Outpoll | Jordan Ward Announces New Album 'Backward'

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Jordan Ward Announces New Album 'Backward'

Jordan Ward Announces New Album 'Backward'

2 days ago7 min read6 comments

The air in the room shifts, the needle drops, and another chapter in an artist's journey begins—this is the moment Jordan Ward has been building toward, and with the announcement of his new album 'Backward,' the St. Louis singer isn't just releasing music; he's curating a vibe, a full-length narrative that promises to deepen the soulful, genre-bending path he's been meticulously carving.In an exclusive conversation with Rolling Stone, Ward pulled back the curtain, offering a resonant look into the creative crucible that forged this new work, simultaneously gifting the world the immediate, intoxicating single 'Smoking Potna,' a smooth, hazy collaboration with the ethereal vocals of Sailorr that feels less like a mere track and more like an instant classic destined for heavy rotation on late-night drives and curated playlists. For those who have been following Ward's ascent—from his roots in the St.Louis music scene, a city with a rich, gritty musical heritage that birthed the likes of Chuck Berry and Nelly, to his work as a dancer and his breakthrough projects like 'Valley Hopefuls'—this album announcement feels like a natural, yet bold, evolution. 'Backward' suggests a reflective gaze, a conscious decision to examine the path traveled, to sift through the memories and melodies that shaped him, not out of nostalgia, but as a means of propulsion forward; it’s the artistic equivalent of a singer taking a deep breath before hitting a career-defining high note.The choice of 'Smoking Potna' as the lead single is a masterstroke of tonal setting—Sailorr's feature weaves through Ward's own fluid delivery like smoke curling in the dim light of a studio, creating a track that is simultaneously laid-back and intensely focused, a conversation between two artists completely in sync, exploring themes of camaraderie, vice, and the quiet moments in between. One can hear echoes of the greats in his approach—the rhythmic sophistication of a D'Angelo, the melodic intuition of a Frank Ocean, the raw, confessional energy of a Kid Cudi—yet Ward synthesizes these influences into something uniquely his own, a sound that is both timeless and urgently contemporary.The album's title itself invites a multitude of interpretations: is it a glance over the shoulder at personal history, a critique of societal regression, or a musical technique, perhaps a sampling of classic soul records played in reverse to uncover hidden harmonies? This ambiguity is the mark of a mature artist trusting his audience to engage, to lean in and listen closely. The production, likely helmed by his frequent collaborator and producer Lido, whose fingerprints are all over Ward's most textured work, promises a sonic landscape that is both expansive and intimate, where synthesizers might bleed into live bass lines and drum machines converse with real percussion.In an era of fragmented attention spans and disposable singles, the announcement of a full album is a statement of intent, a belief in the album as a complete artistic statement, a cohesive journey from the first track to the last. What can we expect from the broader tracklist? If 'Smoking Potna' is any indicator, we're in for a record that balances introspection with groove, that isn't afraid to dwell in melancholy but always finds the rhythm to make you move, a collection that will undoubtedly fuel think-pieces from music critics and passionate debates among fans on forums and in comment sections.This is more than just a new release; it's a milestone, a marker on the timeline of an artist who is refusing to be pigeonholed, who is instead building a discography that feels like a map of modern Black expression in music, connecting the dots between gospel, R&B, hip-hop, and electronica. As the news breaks and the first waves of 'Smoking Potna' hit the streaming platforms, the anticipation begins to build, not just for the music itself, but for the conversations it will spark, the feelings it will evoke, and the solidified place Jordan Ward will claim in the ever-evolving canon of great American songwriters. The album is coming; the pre-save links are live, and the stage is set for Jordan Ward to take his well-earned bow, not backward, but decisively forward into the next phase of his resonant, rising career.