We live in interesting times.
Even before a global pandemic re-shaped the age, this was already a challenging moment for the independent musical artist. The business appears to have attained a permanent state of flux and is widely characterised as some kind of monster, chewing up and spitting out the naively pure of heart.
And yet David Ford is finally happy.
For the first time in twenty years, there is nobody trying to make him famous.
Ford’s journey through the many worlds of the modern music industry has not always been an easy one to navigate. A succession of record labels seduced by his talents have in turn, attempted to sell him as a pop star, a protest singer, an indie hipster, a balladeer and a bluesman.
In reality he might be all of these things.
And none of the above.
It’s complicated.
These days, Ford feels much more at home operating on the fringes of the music business, not trying to be famous, not trying to get rich. It might be an unconventional way to conduct a musical career, but this is not a conventional guy, as evidenced by his recent studio output. Ford released two albums in 2022. The first, May You Live in Interesting Times, was a musical time capsule, documenting the final days of Trump set against the early days of Covid. Despite the scale and complexity of the subject matter, Ford’s ability to negotiate such terrain with balance and precision was rewarded with the rare honour of being named album of the week in both The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times. This was closely followed by Love and Death, a collection of darker moments recorded in a single live session with an elite group of jazz musicians.
As an artist Ford still defies classification or comparison. Singer-songwriter doesn’t begin to cover it. He writes and performs with fluency across multiple genres, plays every instrument on the stage and even invents new ones to create truly unique recordings and performances. Every live show is different. Ford’s trademark one-man loop machine circus grows more complex and audacious every year, but then he is just as likely to show up with a six-piece band, a string quartet, jazz drummer or a choir and a recent UK tour proved he can be equally compelling sat in an armchair, playing acoustic guitar and telling stories. The result is a live spectacle described by The Guardian as “unmissable”.
As well as playing sold-out headline shows on both sides of the Atlantic, he has supported artists such as Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint, Ray LaMontagne, Aimee Mann, Sara Bareilles, Gomez, Aqualung, Richard Ashcroft, Suzanne Vega, Augustana, Ingrid Michaelson and Jakob Dylan.
It is perhaps as a songwriter that David Ford is held in the highest regard. Often praised for his lyrical dexterity and willingness to tackle matters of politics and current affairs, Rolling Stone commended his “Genuine depth and striking authority”, while The Telegraph described his work as “Smart, angry, witty, emotional songs, delivered with raw-throated passion.” His debut album, I Sincerely Apologise for All the Trouble I've Caused, was included in both The Times and Word Magazine's top ten albums of the year. His records have achieved number one slots on iTunes and in 2014, he received the French Grammy award for best original song.
The result is a 20-year career that has proven immune from the perils of shifting trends. Ford’s masterful songwriting, powerful live performances and utter distaste for self-promotion have helped cultivate a passionate, devoted fan base that exists something like a secret society.
You are very welcome to join.
Just don’t go around shouting about it.
“Unmissable” ★★★★★ The Guardian
"One of Britain's best." ★★★★★ The Times
“Puts everything into every word.” The LA Times
“David Ford is the eternal thrill of a young man going way too far and pulling it off.” Word Magazine
