About
Lyric-driven, simple folk songs are what singer-songwriter Mike Ward produces. Currently living in Detroit, Mike grew up listening to the Irish music of the Clancy Brothers and singing in church choirs. His influences are the likes of Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Jason Isbell and John Prine. The songs that Mike writes are a combination of stories and life lessons which are still being learned.
Mike spent the better part of 40 years as a designer and creative director in the advertising world but now creates music full time and is immersed in the Michigan acoustic music scene.
His first studio album,"We Wonder", was released in 2018. It received four Detroit Music Award nominations. Additionally, Phil Maq of WHFR 89.3FM named it in his top 100 albums of 2019.
The upcoming new album, “The Darkness and the Light” explores a life lived and all you see while looking over the past, the present and future. Regrets? Hope? Content? The opening song, titled “Our Turn to Shine” presents a reflection of our changing world and the importance of embracing new ideas.
Why Psychosongs? Turns out there are a lot of Mike Wards creating music. His nickname, PsychoWard, provided an answer. (If you’ve seen him dance or play hockey, you’ll get it). So Mike Ward: Psychosongs became the label.
Mike performs various venues throughout Michigan and beyond.
As well as festivals such as Arts, Eats & Beats, Wheatland 2020, Traverse City Film Fest, Thumbfest, Ferndale Front Porch, Detroit Folk Festival and FARM Performance Alley 2019.
He has also been featured on Folk Music Notebook Shelter in Place Showcase, The Detroit Songwriter Dispatch, The Happeneers Livestream, WHFR 89.3FM with Scott Boatright, Ron Leary’s Travelling Salesman Hour on CJAM 99.1, Stratton Setlist Podcast from Grove Studios, Brother Stone on SolidStateRadio.net and WNMC 90.7 Traverse City on Will Thomas' Local Motion.