M. Ward declares 'Post-War'
M. Ward doesn’t want people to take the title of his new album “Post-War” (Merge) too literally. The singer-songwriter from Portland, Ore., isn’t calling for an end to the war in Iraq and he isn’t reliving the days after World War II, though there are moments on the album that could refer to either or both.
“I’ve never had a great, burning desire to use music to get things off my chest,” said Ward, calling from a tour stop in Omaha, Neb. “That’s not very interesting to me. I just want to create something that’s good.” [More...]
PHOTO: M. Ward by De Wilde / Merge Records
Video for "Chinese Translation" on the jump
The title, Ward said, is a theme he uses to sort through the thousands of songs and snippets of songs he has written over the years in his bedroom studio.
"My process is a little bit weird," he said. "Every record is a means to organize all these four-track recordings. I've been making them since I was 15, so now there are so many it's overwhelming. The four-track tapes are a way of following your instincts. There's no pressure at all when you're pressing record in your bedroom. I can free associate. It's a way to get my ideas down in a very unself-conscious way."
When he starts preparing for a new album, Ward says, he goes through his tapes and tries to string various songs together in a way that makes some sort of sense to him. "That's why the titles of the records are sort of vague," he said. "I want them to be more open-ended than, say, 'Snakes on a Plane.' If you name something that, you kind of know what you're getting into."
The songs on "Post-War" do fit together, both lyrically and in their sound, an indie-folk rock hybrid that continues to draw comparisons with Bob Dylan and John Fahey. Some songs were written seven years ago; others are more recent.
"So many of the songs are inspired by the headlines," Ward said. "But I am more interested in human interest stories, stories of individuals, as opposed to my reactions to the White House.... I'm more interested in these human interest stories because I feel there's more of a place for them in my music."
On the album's first single, "Chinese Translation," Ward tries to tie together generations and cultures by showing that life's questions don't change that much. He asks: "What do you do with the pieces of a broken heart?" and "How can a man like me remain in the light?" and "If life is really as short as they say, then why is the night so long?"
"So much of the process is just beyond me," Ward said. "Why am I saying this? Why am I drawn to these subjects? It's really hard for me to say. I think part of it is the invention of my left brain to create a safe place to create - and to escape the headlines. Everyone needs that."
WHEN & WHERE: M. Ward plays Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St., Manhattan, 212-353-1600, at 8 tonight. Tickets are $20 through Ticketweb, 866-468-7619.
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