Interview: Christina Ward is just a ‘Darkstar’ flying in orbit

“Darkstar” crashes the senses. It’s a meteorite plunging through the atmosphere and cascading into the Earth’s outer crust. Out of Philadelphia, Christina Ward buries herself in jagged textures, her haunting voice poking through like a needle into fabric. With the mood-drenched song, the singer-songwriter makes sense of her turbulent childhood and its lingering effects on her current state of existence. “It’s tough to talk about,” she admits.

But she forges ahead anyway. “In some ways, it made navigating life hard in adulthood. It also made me pretty resilient,” Ward tells B-Sides & Badlands. “Growing up in chaos made me seek it out as an adult to feel comfortable. On the flip side, I can also handle massive amounts of chaos.”

With its thrashing drums and guitars, “Darkstar” burrows into the skin, worming its way up the backbone and nestling just at the base of the skull. Such emotional precision characterizes much of Ward’s work. It’s innate to who she is as an artist – without her ever really thinking about it. “I don’t think it’s something I think about consciously – it’s a part of me; shaped who I am and plays a part in every decision and reaction,” she says. “All of my songs have pieces of my early life in them.”

Peering through its musical prism, it takes a great amount of understanding to dive into the song’s ethereal exterior. Even talking about it is a transformative experience that sees Ward honing in one of those emotional beats that make “Darkstar” such a magnificent music-scape. “Experiencing a primary caregiver going in and out of psychosis is a terrifying thing – keeps you in orbit around them making sure they are ok, while also trying to escape,” she explains. “A lot of life and wellbeing is sacrificed doing this – mostly out of guilt for never really being able to make them better. Shout out to my sister for taking that on. I guess that’s where [this song] comes from. An attempt at explaining that gravitational pull.”

“Darkstar” anchors a forthcoming new EP titled Neon, out everywhere on October 11 via Bad Catt Records and Mint 400 Records.

Below, Ward discusses her current mental health, the new EP, and more of her childhood.

How would you describe your current mental health?

Stable, I hope! I’m grateful to have some insight – I’m bipolar 2 and can tell when things are “off” (mostly) and might need meds adjusted.

What role does the song play in your new EP?

It’s almost a demo version of what we play live – I like it for its rawness and thought it would be a good entry point.

Why bring your full live band onto the project?

We started playing these songs out a year ago. It felt like I’d be doing a disservice to the music recording it any other way. I got lucky that these amazing humans and incredible musicians were down to do it!

How did that dynamic change the music?

It made the music much heavier, which I really like.

Considering your vast influences, and what you most consumed as a kid, did carving out your own sonic waves come pretty easily?

No – I love so many kinds of music and have so many influences, it’s a journey.

Do you ever wish your childhood had been different?

I think in a different timeline it is. In that one, I’m a well-adjusted, put-together, well-dressed, and fashionable boring person [laughs] Definitely not a musician. Maybe a dancer.

What do you cherish most in your life?

My kids and the family I’ve created as an adult. Being well enough to create music and send it out into the universe.

How does the rest of the EP sound and feel?

Sonically it’s cohesive. It’s heavy with a touch of gloom.

Follow Ward on her socials: Instagram