ZZ Ward kicks off the Hermosa Beach Summer Concerts tonight
ZZ Ward performs on the beach south of the Hermosa Pier, and globally, Sunday night.
ZZ Ward kicks off both the Hermosa Beach Summer Concert Series and IROCKE’s Forever Festival this Sunday night, from south of the Hermosa Pier to all over the world. Her debut blues-driven album, “Till the Casket Drops”, not only proved a musical force to be reckoned with, but has earned her an impeccable reputation as a luminous up-and-coming artist. Her album is chock full of collaborations with music bigs like Kendrick Lamar, Freddie Gibbs, and Michael Fitzpatrick from Fitz & the Tantrums. In the midst of her nation-wide tour, ZZ Ward took some time to sit down and talk with music writer Alex Khatchadourian.
Alex Khatchadourian: How do you stay sane while touring around the country?
ZZ Ward: It’s a crazy lifestyle that’s for sure. I recently got a dog, who comes with me on tour and keeps me sane. She’s the happiest dog in the world. Every morning that we get up she’s just so excited and full of energy. She loves to travel and is always moving around. The second we finally get home, she’s ready to leave again.
AK: What’s one of the important things you’ve learned since being on the road for so long?
ZZ: Since I’ve bee touring around so much in the past year, you kind of learn what things make you feel more comfortable on the road and what is too much. It takes a lot to get to that place, though. When I first started, I said yes to everything, this event that show, now I know when I need a break and when I can keep going.
AK: The concert on the beach is live streaming this year. Have you ever live streamed one of your shows before?
ZZ: Yeah, we have. It’s a great way for my fans, who maybe are going to miss the show, or fans that are on the opposite side of the country, they can actually still watch me perform and not miss a thing.
AK: What’s your favorite part of performing live?
ZZ: Hanging out with my fans. The more that I tour the more that people really get into it. I mean, it’s pretty fun being up there. We all push each other on stage and then we push the crowd, and they get super into it. It’s something really special when you can feel out the crowd and realize they feel just as good as you do up there.
AK: You travel a lot and are always on the road. How do you think your travels affect your music?
ZZ: I think a big influence on my future writing is my touring life. I mean it’s impossible for all the travelling not to affect the way I write in the future. My last record was all about what was going on in my life at the time, and now, my life has changed. I’ve been on the road for the past year and will be until the fall and I’ll probably write about some of the things that have gone on while on the road.
I don’t usually write on the road. It’s a balance. I can write anywhere I am. It doesn’t matter what state or country I’m in, a junkie hotel or otherwise. I just have to make time to actually sit down and take the time write, because there’s so many things going on while on tour, that sometimes I don’t make the time for myself like I should.