Conversation With Up and Coming Multi Talented Artist Jake Ward

Jake Ward, a longtime singer-songwriter, producer, performer, and multi-instrumentalist with years of experience writing original songs, performing, and contributing to a plethora of musical projects, this week officially released his first solo musical project, Sound With Intention, a 5-track E.P on Soundcloud produced entirely by himself and Nick Loiacono at Fang Studios in San Mateo.

We got an opportunity to interview him for our magazine.

Twist Online : First of all tell us about the start of your music career
JAKE WARD : My music career in one sense is starting with the release of this EP, but in another sense it’s been going on since I was a tiny kid banging on pots and pans and making impromptu songs about my favorite Winnie the Pooh characters. To me the main thing in being a musician is just finding that passion, and honestly I’ve always had it. It’s just been a 20 year process of growing and refining my craft in pursuit of being the very best musician I can be.

Twist Online : You started in a very young age. Who or what inspired you to get into music industry?
JAKE WARD : Until I was 13 I just loved learning to play and rocking out to my favorite songs. That changed for me when I hit 13 and started listening to the Goo Goo Dolls. I had tried writing some songs before and had a little experience recording, but something in their music really inspired me and drove me to become a writer and artist. I realized pretty quickly after this that I wanted to pursue a real-life career as a musician, and that’s the trajectory I’m still on today.

Twist Online : Any reasons for leaving Skypark and starting solo?
JAKE WARD : Skypark was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever been a part of, and standing onstage with 4 of your best friends going crazy and playing heavy music in front of a crowd of people going even crazier is hard to put in words. I think the reason I ultimately left is simply because I have something of my own I need to share with the world, and I couldn’t do it as the guitarist of a metal band. I’m still on good terms with the rest of the guys, and I’ve even been to one of their recent local shows and I think their music and careers are doing as well as ever. They too have something important they want to get out there, and I think it’s awesome that we still get to support each other in the process.

Twist Online : Tell us about your recent release debut solo EP ‘Sound With Intention’?
JAKE WARD : Sound With Intention is a collection of 5 songs that I’d written and recorded over the course of last 2-3 years of my life. I recorded the final mixes at Fang Studios in San Mateo, CA with Nick Loiacono, who is actually the same producer that mixed the Skypark debut EP “Ignite.” It’s my first totally solo release, and it marks what I would call my first draft of explaining who I am on the inside and what I want to say to the world. There will be many more I’m sure.

Twist Online : What kind of response it has received so far?
JAKE WARD : The response has been really, really positive so far. I have talked to a number of people who have reached out to tell me how much they like what I’m doing, and I try to respond to everybody as much as I can. The view counts and downloads continue to add up, but I’m always looking for ways to share my music with more people.

Twist Online : What’s your favorite music genre?
JAKE WARD : I like honest music. If a song is engaging and written by someone in the precise way they hear it in their head, it doesn’t matter what genre it is. But also it seems there is a pretty big majority of 2000’s pop rock in my playlists 🙂

Twist Online : Have you set some goals to achieve as a music artist?
JAKE WARD : This year, I have two big ones: Play my music in lots of live shows with a kickass band, and write and record a full length album. Beyond that, in the big picture, I’ll just keep writing and growing, and hope that I can pay the bills.

Twist Online : Are you working on any new project?
JAKE WARD : I’m planning to release a full length album this year. I have almost a dozen songs already written for it, and a handful of demos recorded. I’m really excited about the direction my writing is going. Everything is still in the very early stages, but I can tell you for sure there’s going to be more guitar, more energy, and much, much deeper and more explorative lyrics. Everything will be even better. I can’t wait!