Cyd Ward
Eustis, Florida, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Cyd Ward is almost like a folk prodigy from Florida. Her voice is quite distinctive and she's been winning local awards in her state. I'll let you know if she comes up this way. As for this song [Hey Tarzan], I think it's a scream - telling all the macho heroes to not just blindly rush in. - Window of Opportunity : Radio
The opener "What's It Like In Maine" is terrific, with the clean, economical picking of Cyd and Joe Culleson [sic] setting the album's tone. "Hey, Tarzan" and "Knights" smartly deconstruct our notions of hero and superhero. The one cover, "Sonny's Dream" is a honey. Nice, warm production by Cyd and John Marsden. Very welcoming performances make Between The Lines very comfortable listening. - Sing Out! Magazine
"I feel almost guilty, a little sad and a bit torn. I blame it completely on Cyd Ward's 'Between The Lines.' It's a great album, with gorgeous lyrics and compelling instrumental work. I've played it four times in one night, and I'm still not entirely sure I like it.
Ward has a lovely voice, rich and clear, with a unique earthiness. Her guitar work could warrant an album itself, providing both a clear canvas for the elaborate lyrics of Ward's songs and great emotional color that doesn't distract from the vocals. The lyrics are consistently poetic, without getting so artistic they lose the story."
"'The Minstrel' adds a soft Renaissance flavor to Ward's usual acoustic style, the recorder buoying up a hopeful story of magic found and lost, but still not out of reach. 'Can We Make a Family' offers up a hopeful dream so fragile it could break at a word, while carrying the full strength of someone able to put their past mistakes behind them. Ward's voice is perfectly suited to this quiet moment of change, and the soaring notes of the recorder set the right contrasting note to shy guitar. 'Fear of Heights' is a perfect mix of the fear and exhilaration that come with new love and has a great country rock sound that's downright electric after the lonesome acoustic offerings that cover the rest of the album."
"But if you're feeling lost and lonesome yourself and looking for some sympathy, I can't think of a kinder and more graceful companion than 'Between The Lines.'"
- Sarah Meador - Rambles Magazine
"{Cyd's} CD is a favorite of mine and I look forward to more wonderful songs..."
- Patricia Madden - WMFE Arts Connection/Orlando Weekly
"Obviously a most talented songwriter with a gift for thoughtful lyrics and effective melodies."
- Judges - Great American Song Contest
...at the Cyd Ward musical diner today, the primary ingredient of all the entrees is relationships. Ward tells tales and weaves small vignettes possessing universal human themes. The most powerful song is 'Killing Time,' about the unconscionable violence that permeates from Main Street to Wall Street through the entire world."
"The melancholy 'All Dressed Up,' about life cycles and circumstances, is a tune Nanci Griffith or Emmylou Harris would be proud to present. In the chorus of 'What's It Like In Maine,' Ward actually sounds reminiscent of a cross between Griffith and Harris. Order any of the entrees here and you'll do just fine. Ward, in her first release, has created a fine banquet of specials."
- Kevin McCarthy - Kevin's Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews
I picked it up from the post office at lunchtime yesterday and added it to the playlist before dinner. It's that good."
- Jim Rigby - Internet Folk Festival.com - CT
Discography
Between The Lines
All tracks on this CD have had airplay at one time
or another, several on NPR, and most have either won or been finalists in top song contests like Kerrville.
Photos
Bio
Delivered in a unique voice that is at once sensuous and innocent, you might say Cyd's songs dip their toes in the muddy waters of relationships and swim naked upstream to tackle raw emotions (that is, if you talk like Tom Robbins.) In true singer/songwriter fashion, she can go from a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the gender gap (Hey, Tarzan) to chronicling the trickle down effects of violence in our society (Killing Time) or even compare falling in love to a common phobia (Fear Of Heights).
Cyd has either won or been a finalist in national songwriting contests, including Kerrville New Folk, South Florida Folk Festival, Suwannee Springfest, Songwriters Showcase of America, Unisong International and the Great American song competitions.
Her songs have received national airplay on the "Midnight Special" program out of Chicago and "Folkscene", and she was awarded WTKS's "Pick of the Week" for "Fear of Heights". She has also appeared live as a featured artist on WMFE's "Arts Connection", WFIT's "FM Odyssey", WMNF's "Sunday Folk Show", and WPRK's "Acoustic Highway", and has had frequent airplay on many other local stations.
Cyd has performed throughout Florida, at coffeehouses, house concerts, and other venues. Some highlights are:
Skipper's Smokehouse – Tampa, FL
Chocolate Moose – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's "Arts & Letters Series" – Daytona Beach, FL
Stetson University – DeLand, FL
Leu Gardens Concert Series – Orlando, FL
Sarasota Art Center – Sarasota, FL
The Broken Spoke – Nashville, TN
Douglas Corner – Nashville, TN
South Florida Folk Festival
Gamble Rogers Festival
Suwannee Springfest
Wings & Strings
She has opened for:
Cosy Sheridan
Jack Williams
David Mallett
Greg Trooper
Cliff Eberhardt
Marc-Alan Barnett
and shared the stage with:
Bob Rafkin
Harvey Reid and many others.
Cyd lives for harmony and performs frequently with her musical peers. You can also hear her backup vocals and recorder on several area musicians' recordings. Her calendar is light at the moment since she’s holed up capturing songs from the ether for her new CD. Look for favorite songs like “Diamonds on the Subway”, “Dr. Seuss and Einstein” and “The Hardest Goodbye” to make it on this one.
Links
