Kristen Ward

"One listen to KRISTEN WARD's first album, 2006's ROLL ME ON, and you might think that the smoky voice and those anguished lyrics come from a woman whose spent years in the games of music and love. But Ward is only 23 years old......

-SOUND Magazine, April 07

"It's not easy, in this city filled with exceptional singer-songwriters (Damien Jurado, Laura Veirs, Rosie Thomas, etc.), but Kristen Ward is just starting to make her voice heard. It's a strong, clear, clean voice, singing Ward's own carefully etched lyrics. With pedal steel guitar accents, the music and the voice and the words are more than a little bit country."

-Tom Scanlon, Seattle Times

"One of the most distinctive elements of Ward's debut album, Roll Me On, released on the Chroma imprint earlier this year, is her earthy, full-bodied vocal timbre; think Christine McVie with more oomph, Linda Ronstadt at her rawest."

-Kurt B Reighley, The Stranger

"Of all the albums I had the privilege of listening to this year, Seattle-based Kristen Ward's very fine debut probably was the one that took me the most by surprise. I haven't really thought of Seattle as a city from which roots music/folk rock usually comes - let alone something of the caliber of 'Roll Me On'. Kristen has done it though. This one is like a sudden cool wind on a desert highway. Somehow, this 23 year old singer-songwriter is channeling something. The set of songs here are centered on Kristen's life journey thus far. While that may not be surprising, what is impressive is that they get down to business and are economically and creatively arranged ... the mix is very spacious. 'Roll Me On' is a really great sounding album for a new local artist that the northwest will, ideally, fully support."

-Steve Andrews, Silver Platters

Seattle-based pop vocalist and singer/songwriter Kristen Ward composes approving pop music with talented chops around every corner. Her rootsy approach is surprising and refreshing. You could imagine some of these folk tunes being played around an open campfire or in a crowded coffeehouse. Regardless of the setting, one thing is true....Roll Me On.. is amazingly addictive.

- J-Sin, Smother Magazine

***Newcomer to watch: Kristen Ward, who recently released a beautiful debut, "Roll Me On." The music is very gentle, with lap-steel country corners, a strong platform for Ward's dazzling voice. If you like Neko Case, check out Ward.

-Seattle Times

With the pipes of Carly Simon, the resignation of Lucinda Williams, and the sound of new Americana, Kristen Ward belts out tales of being done wrong, being lonesome, and being done wrong again. This album winds through the dusty roads of Lowdownville, dripping weariness and sorrow as it follows the man who don't love her, the man she lost, the man she might just take out with her little gun.

-75 or Less

Think of Ali McGraw playing a put upon waitress at a truckstop outside Spokane who occasionally gets up on stage and belts out a few numbers - that’s the image I have .... The songs have a fair amount of twang, kind of like Jesse Sykes, the same kind of darkness hanging around, shown to good effect on ‘1974’. The home-town feel continues throughout, her mother providing backing vocals and ‘Cheatin’ Mind’ is the perfect soundtrack to a girl’s night out - when they get home, alone, play ‘Night after Night’. Just the thing to chase down the last glass of wine, turn out the light and curl up with the sultry tender ‘Lovin’ You’ - it’s not been such a bad night after all.

-Americana UK

KRISTEN WARD is a Seattle based singer/songwriter, and with her 1968 Gibson guitar under arm, this 23 year old Washington state native delivers honest rootsy rock and roll with a lonely western twist. With a Country and Western recording artist for a mother, Kristen was brought up to the sounds of Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and with influences like Lucinda Williams and Neil Young, Kristen..s songs overflow with gutsy lyrics and memorable hooks. Kristen spent the better part of 2005 recording her debut album ..Roll Me On... Produced by Brad Zeffren at Seattle..s Chroma Sound, the record was completed with the help of musician friends Mike Stone, Jeff Fielder, Dan Tyak, Jeremy Lightfoot, Jason Staczek, and Darren Loucas. Backing vocalists include Mark Colety and Kristen..s Mother, Julie Neuffer. With lonesome wailing guitars, lush musical arrangements, and laid back sultry grooves, ..Roll Me On.. is an album of love, spiritual journey, and heartbroken resignation.