Mike Ward: Psychosongs

Lyrically-centric, vocally-charged folk songs. Those are what singer-songwriter Mike Ward loves to create. Living in Detroit, Mike grew up listening to Irish music and singing in choirs. A few influences are Jason Isbell, Nanci Griffith, Bob Schneider, Bruce Springsteen and John Prine. Sonically he fits in the camps of Sarah Jarosz, John Paul White and Drew Holcomb. For Mike, the roots of family run deep—both the strengths and weaknesses. His writing echoes along empty sidewalks, on country backroads, in family portraits, and in the thin lines between joy and tragedy, love and loss, past, present and future.

 His first studio album,"We Wonder", was released in 2018. Phil Maq of WHFR 89.3FM named it Best Folk Album of 2019.
“The Darkness and the Light” released in January 2021, explored a life lived with regret and hope and reflections of our changing world. The album made it to number 33 on the FAI Folk charts for March 2021 and has been played on radio around the globe.
During the lock down of 2020, Mike was challenged to write 30 songs in 30 days. This sparked a year of fresh ideas and now Mike has emerged with a 12-song album titled, “Particles to Pearls”, to be released in June 2022.

 Mike performs at venues and house shows throughout Michigan and the Midwest. He also loves playing at festivals such as Arts, Eats & Beats, Wheatland, Thumbfest, Lake Bonisteel Music Fest, Detroit Folk Festival and FARM Performance Lane 2019. Mike has also been featured on Ron Olesko’s Folk Music Notebook Shelter in Place Showcase, Jon Stein’s Hootenanny Cafe, and Stratton Setlist Podcast.

Why Psychosongs? There are a lot of Mike Wards creating music. So his nickname, PsychoWard, provided an answer. (If you’ve seen him dance or play hockey, you’ll get it).

Writes Darryl Sterdan of Tinnitist “Anchored by his rich strumming, lightly sanded vocals and philosophical lyrics, this is music by grownups, about grownups, for grownups.” 
Jeff Milo writes, “singer/songwriter Mike Ward’s humanistic approach to lyricism salvages a brightness from heavyhearted subject matter."
The Prism review states, “His songs are meant to give some warmth, wit, and wisdom to us in our journey.”

Mike Ward: Psychosongs’s tracks

• The Other Side by Mike Ward: Psychosongs
• The Stream by Mike Ward: Psychosongs
• The Next Rounds On Me by Mike Ward: Psychosongs
• 1. We Wonder by Mike Ward: Psychosongs
• Content by Mike Ward: Psychosongs
• Why Can't That Be Enough by Mike Ward: Psychosongs
• Our Turn to Shine by Mike Ward: Psychosongs
• Midnightville by Mike Ward: Psychosongs
• The Line Between Us by Mike Ward: Psychosongs
• No Way to Live by Mike Ward: Psychosongs