M. Ward is the stage name of Matthew Stephen Ward, a US singer-songwriter and guitarist from Thousand Oaks, California. He emerges from the Portland, Oregon music scene and works in folk, alternative country, americana, contemporary folk, folk pop, folk rock, indie rock and related styles. He is also a member of She & Him, Monsters of Folk, Rodriguez and Geckøs.

Early work and solo recordings

Ward records as a solo artist as well as in bands. He first appears on cassette releases and then on the album Swing Like a Metronome in 2000 with Rodriguez, a group that includes bassist Kyle Field and drummer Mike Funk. His solo debut Duet for Guitars #2 is released on Howe Gelb’s Ow Om label. End of Amnesia follows in 2001 on Future Farmer Records, after which his albums are issued on Merge Records. He also self-releases Live Music & the Voices of Strangers, a collection of live recordings sold at shows.

Albums and collaborations

Ward releases Transfiguration of Vincent in 2003, followed by Transistor Radio in 2005 and Post War in 2006. In 2006 he contributes a song to, and helps produce, the John Fahey tribute album I Am the Resurrection. He also contributes “Transfiguration #1” from Transfiguration of Vincent to the Brushfire Records soundtrack for A Brokedown Melody, a Jack Johnson surfing film. Later solo albums include Hold Time in 2009, A Wasteland Companion in 2012 and More Rain in 2016. He also releases What a Wonderful Industry.

Side projects

In 2008 Ward forms She & Him with Zooey Deschanel. The duo releases Volume One in 2008 and Volume Two in 2010. He is also one quarter of Monsters of Folk, alongside Jim James, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis; the group releases its self-titled album in 2009.