“BACKWARD, it’s kind of like me analysing everything that may be holding me back from the growth I need”
With his upcoming gig on 8 April 2026 at The Art School, Jordan Ward took the time out of his fully stacked tour to speak with The Glasgow Guardian.
Mid taxi journey pulling up to his Toronto Venue, the Missouri artist was incredibly candid, the authentic nature that is seen through his music is true to life. With the release of his newest album BACKWARD I asked Ward about the inspiration, he explained:
“My albums and my music is very often inspired by my real life and especially with this album I just wanted to reflect and express thoughts that I had coming into this new chapter of my life. I turned thirty while making the album, so I’m just trying to process my life, the good things, my mistakes.”
The album is a collection of change, a strong sense of meditation and personal discovery such as his song STRANGER about reflecting on who you are, in your life.
Moving to Los Angeles at 18, I spoke to Ward about the difficulties that must have occurred following a big change at an incredibly young and impressionable age. He spoke about his consideration of this through his music, stating:
“One big thing that I talk about on the album is managing money, you know in songs like CHAMPION SOUND and CHANGE OF SCENERY I talk about, you know, just trying to manage the money that you have, other times trying to stay afloat. That has an effect on your inspiration as an artist.”
Ward’s previous album released in 2023 was titled FORWARD and we spoke about the artistic choice behind the order of these releases.
“The day we came up with the FORWARD title, we came up with the BACKWARD title. It was intentional but it was also just organic.”
“I think just in general, there is duality to everything. There’s not always forward progression […] there’s periods of doubt, there’s periods of trouble”
Ward used the release of BACKWARDS as an opportunity to let go of these mistakes from his past:
“On certain songs I talk about the mistake of holding on to the past and not letting go with issues you’ve got […] with the album being titled BACKWARD it’s kind of like me analysing everything that may be holding me back from the growth I need.”
Before progressing into the music field, Ward was a professional dancer, performing with artists such as Justin Bieber and Beyonce:
“I did one gig with her [Beyonce]! Coachella performance in 2018 and that was super dope […] I don’t even know if I could say it was a dream come true, because I didn’t think I would ever dance with Beyonce.”
We spoke about the transition from dancing with the artists, to becoming the artist himself. However, it wasn’t a natural trajectory from dancer to musician. Ward explained he originally wanted to be a musician but was entranced by the art of dance:
“I fell in love with the craft of dance, and that maybe even turned into a disdain for wanting to be an artist because I just had so much respect for being a commercial dancer. And I still do.”
He explained on music:
“It was honestly something that I came back to, when I was a kid I don’t even remember a time as a kid where I didn’t want to be Usher or Lil’ Bow Wow”
Since this dream of being Usher, he has now danced with him and is working on his own career as an R&B singer.
Rounding off our conversation we discussed his show in Glasgow, although it isn’t his debut:
“I went to Glasgow for the first time, dancing for Bieber in like 2016”
On his return, he will perform his Apartment Tour promising a show full of heart only asking the people of Glasgow to:
“Just come and bring some friends and bring some excitement”
Afterward is the title given to Ward after party (a play on words I don’t share my appreciation of) and is promised in Glasgow on the condition “if we sell the show out, then we’ll consider doing an afterparty”
I don’t think Afterward is something Glasgow wants to miss.
Imagine Credit: Jordan Ward
