Best Of Cleveland: Electro-Soul Artist

From his attic recording studio, Marcus Alan Ward watched the winter rage outside. Dreaming of warm weather, the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist wrote and recorded eight blissed-out dance songs that are as dreamy as a purple-haze sunset. Yet, in typical MAW fashion, the six bouncy summer songs that ended up on his August release Beast are tinged in sadness and introspection. In “Faster,” Ward rides shotgun as the driver spirals out of control. “It’s a quintessential summer song about a relationship with a self-destructive person who you’re still enamored with,” he says. “But the music contradicts the message, because it’s super upbeat with heavy synth lines.” Fueled by Beast, Ward also put foot to pedal this summer, releasing three sexy, trippy music videos, opening for Kali Uchis at House of Blues and touring the East Coast. Headlining Larchmere Porch Festival hit peak solstice highs. “A thousand people jumping up and down, all age groups, all cultures,” he says. “Dance music transcends all ages.” So was the summer everything Ward hoped for? “It never is.” marcusalanward.com


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