Interview: Jim Ward
on August 3rd, 2011Jim Ward is just about to return to Australia to plug his freshly released debut solo album ‘Quiet In The Valley, On The Shores The End Begins‘ via Stop Start / EMI. On Wednesday 10th August you can catch him at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney, Friday 12th at East Brunswick Club in Melbourne and Saturday 13th at Alhambra Lounge in Brisbane. You can still grab a ticket if you’ve been slow at picking one up. James Green had a quick catch up with Jim before he heads our way. Don’t forget we’re currently running a competition to win tickets and copies of the new album, head [Here] if you are yet to check that out. Click below to expand this post and read the interview.
Where abouts are you calling from?
I’m in El Paso at the moment, home for bit. The next thing I have is Australia.
Nice. You’ve just released your debut solo album, how long has the album been in the works for?
For about five years or so. It’s a trilogy of EP’s, so each EP has come out a couple of years after the last one, but I started about five years ago.
What’s the idea behind using three EP’s to make the album?
You know, I wanted to make things over the years, sort of free of a band, or a label, or outside influence, and just kind of work on songwriting, and then when I was done with it I wanted to put it all out at once. When it was finished, I looked at all fourteen songs, and decided I wanted to make at least six of them electric, so I did that, so there’s a bonus disc. So there’s six songs electric, because I do both, I play by myself, like I will on this tour, and I also play with a band, so the songs change per tour. Sometimes it’s me and a guitar, sometimes it’s me and a band, sometimes it’s me, a guitar and a member of the band, so it just changes all the time.
How did the collaboration with Tegan Quin come about?
She’s a friend of mine, and I wrote this song, and we had a conversation. We have the same birthday, not the same year, but the same date, and we were talking about the similarities in our personality. So I wrote to her and asked if she wanted to sing on the song, and she sent back the most beautiful version, so I owe her a tonne. She just did it because she liked the song, and that means the most to me.
What was the inspiration behind the more alt-country and acoustic approach you’ve taken with your solo material and Sleepercar?
Essentially it was just to get away from the big rock thing that I’ve been doing for a long time. Not that I don’t still love that, and go back to that, but there was a kind of need. I started touring when I was 18, and I started making this record when I was 29, so there’s eleven years of basically playing in these well-rehearsed machines of bands, you know, and I wanted to do something different and challenge myself to see if I could write songs like those and actually like them. Of course, anyone can write them, but can you write them and still enjoy them and want to play them. So, I felt like it was a good step, and the second I started making the second EP, I knew it was going to be three, and however long it took I was going to make something I was really proud of.
Is it just a case of mellowing out as you get older?
Oh yeah, for sure, that’s always a part. I think that’s just a part of life, you chill out after a while, maybe have a few less crazy nights, ready to do something a little different.
Do you think you’ll ever return to a more aggressive rock sound?
Oh I definitely think so, yeah. I think it’s definitely on the horizon.
Is there another Sleepercar album in the works?
Yeah, there is, hopefully it’ll be done by the end of the year, and I want to have it out in March next year. Some of the guys in Sleepercar also tour with me with my solo project, so we’ll continue to work on ideas. Gabe is with me, and he is the one who always makes the records, and essentially he and I are always together, musically. So our goal is the end of the year, we’ll see how much this touring takes out of us, but that’s the plan.
How different an experience is going on stage solo as opposed to with a band?
It’s very different, one tests your nerves like nothing else, there’s nothing to fall back on. There’s nobody that’s going to cover up for your fuck up, and you just kind of go with it. But also the flipside of that is that in between songs you get to say what a song is about, or you get to talk to a kid in the front row about something they said. It so much easier to control the tempo of the show when it’s just you.
And it’s more intimate as well, obviously.
Oh totally, and I like the fact that, well I actually didn’t really have an option, I couldn’t sell out 1000 seat theatres, but I really like playing small places, because for me, it’s a chance to see people that I normally wouldn’t, you know what I mean? There’s less time in the dressing room, more time at the bar, talking and hanging out with people. Then when you get up and play for them you get to thank them for coming and spending their hard earned money to see you play your songs, I will never get over what a compliment that is; that someone would take their money and pay you to play your songs, you know (laughs). It seems crazy to me. It’s a huge compliment, and to have a chance to hang out with people, I like that stuff you know. When it’s Sparta, sometimes it’s a little too crazy to spend too much time out there and stuff, with this stuff it’s easier, and I can control the environment. If someone’s being weird then I can just excuse myself and go somewhere else, or whatever. But it’s a great feeling.
I remember on your last tour down here you brought One Small Step For Landmines, are you planning on bringing anyone else with you this time around?
I’m not actually. I let the label pick who should play in each city, I figure they know better than I do, I’m excited. I listened to pretty much everyone they suggested, but in the end I just said “do what you think is right”. I think that if you know your local scene, and you’re in touch with it, then you should be able to put together a cool show. I trust them, and I hope it goes well
You’ll be visiting us soon, obviously you’ll be playing your solo material, but will we also hear Sleepercar and Sparta material?
Oh, for sure, yeah.
Well that just about wraps it up, anything you’d like to add?
No not really, I’m just stoked to come. I’m always happy to come to Australia. I’m just glad you guys keep having me. I’ll see you all soon.
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Stop Start, Street Press Australia and Bombshellzine.com Present…
JIM WARD
Tickets on sale Now
WED 10 AUG – ANNANDALE HOTEL, SYDNEY
Supported By Isaac Graham
Tickets available from www.annandalehotel.com, 02 9550 1078 or in person at the venue over the bar (17 Parramatta Rd, Annandale)
FRI 12 AUG – EAST BRUNSWICK CLUB, MELBOURNE
Supported By Jamie Hay
Tickets available from www.eastbrunswickclub.com, 03 9388 9794 or in person via Corner Box Office (57 Swan St, Richmond)
SAT 13 AUG – ALHAMBRA LOUNGE, BRISBANE
Supported By Jud Campbell
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545
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