My brother has two dogs. This song is inspired by them

The Lady and The Hank-DEMO

These are questions from our time. We Wonder doesn't pretend to answer but simply to ask.

We Wonder

1. We Wonder

Selections from the 6/2022 Album "Particles to Pearls"

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. This album examines life through the pandemic lens, the pain of loss, the redemptive power of love and the elusiveness of time. Mike doesn’t pretend to deliver pearls of wisdom, but he does get at some truths about life, love and family.

All Songs written by Mike Ward (BMI) 2020-2022

Production: Particles was produced, engineered and mixed by David Roof at Rooftop Recordings, Grand Blanc, MI. While Mike plays acoustic guitar on all tracks, he is joined by Aaron Markovitz on mandolin and assorted guitars, David Keeney on lap steel, dobro and resonator guitars. Michael Shimmin on percussion, Lucy Little on violin and David Roof added bass, electric guitars, Hammond organ and piano. Harmonies were added by Amy Petty, Alison and Tessa Wiercioch, Downtown Judy Brown and Mike’s daughter, Emilia. Mastering was done by Jim Kissling of Ferndale, MI.

08 Letting Go

06 Let Love Lead The Way

04 Back Again

03 Broken

01 Time

This three-song EP, "Troubled Times”, was released just ahead of the 2022 election period and is dedicated to those who raise their voice, chase freedom, make their way from other lands to seek refuge and to all those who promote basic human ideals.

“Wishing Well” shines a light on protecting individual rights and free speech.
“Immigration Nation” focuses on the fact that we are all immigrants (or descendants thereof) and it is how this country was built.
“WWTFS” takes on the idea that standing by our flag is not partisan but we all share responsibility to question wrongs and to fight to make them right.

All songs written by Mike Ward (BMI) 

Production: The EP was produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by David Roof at Rooftop Recordings, Grand Blanc, MI. While Mike plays acoustic guitar on all tracks, he is joined by Aaron Markovitz on achtop guitar, David Keeney on dobro. Michael Shimmin on percussion, Bill Sadley on harmonica and David Roof added bass, electric guitar and Hammond organ. Harmonies were added by Downtown Judy Brown.

3.WWTFS

2.Immigration Nation

1.Wishing Well

This is a co-write between songwriters Terry Birkett (from the Delta Twins band) and Mike Ward:Psychosongs.

The Heart Must Pay The Price

Detroit singer-songwriter Mike Ward is known for his lyrically-centric, vocally-charged folk songs. While growing up in Port Huron, Michigan, he listened to the Irish music of his heritage and sang in several choirs before digesting the influential sounds of Simon & Garfunkel, Dylan, Springsteen and John Prine. These days, he finds inspiration in the works of Jason Isbell, Sarah Jarosz and John Paul White. His intimate songwriting echoes through empty city streets, back country roads and family portraits. It also resides in the hidden spaces between joy and tragedy, love and loss.

Ward brings a unique perspective to his songwriting after having spent 40 years working in the advertising industry while continuing a lifelong passion for hockey, which resulted in his infamous nickname “PsychoWard.” His debut album, We Wonder, released in 2018, was named “Best Folk Album of 2019” by Phil Maq of 89.3-FM (WHFR).

In 2019, Ward immersed himself into the songwriting community in Detroit as well as Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM)and several online groups. This led to an association with David Roof of Rooftop Recording as well as collaborations with some of Michigan’s finest songwriters and musicians who would contribute mightily on his future projects.

Ward released his second album in 2021, “The Darkness and The Light”, as a thoughtful way to highlight past struggles, including regret and loss, and champion the need for hope in a changing world. The album landed at #33 on the Folk Alliance International (FAI) folk charts in March 2021 and has been played on the radio internationally.

A year later, Ward dropped “Particles to Pearls”, which explores the love of family and the passage of time. In addition to multiple Detroit Music Award recognitions, he received an honorable mention in the Great River Folk Fest Songwriting Contest for the song “Letting Go.” That same year also brought Ward’s sociopolitical EP “Troubled Times” as a bold reminder to raise your voice and chase your freedom. The EP’s three contemplative tracks emphasize protecting individual rights, upholding free speech, and supporting immigration.

This spring, Mike will release his fourth album Love Never Rests, which features 11 introspective tracks that examine observations about life, love and loss along with relationships of the past, present and future. All stories are told through
his emotive viewpoints of wisdom and gratitude.

Outside of his releases, Ward performs regularly at small venues, clubs and house shows throughout Michigan, the Midwest and the East Coast. He’s been on stage at Trinity House Theatre, Wiltsie’s, Lager House, Pete’s Candy Store,
Folknet and Over Yonder Concert House.

Mike also performs at notable festivals, including the Wheatland Music Festival, FARM DJ showcases and performance lanes, Nor-East’r Festival, Thumbfest, Holler Fest, Thunder Bay Folk Festival and Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats.
Finally, Ward has been featured on several radio, podcast and streaming shows such as Ron Olesko’s Folk Music Notebook Shelter in Place Showcase, Jon Stein’s Hootenanny Café Showcase, John Bommarito’s Acoustic Alternatives, Charlie’s Open Mic Acoustic Showcase with Charlie Mosbrook, The Stratton Setlist and Bruce Swan’s Music My Mother Would Not Like.

Mike Ward: Psychosongs

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