Tim Ward, Jr., a Philadelphia, PA, based singer/songwriter and guitarist, spent several years playing in a local rock cover band where he was able to further hone his skills as a musician and vocalist. Since 2017, he has been a regular in Philly’s open mic and small venue scenes. For his first solo EP Ways Forward Ward enlisted a full band backing of musicians and friends to help him enrich his sound. The musicians backing him include Genevieve Green (piano/backing vocals), Tim Lulorfs (bass/backing vocals), David Olimpio (keys), Thomas LaForgia (cello) and Shane Woods (drums/percussion). There is a whole lot to experience in this six-track EP collection from indie folk, pop rock and a touch of spirituality. This emotional EP is filled with stories from Ward’s personal life and you will definitely see some very familiar stories as these tales intersect with yours. Ways Forward will not only have you reminiscing but also rocking along to these pensive yet resonating melodies.
Ways Forward opens up to “Wanderer’s Hymn,” where simple acoustic guitar and Ward’s vocals start us off. The layers of guitars and vocals come in feeling very intrinsic. Slowly as some percussive beats arrive, the music then opens up and becomes more expansive. The vibe feels very folksy in vein. The cello provides a moody underpinning layer. Sure enough more acoustic guitar renderings come in on “Just Enough.” The sole sound of Ward’s vocals are also highlighted here. Next, a full band backing points to a fuller embodied sound. As the drums and piano come through, the sound becomes more sweeping and expansive. Feeling very pop rock in vernacular, this was another crowd-pleasing number. The electric guitar solo on this piece was another rousing highlight. Chord progressions on the acoustic guitar makes for a dynamic sound on the start of “Release, Relief (Into The Blue).” As the sound of electric guitar weaves in, the sound grows fuller. Once Ward’s vocals came in, this felt more like some straightforward rock. There was a grittiness to his vocals that pointed in this direction. I enjoyed the energy on this track. Next, a sauntering groove arrives on “On Down The Road.” The laid-back feel to the music points to a very easy-going sound. There was a hint of nostalgia to this song as Ward reminisces on the past and sings with feeling about the future. This felt like a heartfelt number. On “Anatomy,” a moody piano piece opens up this track. I got Tim Burton soundtrack vibes right away from the piano melody. Lastly, a more folk country tune enters on “I’m On My Way.” The music once again has a sauntering slant to it. There was a jauntiness to the tune that would make it great to get moving to. Ward hints at more to come with this hopeful closer. Ward invites us to listen to Ways Forward, a collection that takes us on a journey through the mind of an artist, musician and poet. You can tell Ward is an artist that pays particular attention to song craft as these tracks feel like a lot of thought, care and attention were behind these renderings. There is no extra fat, just the bare bones of the production hitting you straight heart and soul. This EP proved to be a great start from the artist and I look forward to seeing how he continues to evolve his sound in a follow-up release in the not-so-distant future.
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