Mother (ZZ Ward EP)

Mother
EP by ZZ Ward
Released	October 4, 2024 (2024-10-04)
Genre	Blues Blues rock
Length	16:33
Label	Dirty Shine Sun Records
Producer	Ryan Spraker
ZZ Ward chronology
Where Did All the Love Go? (2024) Mother (2024) Liberation (2025)
Singles from Mother
"Mother" Released: July 19, 2024 "My Baby Left Me" Released: August 16, 2024

Mother is the fifth extended play (EP) by American Blues singer-songwriter ZZ Ward. It was released on October 4, 2024, via Dirty Shine, under exclusive license to Sun Records. ^[1] It was promoted with two singles, the title track "Mother", which was released on July 19, and "My Baby Left Me" on August 16. ^{[2] [3]} The extended play was met with praise by music critics. ^{[4] [5]}

Background and release

The extended play was executive produced by Ryan Spraker, and includes three covers, and three original songs, with two tracks being re-recordings from Ward's debut album, Til the Casket Drops, including a re-recording of her 2012 debut single "Put the Gun Down". ^{[6] [7] [8]}

While interviewed by Grateful Web, Ward described the meaning behind the making of the EP. ^[9]

“This EP is about coming back to who I am and the music I’ve always wanted to make. It’s a reflection of everything I’ve gone through and all the things I’ve been faced with—motherhood, self-discovery, and empowerment.” ^[10]

—  ZZ Ward on the meaning of Mother EP, for Grateful Web.

Track listing

Mother track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Producer	Length
1.	"Mother"	ZZ Ward Ryan Spraker	Ryan Spraker	2:56
2.	"My Baby Left Me"	Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup	Spraker	2:13
3.	"Put the Gun Down" (Dirty Sun Version)	Ward	Spraker	3:04
4.	"I Have No One"	Big John Hamilton Leroy Lloyd	Spraker	2:33
5.	"Lil Darlin'" (Dirty Sun Version)	Ward Nick Hennessey Jonathan Keller Richard Parry Maceo Vidal-Haymes	Spraker	3:25
6.	"Cadillac Man"	Tommy Minga	Spraker	2:20
Total length:				16:33

Notes

• "My Baby Left Me" is a cover of the 1950 single written by Arthur Crudup.
• "Put The Gun Down (Dirty Sun Version)" is a new version of Ward's 2012 debut single, which is included on her debut album, Til the Casket Drops .
• "I Have No One" is a cover of the 1968 single by Big John Hamilton.
• "Lil Darlin' (Dirty Sun Version)" is a new version of the song included on Ward's debut album, Til the Casket Drops (2012).
• "Cadillac Man" is a cover of the song written by Tommy Minga and recorded and released by The Jesters in 1966.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Blues Rock Reviews	8.5/10 [11]
Tinnist	Positive' [12]
Music News	Positive [13]
V.13 Media	Positive [14]

Upon release, the extended play received critical acclaim from blues rock media outlets and music critics, with many praising Ward's modern twist on blues, and her vocal performance. ^{[15] [16] [17] [18]}

Writing for Tinnitist, Darryl Sterdan dubbed the EP as a "love letter to the blues", describing the project as a "six-track collection [that] serves as a powerful reminder of [Ward] talent for blending genres, while also showcasing a more mature, reflective side of the artist." ^[19] The site also named Mother their Album of the Week. ^[19]

Moe Moore of Blues Rock Reviews praised the record, highlighting Ward's great vocal abilities, as well, the songwriting, and music arrangements. ^[20] stating that: "each track is an enjoyable experience and leaves us wanting to hear even more of her material." ^[20]

Staff of Music News praised the extended play, dubbing Mother as Ward’s "most personal and authentic collection yet, showcasing her growth as an artist and a person." ^[21]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Apple Music. ^[1]

• ZZ Ward — vocals (all tracks), composer (tracks 1,3,5)
• Ryan Spraker — producer (all tracks), composer (track 1)
• Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup — composer (track 2)
• Jett Gallindo — mastering engineer (track 2)
• Big John Hamilton — composer (track 4)
• Leroy Loyd — composer (track 4)
• Nick Hennessey — composer (track 5)
• Jonathan Keller — composer (track 5)
• Richard Parry — composer (track 5)
• Maceo Vidal-Haymes — composer (track 5)
• Tommy Minga — composer (track 6)

Charts

Chart performance for Mother EP

Chart (2024)	Peak position
US Blues Albums ( Billboard) [22]	7

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Mother"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	4 October 2024	Digital download streaming	Dirty Shine Sun Records	[1]

References

1. Mother - EP by ZZ Ward on Apple Music, October 4, 2024, retrieved February 5, 2025
2. "ZZ Ward Shares Personal New Single & Video "Mother" -". mxdwn Music. July 21, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
3. 2K views · 22 reactions | ZZ Ward's new single "My Baby Left Me" is available now from her upcoming EP "Mother" available October 4th! 🎧 "My Baby Left Me":... | By Sun Records | Facebook . Retrieved February 5, 2025– via www.facebook.com.
4. Willschick, Aaron (October 8, 2024). "ZZ Ward Drops Gritty Blues-Rock EP 'Mother'". V13.net. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
5. Publisher/Photographer, Mark Horan (October 5, 2024). "Out Now: ZZ Ward Returns to Her Blues Roots with Powerful and Personal 'Mother' EP". All Music Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
6. "'Mother' of modern blues, ZZ Ward brings hits to Knitting Facotry". Spokesman.com. November 14, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
7. Rocker News, US (November 25, 2024). "ZZ Ward Brings Her Blues to Knitting Factory Boise to Promote 'Mother'". US Rocker®. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
8. Mendes, Nicole (July 30, 2024). "ZZ Ward - Mother (2024)". The Other Side Reviews. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
9. "ZZ Ward Returns to Her Blues Roots with Powerful and Personal 'Mother' EP". Grateful Web. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
10. "ZZ Ward Returns to Her Blues Roots with Powerful and Personal 'Mother' EP". Gratefulweb.com. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
11. "ZZ Ward: Mother Review". Bluesrockreview.com. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
12. Sterdan, Darryl (October 4, 2024). "Albums Of The Week: ZZ Ward | Mother". Tinnitist.com. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
13. "ZZ Ward comes full circle with blues-heavy new EP 'Mother'". Music-news.com. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
14. Willschick, Aaron (October 8, 2024). "ZZ Ward Drops Gritty Blues-Rock EP 'Mother'". V13.net. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
15. Moore, Moe (November 22, 2024). "ZZ Ward: Mother Review". Blues Rock Review. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
16. Mixtape, My Weekly (October 11, 2024). "Album Dive: ZZ Ward's "Mother" EP". My Weekly Mixtape. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
17. Delores, Bee (August 1, 2024). "ZZ Ward is 'Mother' (Review)". Countrypolitan Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
18. "ZZ Ward Reclaims Her Blues Crown on 'Mother' EP". Onstage Magazine.com. October 4, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
19. Sterdan, Darryl (October 4, 2024). "Albums Of The Week: ZZ Ward | Mother". Tinnitist. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
20. Moore, Moe (November 22, 2024). "ZZ Ward: Mother Review". Blues Rock Review. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
21. "ZZ Ward comes full circle with blues-heavy new EP 'Mother'". Music-News.com. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
22. devops (January 2, 2013). "Blues Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2025.