Inside Ward Davis’s New Album Here I Am
In a recent interview, country singer-songwriter Ward Davis shared details about his upcoming studio album Here I Am, set for release this Friday, February 13. Davis wrote every song on the record except “Stray Dogs and Alley Cats” and the title track, “Here I Am,” making the project largely a deeply personal collection of his own stories, perspectives, and experiences.
He spoke candidly about how his songwriting process has evolved since he got sober nearly five years ago. He explained that, in the past, regret often fueled his creativity. “Before that, like, when I was drinking, it was a lot of it was just a hangover and you had regrets you wrote about most of the time, and good times to write your way out of the regret,” he said. That emotional aftermath gave him a ready-made place to pull from creatively, even if it came from an unhealthy cycle.
Now, Davis says inspiration arrives differently and less predictably. Without the emotional extremes of drinking, he relies more on lived experiences, empathy, and hindsight to spark new material. “My process is like, I have to experience something, or I have to have a profound amount of hindsight or empathy where I just become inspired to write,” he shared. “That’s not something I can really force anymore.” As he’s gotten older, he’s found that this slower, more intentional approach has become even more true.
Davis also acknowledged the paradox of writing from a place of contentment. He described his current life as peaceful and fulfilling, from co-parenting amicably with his ex-wife to touring, releasing new music, and preparing for his Grand Ole Opry debut. “I’m happy, you know, I have a pretty peaceful life,” he said. “I’ve got a record coming out. I’m touring and playing the grand old Opry… I’ve got a really good life.” While he’s grateful for that stability, it means he has to dig deeper emotionally to write compelling songs. “I can’t sit around and write about how happy I am all the time, so I have to, I have to dig a little deeper than I used to as well,” he admitted. “That’s not always easy, and hardly ever.”
Latest Single: “I Need To Be Still”
The project includes his latest single “I Need To Be Still,” released via MNRK Music Group alongside a new lyric video. The track serves as the third and final preview from the forthcoming record.
“I Need To Be Still” reflects the emotional heart of the album, touching on temptation, consequence, and choosing restraint over regret. The song highlights Davis’s signature storytelling style and raw vocal delivery that have made him a respected voice among country and Americana fans.
In a previous press release, Davis explained the lengthy writing process behind it. “It took me three months to write ‘I Need To Be Still,’” he said. “I wanted it to be real. I wanted it to be true. I found its truth in my own hindsight, and a thousand lessons to go with it. Please enjoy the record we cut for my song and know I wrote it about something I didn’t live but wish I had.”
The process of writing this song was also an example of how inspiration can strike at the most random times. I asked why it took three months to get it right and Davis explained how he was stuck and was essentially waiting for the final piece. One day he was driving and it was like a brick came through the windshield and hit him with the last piece of the puzzle. He was able to finish the song and was proud of the finished product.
A Collection of Songs From a Lifetime of Writing
Rather than approaching Here I Am as a themed concept album, Davis described it as a collection of songs spanning many chapters of his life. “I don’t write albums. I’m a songwriter,” he said. “Some of those songs are, you know, a year old. Some of them are 18 years old. So it’s, it’s just a collection of my music, just from a lot of different periods of my life.”
Star Collaborators and Legendary Musicians on the Record
Here I Am features a collaboration with Julianna Rankin and contributions from highly respected musicians including Dan Dugmore, Brent Mason, and Eddie Bayers. Davis spoke about how meaningful it was to work with such accomplished, Grammy-winning players on the project and expressed particular admiration for Rankin’s rising career. “She’s got a new record deal and single out, she’s killing it. She’s so good,” he said.
Davis also credited producer Jim “Moose” Brown for bringing together the musicians who played on the album, highlighting Brown’s reputation and relationships within the industry. “He’s just, he’s a great guy,” he shared. “But, yeah, I’m really lucky. Just as far as all that goes, I’ve been really lucky to work with people like Moose and all those guys.”
Here I Am Track List
- Downright Awful Stupid Beautiful Lie
- Find You In The Crowd
- Found
- Here I Am
- Hurt You
- I Need To Be Still
- To Tear Myself Apart
- Nothing On You (feat. Julianna Rankin)
- Somewhere Lonely
- Stray Dogs And Alley Cats
- Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me Right Now
A Dream Realized: Grand Ole Opry Debut on the Horizon
Davis is also preparing for a milestone moment in his career with his Grand Ole Opry debut scheduled for March 13. He requested to perform the same night as his friend and hero Steve Wariner.
Davis spoke about the significance of stepping onto the legendary stage, calling it a lifelong honor. “Oh, gosh, I can’t wait. In the country music genre, there’s no higher honor. So, it’s very humbling.”
He also shared personal memories of listening to the Opry growing up in Arkansas and plans to invite longtime friends to share in the experience.
I asked him how he’s preparing for this major moment in his career and he jokingly said that he bought new pants and they’re already on the hanger, ready to go.
From Yellowstone to Landman: How His Songs Found the Screen
Davis also discussed how his music ended up featured in Yellowstone and Landman, saying the placements were unexpected. “They were both previously released songs,” he said. “It was like both were a huge surprise.”
When asked about writing directly for television projects, Davis acknowledged that the pressure can be intimidating and said he prefers to write songs organically rather than on a deadline or under direction.
Giving Back Through Operation Song
Outside of his own music, Davis remains active with Operation Song, an organization that pairs songwriters with veterans and active-duty military personnel to help them share their stories through music. He recently participated in a writing session with a Vietnam War veteran and described the experience as deeply meaningful.
From Arkansas Roots to Nashville Songs
Born in Monticello, Arkansas, Ward Davis moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he built a career as a songwriter and recording artist. He has written songs for Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Trace Adkins, Cody Jinks, Wade Hayes, Sammy Kershaw, and many others.
His 2015 debut album, 15 Years in a 10 Year Town, included collaborations with Nelson and Jamey Johnson and featured “Unfair Weather Friend,” later recorded by Nelson and Haggard. His 2020 album Black Cats and Crows explored themes of heartbreak and resilience with contributions from Cody Jinks, Kendell Marvel, and Shawn Camp.
Known for raw honesty and traditional country roots, Davis continues to earn praise as one of the genre’s most authentic voices.
Ward Davis 2026 Tour Dates
Catch Ward Davis live! Here are the upcoming 2026 shows that have been announced so far:
- Thu, Feb. 12 Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Fri, Feb. 13 Flint, Mich.
- Sat, Feb. 14 Wapakoneta, Ohio
- Thu, Feb. 26 Waterloo, Neb.
- Wed, March 4 Springfield, Mo.
- Thu, March 5 Kansas City, Mo.
- Fri, March 6 St. Louis, Mo.
- Fri, March 13 Nashville, Tenn. (Grand Ole Opry performance)
- Thu, March 19 Yantis, Texas
- March 20–21 Abilene, Texas (Outlaws and Legends Music Fest)
- Sat, March 21 Buda, Texas
For more information on Ward Davis, visit his website: warddavismusic.com.
