond)
SAT 13 AUG – ALHAMBRA LOUNGE, BRISBANE
With Jud Campbell
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545
