Music is more than just a source of income for the prolific folk artist M. Ward; it is his way of coping with the stresses of life, such as global turmoil, inclement weather and growing older.
“Everyone has their own way of processing bad news or disaster. What works for myself is work and I am lucky to say that [my job] is working with songs and musical ideas. I think my last few records were revolving around that idea of putting things in perspective.”
Ward is based in Portland, Oregon, a city that has become a beacon for progressive and creative thinkers over the past few decades.
For Ward, the city’s popularity has been a mixed blessing. “It seems to me that the population has doubled since the time I have been here. I moved here in 2001 or 2000. I can’t say [the population rise] is a really good thing for the city but it’s bringing in new ideas which is always exciting.”
Portland has been immortalised in the TV series ‘Portlandia’, but Ward doesn’t think that is a true reflection of the place. “This city is not really about what’s happening on TV shows. It’s about dealing with your environment and the people and it’s dealing with three seasons of rain each year. That’s the Portland that I live in.”
A population faced with such a dismal climate needs to develop methods of adapting. “I think most people deal with it by having copious amounts of coffee. I don’t drink much coffee, so when it’s rainy out I see that as a perfect opportunity to stay indoors and work on music.”
Given this attitude, it is no surprise that his latest album is called ‘More Rain’. The first single, ‘Girl From Canejo Valley’, reflects upon his youth spent in the sunnier climes of California. “Sometimes I think looking back on the place that you grew up is a little bit like looking at puzzle pieces and trying to find how they all fit together.
“This [song] is like three or four big pieces that I am still trying to make fit. Music for me can help rationalise that gap between who you were and who you are.”
‘More Rain’ features an array of famous collaborators, including Peter Buck from R.E.M, k.d. lang and Neko Case. Ward, who has teamed with Zooey Deschanel and Conor Oberst in the past, loves working with other musicians. “One of my favourite things is to bring a talented person into the studio and play them songs without them knowing anything about the song or the production or the music and pressing record and seeing what happens. Normally something interesting and surprising happens.”
Plenty of songs transformed because of the input of collaborators during the latest recording sessions. “The first song that we recorded for the record was called ‘Little Baby’ and we brought in k.d. lang for that.
“It was my first time working with her in the studio and she has an incredible understanding of vocal voicings and harmony. She came into the studio and took every harmony that I had and turned it into this very rich, perfect chord.
“The last song we recorded for the record was ‘Time Won’t Wait’, which was the one that Neko Case came in on and she brings this very raw power to the record, which is very hard to describe but she does something that only she can do.”
'More Rain' is out now. M. Ward hopes to return to Australia either this year or early next year.
