Now, this chick, she is my absolute obsession at the moment. (And I’m not even going to apologize for how creepy that sounded.) ZZ Ward, whose real name is Zsuszsanna hence the abbreviation, is a R&B/soul singer with a touch of bluegrass. My brother-in-law best described her as a weird combination of Amy Winehouse and Sara Bareilles, and, I must say, that’s a pretty perfect description. There is something else in her voice though. Something I’m having trouble putting my finger on, but who cares? It’s the intangible.
Ward’s entire debut album, Til the Casket Drops displays her vocal prowess as she floats from note to note with such grace and poise. It is a smash, with a handful of solid guest stars such as Kendrick Lamar and The O’Mys. I personally love Move Like You Stole It and 365 Days if you want to get up and groove a little. If you’d prefer a gorgeous ballad, Last Love Song is your pick. It’s your basic ode to a love gone wrong, but ZZ has a way of hooking you with her vocal runs and keeping you there with her talent on the guitar. She’s the real deal, yo, even if she wears a weird hat for her signature look.