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United States ZZ Ward is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for blending blues grit with hip-hop influences, establishing an authentic voice in contemporary music.
ZZ Ward signed with E. Kidd Bogart's Boardwalk Entertainment Group after moving to Los Angeles, leading to her first recordings.
ZZ Ward signed with Hollywood Records to release her debut EP, 'Criminal,' and subsequent albums including 'Til the Casket Drops' and 'The Storm.' She later parted ways with the label.
ZZ Ward partnered with Smule as a new partner artist, indicating collaborations or featured content on their platform.
ZZ Ward collaborated with Gary Clark Jr. on the song 'Ride' for the soundtrack of the Pixar film 'Cars 3.'
In 2021, ZZ Ward became an independent artist and funded her own record label, Dirty Shine Records, named after her fanbase 'Dirty Shine Fam.' This label released her album 'Dirty Shine.'
On May 20, 2024, ZZ Ward announced that she had signed with Sun Records. Her first releases with them included the EPs 'Mother' and 'Where Did All the Love Go?', and the album 'Liberation.'
Zsuzsanna Eva Ward, born on June 2, 1986, in Abington, Pennsylvania, later grew up in Roseburg, Oregon. Her musical journey began at age 12, joining her father’s band and finding early inspiration in blues artists like Howlin’ Wolf, Robert Johnson, and Big Mama Thornton. She also developed an interest in hip-hop, which would later define her unique sound. This dual influence of blues and hip-hop became a cornerstone of her artistic identity.
Ward moved to Los Angeles, signing with Boardwalk Entertainment Group and eventually Hollywood Records. Her debut EP, “Criminal,” was released in 2012, alongside a mixtape titled “Eleven Roses,” featuring her interpretations of tracks by hip-hop artists like Kendrick Lamar and Wiz Khalifa. This period culminated in her debut studio album, “Til the Casket Drops,” released in October 2012, which included singles “Put the Gun Down” and “365 Days.” The album also featured collaborations with artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Fitz of Fitz and the Tantrums. Her early career saw her performing on national television shows, including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Conan,” and gaining recognition from publications like The New York Times, which compared her energy to Tina Turner’s and her chops to Aretha Franklin’s.
Her career continued with the release of her second EP, “Love and War,” in 2015, and the studio album, “The Storm,” in 2017. “The Storm” reached number 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart, showcasing her continued success and evolving sound, which remained rooted in blues and R&B elements. In 2021, Ward transitioned to an independent artist, founding her own label, Dirty Shine Records. This move led to the critically acclaimed independent album “Dirty Shine” in 2023. She expanded her discography further by signing with Sun Records in 2024, releasing the EPs “Where Did All the Love Go?” and “Mother,” and the album “Liberation” in 2025. “Liberation” achieved critical acclaim and charted on the Billboard Blues Album Chart, marking her continued presence and impact in the music industry.
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