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Mother (ZZ Ward EP)

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Mother
EP by
ZZ Ward
ReleasedOctober 4, 2024 (2024-10-04)
Genre
Length16:33
Label
ProducerRyan Spraker
ZZ Ward chronology
Where Did All the Love Go?
(2024) 		Mother
(2024) 		Liberation
(2025)
Singles from Mother
  1. "Mother"
    Released: July 19, 2024
  2. "My Baby Left Me"
    Released: August 16, 2024

Mother is the fifth extended play (EP) by American Blues singer-songwriter ZZ Ward. It was released on October 4, 2024, via Dirty Shine, under exclusive license to Sun Records.[1] It was promoted with two singles, the title track "Mother", which was released on July 19, and "My Baby Left Me" on August 16.[2][3] The extended play was met with praise by music critics.[4][5]

Background and release

[edit]

The extended play was executive produced by Ryan Spraker, and includes three covers, and three original songs, with two tracks being re-recordings from Ward's debut album, Til the Casket Drops, including a re-recording of her 2012 debut single "Put the Gun Down".[6][7][8]

While interviewed by Grateful Web, Ward described the meaning behind the making of the EP.[9]

“This EP is about coming back to who I am and the music I’ve always wanted to make. It’s a reflection of everything I’ve gone through and all the things I’ve been faced with—motherhood, self-discovery, and empowerment.”[10]

— ZZ Ward on the meaning of Mother EP, for Grateful Web.

Track listing

[edit]
Mother track listing
No.TitleLyricsProducerLength
1."Mother"
Ryan Spraker2:56
2."My Baby Left Me"Arthur "Big Boy" CrudupSpraker2:13
3."Put the Gun Down" (Dirty Sun Version)WardSpraker3:04
4."I Have No One"
Spraker2:33
5."Lil Darlin'" (Dirty Sun Version)
  • Ward
  • Nick Hennessey
  • Jonathan Keller
  • Richard Parry
  • Maceo Vidal-Haymes
Spraker3:25
6."Cadillac Man"Tommy MingaSpraker2:20
Total length:16:33

Notes

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blues Rock Reviews8.5/10[11]
TinnistPositive'[12]
Music NewsPositive[13]
V.13 MediaPositive[14]

Upon release, the extended play received critical acclaim from blues rock media outlets and music critics, with many praising Ward's modern twist on blues, and her vocal performance.[15][16][17][18]

Writing for Tinnitist, Darryl Sterdan dubbed the EP as a "love letter to the blues", describing the project as a "six-track collection [that] serves as a powerful reminder of [Ward] talent for blending genres, while also showcasing a more mature, reflective side of the artist."[19] The site also named Mother their Album of the Week.[19]

Moe Moore of Blues Rock Reviews praised the record, highlighting Ward's great vocal abilities, as well, the songwriting, and music arrangements.[20] stating that: "each track is an enjoyable experience and leaves us wanting to hear even more of her material."[20]

Staff of Music News praised the extended play, dubbing Mother as Ward’s "most personal and authentic collection yet, showcasing her growth as an artist and a person."[21]

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Apple Music.[1]

  • ZZ Ward — vocals (all tracks), composer (tracks 1,3,5)
  • Ryan Spraker — producer (all tracks), composer (track 1)
  • Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup — composer (track 2)
  • Jett Gallindo — mastering engineer (track 2)
  • Big John Hamilton — composer (track 4)
  • Leroy Loyd — composer (track 4)
  • Nick Hennessey — composer (track 5)
  • Jonathan Keller — composer (track 5)
  • Richard Parry — composer (track 5)
  • Maceo Vidal-Haymes — composer (track 5)
  • Tommy Minga — composer (track 6)

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Mother EP
Chart (2024) Peak
position
US Blues Albums (Billboard)[22] 7

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Mother"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 4 October 2024
[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Mother - EP by ZZ Ward on Apple Music, October 4, 2024, retrieved February 5, 2025
  2. ^ "ZZ Ward Shares Personal New Single & Video "Mother" -". mxdwn Music. July 21, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  3. ^ 2K views · 22 reactions | ZZ Ward's new single "My Baby Left Me" is available now from her upcoming EP "Mother" available October 4th! 🎧 "My Baby Left Me":... | By Sun Records | Facebook. Retrieved February 5, 2025 – via www.facebook.com.
  4. ^ Willschick, Aaron (October 8, 2024). "ZZ Ward Drops Gritty Blues-Rock EP 'Mother'". V13.net. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  5. ^ Publisher/Photographer, Mark Horan (October 5, 2024). "Out Now: ZZ Ward Returns to Her Blues Roots with Powerful and Personal 'Mother' EP". All Music Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  6. ^ "'Mother' of modern blues, ZZ Ward brings hits to Knitting Facotry". Spokesman.com. November 14, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  7. ^ Rocker News, US (November 25, 2024). "ZZ Ward Brings Her Blues to Knitting Factory Boise to Promote 'Mother'". US Rocker®. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  8. ^ Mendes, Nicole (July 30, 2024). "ZZ Ward - Mother (2024)". The Other Side Reviews. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  9. ^ "ZZ Ward Returns to Her Blues Roots with Powerful and Personal 'Mother' EP". Grateful Web. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  10. ^ "ZZ Ward Returns to Her Blues Roots with Powerful and Personal 'Mother' EP". Gratefulweb.com. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  11. ^ "ZZ Ward: Mother Review". Bluesrockreview.com. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  12. ^ Sterdan, Darryl (October 4, 2024). "Albums Of The Week: ZZ Ward | Mother". Tinnitist.com. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  13. ^ "ZZ Ward comes full circle with blues-heavy new EP 'Mother'". Music-news.com. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  14. ^ Willschick, Aaron (October 8, 2024). "ZZ Ward Drops Gritty Blues-Rock EP 'Mother'". V13.net. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  15. ^ Moore, Moe (November 22, 2024). "ZZ Ward: Mother Review". Blues Rock Review. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  16. ^ Mixtape, My Weekly (October 11, 2024). "Album Dive: ZZ Ward's "Mother" EP". My Weekly Mixtape. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  17. ^ Delores, Bee (August 1, 2024). "ZZ Ward is 'Mother' (Review)". Countrypolitan Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  18. ^ "ZZ Ward Reclaims Her Blues Crown on 'Mother' EP". Onstage Magazine.com. October 4, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  19. ^ a b Sterdan, Darryl (October 4, 2024). "Albums Of The Week: ZZ Ward | Mother". Tinnitist. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  20. ^ a b Moore, Moe (November 22, 2024). "ZZ Ward: Mother Review". Blues Rock Review. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  21. ^ "ZZ Ward comes full circle with blues-heavy new EP 'Mother'". Music-News.com. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  22. ^ devops (January 2, 2013). "Blues Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
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