About this episode
ZZ Ward effortlessly fuses elements of modern roots-rock, hip-hop, and throwback soul. She is our guest on Season Two, Episode Seven of “Load-In Through the Back.” As a member of the esteemed ‘00s-’10s Hollywood Records artist roster, ZZ appeared on Late Night with Jay Leno, VH1 Morning Buzz, Good Morning America, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson! She has written, recorded, and released collaborations with Aloe Blacc, Kendrick Lamar, Gary Clark Jr., Tyler the Creator, Asher Roth, Fitz and the Tantrums, Childish Gambino, and many more. In this interview we discuss how a great song is “un-f**k-withable,” the dangers of relying on backing tracks, the challenges and rewards of releasing music independently, and how the TikTok generation accesses and engages with artists of non-traditional genres or styles. Follow ZZ Ward on social media, @ZZWard, and check out her official website, ZZWard.com, for tour dates, merchandise, and streaming links. The newest single “Love Alive” was released on January 17th, 2025, and the upcoming album “Liberation” will be available March 14th via Sun Records. The “Dirty Sun” Tour begins March 12th at City Winery in Boston, MA. Tickets are on sale now. We are @LoadInPodcast on Instagram, X (Twitter), and Threads, or “Load-In Through the Back Podcast” on Facebook. Finally, our official website, LoadInPodcast.com, has everything you need and more. Send us a note!