Artist Spotlight with Ian Ward

In an era where artists are encouraged to be louder, faster and constantly visible, Ian Ward has chosen a different path.

With his latest singles, “Spend All My Time,” and "You and Me," the Brooklyn based singer-songwriter steps away from spectacle and leans into something rarer: presence.

Ward's evolving philosphy about love, attention and what it truly means to show up for another personis what is reflected in these latest songs. Drawing from a life shaped by theater, touring as well as decades in entertainment, Ward is learning that the most powerful moments often happen when nothing is being performed at all.

In this Exclusive Interview, he opens up about time, vulnerability creative discipline, and the quiet choices that now define both his music and his life.

In your latest single “Spend All My Time” you frame time as the most honest thing you can give someone. Was there a specific moment or relationship that made that idea click for you?

Yeah. It clicked for me in a season where everything in my life was busy and pulling at me. Touring, building businesses, writing, chasing big goals. I realized that the most meaningful thing I could offer someone wasn’t a gift, a song, or even words. It was attention. Undivided time.

There was a moment where I caught myself being physically present but mentally somewhere else. Answering emails in my head. Planning the next thing. And I thought, if I say I love someone, but I’m not actually with them, what does that mean?

Time is finite. You can’t manufacture more of it. So when you choose to give it freely, that’s honesty. That’s devotion.

That’s where the song came from.

Earlier releases leaned into a more cinematic vibe. “Spend All My Time” feels more intimate. How do you decide when not to push a moment musically, or vocally, especially with your theatrical background.

Theatre trains you to fill the back row. Big emotions. Big choices. Big sound. And I love that. But pop music, especially something intimate, demands truth over volume.

With this song, every time I tried to “perform” it, it felt wrong. So we stripped it back. I asked myself, “What would this sound like if I was sitting across from one person instead of 1,000?”

Sometimes not pushing is the push. Leaving space lets people step inside the moment. I’m learning that intimacy isn’t about doing less. It’s about being more honest.

You have spent much of your life performing. How has that shaped the way you think about presence and attention in your personal life?

Performance teaches you how powerful attention is. When an audience leans in, it changes the energy of a room. But I’ve also learned that the same thing happens one-on-one. Presence is magnetic. It makes people feel seen.

The flip side is that performers can live in a constant state of projection. Always “on.” Always aware. I’ve had to learn how to turn that off and just be a person.

Now I think of attention as sacred currency. Where I place it shapes my life. And if I’m not intentional, the world will happily spend it for me.

What artists or genres have most influenced your sound and approach to music?

I grew up loving theatrical storytelling, but musically I’m deeply influenced by classic songcraft. Artists who could make something feel timeless without overcomplicating it.

There’s a lot of late 70s and 80s melodic pop in my DNA. That warm, coastal, windows-down feeling. Clean hooks. Real chords. Emotional clarity.

I also pay attention to modern production and how space is used now. I want the songs to feel nostalgic but not retro. Emotional but not melodramatic.

At the end of the day, I’m chasing songs that feel like they could live on a playlist in 2026 and also still hit in 1986.

Can you share a behind-the-scenes moment from your creative process that reflects your approach to storytelling?

When I’m writing, I don’t start with clever lines. I start with a question.

For “Spend All My Time,” the question was simple: If I only had one real gift to offer, what would it be?

I’ll usually talk through the idea out loud before I ever sing it. Almost like a monologue. That’s the theatre kid in me. I want to know what the character is actually trying to say.

There was a moment in the studio where I cut a take that was technically perfect. And it felt empty. So I asked them to roll again and I stopped thinking about pitch and started thinking about a real person. The second take stayed. For me, storytelling only works if it costs you something.

Describe the perfect weekend. What kind of things do you do to switch off and relax?

Perfect weekend is simple.

Ocean nearby. Morning coffee outside. A long walk with no headphones. No agenda.

Maybe writing a little, but not forcing it. Working out hard enough to feel alive. Cooking something at home instead of going out.

And honestly, being around a small group of people I trust. No networking. No performing. Just real conversation.

If I can forget to check my phone for a few hours, that’s a win.

What’s next for you? Any upcoming releases or projects you’re excited about?

There’s a lot moving. More singles are coming. I’m building toward a cohesive body of work, not just standalone drops. Each release is part of a bigger story.

Live shows are expanding. That’s where I feel most electric. And I’m continuing to merge the worlds I live in. Touring, original music, and the larger creative vision I’m building.

The goal isn’t just to release songs. It’s to create moments people can step into. And I’m just getting started.

About Ian Ward

Ian Ward is a singer songwriter, actor, and creative entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience across music, theater and media. He has performed on Broadway, toured internationally and has earned a Golden Ticket on American Idol.

As a solo artist, Ward blends pop melodies, alt-rock textures and storytelling into emotionally driven songs. He is also the lead singer of Yaghtly CREW, bringing his dynamic vocal style and narrative approach to the group’s evolving sound.

Ward is also the founder of Hitmaker Collective, where he mentors emerging songwriters and creatives. Whether on stage, in the studio, or leading collaborative projects, he continues to build a career rooted in authenticity and artistic curiosity.