photos by Jim Bennett
SXSW is one of the music industry’s biggest events. It’s a week of performances and networking for everyone, from bands struggling to get their big break, to big-name veteran acts like M. Ward.
M. Ward (Matt Ward) is well known for his dreamy, old-fashioned folk music, but he is much more than a singer-songwriter; he’s also a big collaborator. Along with writing and recording his own music, M. Ward has collaborated with big acts like Bright Eyes, Jenny Lewis My Morning Jacket and Cat Power. Ward is also one half of She & Him, a project with actress Zooey Deschanel that achieved rapid success in 2008.
Ward began his career in Portland, OR, and started turning heads in 2001, with his release of End of Amnesia. He became better known on a national level when his 2006 release, Post-War, was featured in a Vanity Fair article speculating about what would happen after the Iraq war was over.
Ward’s latest album, Hold Time, was released to critical acclaim on February 17th on Merge Records. He has been touring with California’s Port O’Brien to promote the new album, and will be playing at Coachella in April.
