David Ford: vocals, guitar, piano, loop machine
We live in interesting times. Even before a global pandemic reshaped our era, this was already a deeply challenging moment for an independent musician. The industry seems to have entered a state of perpetual flux, widely described as some sort of monster, chewing up and spitting out the pure of heart. And yet, David Ford is finally happy. For the first time in twenty years, no one is trying to make him famous. Ford’s journey through the many worlds of the modern music industry has not always been easy. A series of record labels, captivated by his talent, have in turn tried to market him as a pop star, protest singer, indie icon, romantic balladeer, or bluesman. In reality, he might be all these things. And none of them. Today, Ford feels much more comfortable on the fringes of the music industry, not striving for fame or riches. It might be an unconventional way to pursue a music career, but he is not a conventional person, as evidenced by his recent studio work. In 2022, he released two albums. The first, "May You Live in Interesting Times", is a musical time capsule documenting the final days of Trump alongside the early days of Covid. Despite the scope and complexity of the themes, Ford’s ability to handle such material with balance and precision earned him the rare distinction of being named “album of the week” by both The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times. This was soon followed by "Love and Death", a collection of moments recorded in a single live session with a select group of jazz musicians. As an artist, Ford still defies classification or comparison. Calling him a singer-songwriter barely scratches the surface. He writes and performs fluently across genres, plays every instrument on stage, and even invents new ones to create truly unique recordings and performances. Every concert is different. His signature one-man loop machine “circus” grows more intricate and audacious every year, yet he is just as likely to perform with a six-piece band, a string quartet, a jazz drummer, or a choir. During a recent UK tour, he demonstrated that he can be equally captivating sitting in an armchair, playing an acoustic guitar, and telling stories. The result is a live experience described by The Guardian as “unmissable.” He has opened for 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. Perhaps it is as a songwriter that David Ford is most highly regarded. Frequently praised for his lyrical dexterity and willingness to tackle political and contemporary issues, Rolling Stone has lauded his “genuine depth and striking authority,” while The Telegraph described his work as “Smart, angry, witty, emotional songs, delivered with raw-throated passion.” His award-winning debut album, "I Sincerely Apologise for All the Trouble I've Caused" (2004), was named among the year’s top ten albums by both The Times and Word Magazine. Buscadero magazine enthusiastically welcomed his follow-up, "Songs for the Road", with a glowing 4-star review by Paolo Carù, noting how the album’s songs already sounded like classics. Among them, the stunning “I’m Alright Now” became a chart-topping hit in France, thanks to a cover by Johnny Hallyday. In February 2014, Ford was invited to Paris to receive the Victoires de la Musique—known as the "French Grammys"—for “Best Original Song.” The same album also includes one of Ford’s finest works, "Charge". A multi-instrumentalist and loop pedal master, David Ford’s hypnotic live performances regularly sell out on both sides of the Atlantic. His is a twenty-year career that has proven immune to the pitfalls of fleeting trends. Ford’s masterful songwriting, powerful live shows, and utter disdain for self-promotion have helped cultivate a passionate and devoted fan base that exists like a secret society. Despite numerous accolades and a loyal audience, Ford remains outside the radar of commercial success—a topic he documented in a book titled "I Choose This – How To Nearly Make It In The Music Industry". Yet Ford’s exquisite songwriting and electrifying live performances ensure that he remains one of the UK’s most important songwriters in the eyes of critics and true music lovers.
