Photo: Charlie Ward
ZZ Ward Unleashes ‘Naked In The Jungle” Blues Anthem
Acclaimed singer-songwriter ZZ Ward continues her return to the blues with “Naked in the Jungle,” the latest single from her forthcoming album Liberation, out March 14 via Sun Records. Following the release of “Love Alive,” this new track showcases another deeply personal chapter in ZZ’s journey—this time exploring the raw and unfiltered experience of new motherhood through an electrifying blues-rock lens.
Evoking the dirty denim Americana of Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Naked in the Jungle” is a restless and blues-driven anthem that captures the unpredictability, exhaustion, and intensity of early motherhood. “It’s like you’re dropped in the jungle with no tools, and no one to guide you,” ZZ shares. “The thing that works one day doesn’t work the next, and you’re contending with a lack of sleep.” Through gritty guitar riffs, driving percussion, and ZZ’s powerhouse vocals, the song channels the disorienting yet empowering experience of navigating an entirely new world without a roadmap.
“Naked In The Jungle”
Stream the new single HERE
Liberation marks a pivotal moment in ZZ’s career—her debut album with Sun Records and a full-circle return to her blues roots. Born out of a transformative period in her life, the album reflects the challenges of stepping into both motherhood and artistic independence, after spending a decade on a major label where industry pressures often pulled her away from her blues foundation.
ZZ’s relationship with the blues began early. She was singing by the age of 8, inspired by her father’s deep blues collection, and performing in clubs by 12. Her early career was steeped in the genre, but after signing to a major label, she found herself drifting toward a sound that felt less and less like home. Even as she gained commercial success—her debut album breaking into Billboard’s Top 40 and her sophomore album hitting #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart—she longed to fully embrace the music that first inspired her. With Liberation, ZZ has reclaimed her space in the blues world, crafting a record that blends greasy Chicago blues, Delta foot-stomping rhythms, rootsy garage rock, and vintage soul.
The album’s first single, “Love Alive,” set the tone for this new era, blending clapping, hollering, and Son House-inspired blues with a soaring, emotionally charged chorus about keeping love strong in the face of life’s challenges. Now, with “Naked in the Jungle,” ZZ offers another powerful look into the themes that shape the album—resilience, self-discovery, and the raw reality of life’s biggest transitions.
In support of Liberation, ZZ Ward will hit the road for a nationwide headlining tour, kicking off in March. Fans can catch her at key dates including New York’s Irving Plaza (March 21), Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl (March 26), and Los Angeles’ The Belasco (April 11), among others. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit HERE
Pre-Save the album HERE
Liberation by ZZ Ward
1. Mother
2. My Baby Left Me
3. I Have No One
4. Cadillac Man
5. Love Alive
6. Naked In The Jungle
7. Liberation
8. Lioness
9. Grinnin’ In Your Face
10. Dust My Broom
11. Sinner’s Prayer
12. Something You Got
13. Clairvoyant
14. Next To You
ZZ Ward – Tour Dates
Wednesday, March 12 – Boston, MA – City Winery Boston @ 7:00 PM
Friday, March 14 – Ridgefield, CT – The Ridgefield Playhouse @ 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 15 – New York, NY – City Winery New York City @ 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 16 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery Philadelphia @ 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 18 – Annapolis, MD – Maryland Hall For the Creative Arts @ 7:00 PM
Wednesday, March 19 – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere @ 7:00 PM
Friday, March 21 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig @ 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 22 – Kent, OH – The Kent Stage @ 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 23 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom @ 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 25 – Indianapolis, IN – The Tobias Theater @ 7:00 PM
Wednesday, March 26 – Chicago, IL – City Winery Chicago @ 7:00 PM
Friday, March 28 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre @ 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 29 – West Saint Paul, MN – Fitzgerald Theatre @ 7:00 PM
Tuesday, April 1 – St. Louis, MO – City Winery St. Louis @ 7:00 PM
Wednesday, April 2 – Kansas City, MO – Madrid Theatre @ 7:00 PM
Friday, April 4 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre @ 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 5 – Dallas, TX – Longhorn Ballroom @ 7:00 PM
Sunday, April 6 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater @ 7:00 PM
Tuesday, April 8 – New Orleans, LA – Chickie Wah Wah @ 7:00 PM
Wednesday, April 9 – Memphis, TN – Hernando’s Hideaway @ 7:00 PM
Friday, April 11 – Atlanta, GA – City Winery Atlanta @ 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 12 – Nashville, TN – City Winery Nashville @ 7:00 PM
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