One of the artists I’m most excited to see today is M. Ward. He’s playing later this afternoon at the Outdoor Theatre and I think it will be clap clap awesome.
Here’s my story that ran in today’s Guide about Ward, who has logged time in Perris and Temecula.
M. Ward believes there’s a tie between music, spirituality and inspiration.
Ward, who goes by “Matt” when he’s on stage, will bring his mix of indie rock, folk, pop and alt-country today to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio.
Musical connections happen all the time, Ward says, usually coming from older music.
Those warm vintage sounds strike a chord with Ward, who makes records that have a timeless quality.
“The process is pretty mysterious to me. I don’t exactly understand how the songs or the records really come to be. I take educated guesses,” Ward said from his home in Portland, Ore.
His theory is that the music comes to him from every record he has loved since before he could remember. Ward likes that he can’t put his finger on exactly where a specific song came from. The pieces come from tapes he’s made over the years, which he likens to journaling.
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Growing up influenced by classical music, gospel, Johnny Cash and the Beatles, Ward started making his own tapes at age 15.
The first song he learned to play was by the Beatles and he would cross out the title in his Beatles’ chord book after each one he learned.
“That set me off in a good direction, I think,” he said.
One of Ward’s goals for Coachella is to try to meet Paul McCartney. He’s also excited to be on the same stage as Leonard Cohen.
Ward says he’s looking forward to the festival so he can visit one of his favorite places, Joshua Tree National Park.
Ward received critical acclaim for his album “Post-War” in 2006 and followed that up with another well-received project of covers and originals called “She & Him,” with actress Zooey Deschanel in 2008.
Ward’s newest album is “Hold Time,” which came out earlier this year. He collaborated with Tom Hagerman of DeVotchka, Jason Lytle, Lucinda Williams and Deschanel.
“It was just a fantasy. I started hearing her voice when I was in the studio,” Ward said about Williams.
He asked her to collaborate and she said yes.
The album combines many textures to achieve its Americana, timeless sound. Ward is pleased with the final result.
“I’m proud of these records I’ve made and I’m proud of the progression that they’re making, or the evolution, whichever way you want to see it,” Ward said. “Whatever it is, I’m proud of the product.”
Reach Vanessa Franko at 951-368-9575, vfranko@PE.com, www.myspace.com/Audio_File or PE.com/blogs/music
M. WARD
From: Portland, Ore.
Debut: 1999
Genre: Indie rock, folk, alt-country
Required Listening: “Hold Time,” “Transistor Radio”
On the Web: www.mwardmusic.com
Sample the music: www.myspace.com/mward
See it live at Coachella: 4:55 p.m. today, outdoor stage