For Xander Ward, music isn’t just a passion—it’s a way of processing and understanding life. Since his early days journaling at 19, Xander has honed his creative process, blending introspective lyrics with sounds that resonate on a personal level.
This artist approaches songwriting with a unique ritual. Each session starts with guitar strumming or building a loop, grounding himself in chords that capture the emotions he’s feeling. He shares his journey, from covering Switchfoot in youth group to creating music he loves, all the while staying original and true to his voice in a saturated industry.
Meet Xander Ward: Deeply Personal
With stories ranging from the first song he ever wrote to his most embarrassing moment as a University of Georgia cheerleader, Xander lets us in on the lighter and more vulnerable sides of his journey.
And we just want to know more!
Do you have any specific rituals or habits before writing music?
@xanderwardmusic
I really love to journal! That’s something I’ve done on and off since I was 19 (and more consistently lately). I feel it really helps me process my thoughts and better understand what I’m feeling. I usually start my writing sessions by strumming a guitar or sometimes building a simple loop.
For me, the most important part at the beginning of a session is finding the chords that best represent what I’m feeling at that moment. The beautiful thing about music is that, even if I don’t have the words to describe what I’m going through, I can always rely on music to create a sound that captures my emotions and helps me cope.
1️⃣ Can you recall the first song you ever wrote or performed?
The first song I ever performed was a Switchfoot cover at Youth Group when I was 15. (P.S. I hope Jon Foreman sees this!)
The first song I wrote was “Straight Cheese” —I think it was about my middle school crush. I couldn’t tell you the lyrics, but I think it was in the key of B♭ (G major with a capo on the 3rd fret) if that counts for anything!
How do you approach the challenge of staying original in a saturated industry?
I love this question! I think everyone tries to stay aware of the market and its saturation. Following trends is easy—I do it myself too. But at the end of the day, I really want to make music that I would enjoy listening to.
Being able to create in any capacity is such a gift, and making something I’d genuinely want to listen to is mind-blowing to me. I’m extremely grateful for that. If others connect with that music too, you can’t ask for much more than that!
There are artists I love who inspire me constantly, but if I tried to copy them, I’d never measure up. Instead, I try to take little bits and pieces of what I admire musically, and then stay honest lyrically with my own work.
⭐If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
This is off the dome without thinking much, but I would love to spend a day with Still Woozy in the studio. His production, melodies, and performance are just awesome. I’d love to collaborate with him and learn from him someday.
If you were a type of…. villain you’d be…
Plankton (SpongeBob, 1999).
❤️ What’s your favorite… TV show…short answer.
Choose one question…What is the most embarrassing thing that you’ve ever done?
@xanderwardmusic Sugar bowl ready! #wintervibes #ceoof #fyp #football #foryou #BreakupWithBottled #foryoupage #UGA #cheer #cheerleader #cheerlife #resolutionunlocked
Ugh… this was terrible. I used to be a cheerleader at the University of Georgia. It was 2019 and we were playing Auburn, there wasn’t an empty seat in the stadium. There was a really cute girl in the crowd that I noticed kept looking at me, so I winked at her and smiled (a little douchy, yes).
It wasn’t 2 minutes later when I threw my first stunt of the game with my partner and DROPPED IT. And it wasn’t on the sidelines, it was in the middle of the packed arena for everyone, including her, to see. Nobody got hurt by the way! Just embarrassing
Choose the last question…What was your first job?
I grew up working at the family business! We sell heavy-duty truck parts in Tallahassee, Florida (First Call Truck Parts). I was a bit of a grease monkey, but it allowed me to save for college when I was a teenager! I learned a lot working there and spent pretty much all of my summers there since I was 11 so I’m grateful for it!
Xander Ward: Beautifully Genuine
As we wrap up our conversation with Xander Ward, it’s clear that his music is deeply personal, drawing on a mix of reflection, humor, and honesty.
Whether he’s capturing raw emotions through journal entries or bringing them to life in a song, Xander’s approach remains refreshingly genuine. He’s a reminder of what indie music is all about: staying true to oneself in a world full of trends and expectations.
For a taste of Xander’s artistry, be sure to check out his track Fade Into Me—featured in Indiemono’s November compilation LIMINAL HARVEST VOL. 4.
It’s a fitting showcase of his talent and the perfect addition to your playlist this season.
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Great interview!
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