ZZ Ward

Playing a raw, powerful blend of blues and hip-hop, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist ZZ Ward takes the tropes of roots music and gives them a makeover with an edgy, up-to-date attitude. With a tough, flexible voice that boasts plenty of swagger, her music leans to the rock-oriented side of contemporary blues, but her production choices and arrangements are informed by hip-hop and contemporary R&B, and the mix gives her a style that sets her apart from her peers. Ward's eclectic sound found a significant audience with her first full-length album, 2012's Til the Casket Drops, while 2017's The Storm toned down the hip-hop feel and turned up the R&B. She took full control of her music with 2023's Dirty Shine, released on her own label, and she teamed with one of America's most fabled roots music imprints for 2025's Liberation.