A Quick Chat With Michael Ward

Michael Ward finds plenty to be grateful for on How Good Can This Get?, an uplifting country-roots anthem about slowing down and appreciating where life has taken you. Blending warm acoustic guitars, earthy rock grooves and an infectious chorus, the Western Australian singer-songwriter turns everyday moments into a reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do is stop looking ahead and enjoy what is already around you. Following No Regrets, Michael continues to channel Australian rock, roots and blues through his down-to-earth storytelling, with the new single arriving ahead of a huge 18-date national tour. We caught up with Michael Ward to talk about How Good Can This Get? and more.

What does this track mean to you, and what do you hope people take away from it?

To me this track is about both being happy and grateful for what we have, savoring the big and the little things in life but it’s also about growth. Following the journey I took from childhood, through adolescence and into family life there is a theme that music is the one thing that has threaded its way through each stage of life. Sometimes I feel like we can take a sunset for granted, it comes every day, but it’s also pretty magical how they are never the same, they are all pretty amazing in their own right and they last only a few seconds before they vanish. I hope people listening to this song have a thought for what tiny things they experience every day that make them feel that same magic. I have loved lots of things in my life and while family life is hard and can be overwhelmingly chaotic at times I can’t recall anything that’s made me so humbled as my kids. Like the sunset, they can grow up and vanish from each stage of childhood before you know it. There’s a void when they’re not around and so I also hope that the song connects with people to take stock of the family we have, however that looks, and take 5 seconds to bring them in and cherish them before those times are gone forever.

On a less deep and serious note, the song is also about connecting through music, particularly live music. Getting together, singing along, being involved in the show, playing live music and experiencing the joy of performing live too. There is a very catchy hook in the choruses which allows even a novice to pick up easily and belt out and become part of the band.

Where do you tend to find inspiration when you're writing?

Inspiration most often comes while I’m driving, I do lots of driving around WA on tour and there are huge stretches of time on the road (up to 16 hrs a day) so there is plenty of time to let the mind explore, create and develop ideas. I’m usually driven by an emotion and I’ll be listening to whatever songs fit that mood. From there I’ll usually latch onto something that sticks, wont go away and will simmer and bubble in my brain until it grows into something more tangible. I also get inspiration a lot from live shows, I love seeing passionate performers and how they can move a crowd. There’ll be something that I’ll want to take from that and make my own version of it, recreate that energy, replicate that influence on people. I’ve been doing a lot of Country Music festivals around Australia over the last couple of years and more recently been an MC for them too which has given me the ability to be on the side of the stage watching these absolute legendary headliners and emerging artists. It’s been a real privilege to be in that position, seeing both sides of a show and meeting such elite artists while in their element.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and what have you taken from them?

Musical influences, I chuckle here because some of them may not be super evident in my original work but I have mad respect for these artists and how they’ve influenced my work. Metallica, early Silverchair, Slipknot and Tool are some heavy artists but I connect heavily to their lyrics and genius behind their work. They are somehow complex and yet also so simple, they’ve found unparalleled touch in my opinion. The heavy grooves that come through in my work can be attributed to these influences for sure. Their ability to not play additionally complex things for the sake of it, strip back what isn’t needed, make lyrics powerful are all things I admire from these artists. Further influences include the incredible John Butler, The Waifs, Cold Chisel & The Whitlams. The influence I draw from these is their ability to paint such great Australian stories and themes. They are all great performers and have such unique song structures which is where I feel my song’s gain their narrative influence and Australiana themes from.

What usually comes first for you when writing a song: a lyric, melody, idea or something else entirely?

The first thing that comes into mind is an idea, a concept that resonates, something that drives me and makes me feel something or a certain way. From there I explore the idea, how do I share that concept or emotion. I’ll brainstorm some ideas and explore some musical styles and then I’ll grab the acoustic guitar to develop melodies, the song’s key and flesh out some structure. Sometimes this is a very quick process and everything comes out all at once (No regrets – my last single- was written in a very short space of time) and other songs have taken an age. Some upcoming releases later in 2026 have been workshopped again and again for over 20 years. Sometimes I’ll jam it out with the band and see what the bring to the table and other times I’ll hit the studio and layer some basic demo’s down. I’ll listen back to the demo’s over and over again, exploring where my instinct wants to take me, trialing new parts and seeing what sticks. Then I’ll workshop things with my vocal coach, who is amazing, we’ll explore what I’m trying to sing and where I should be singing and what styles/sounds we should consider. She’s amazing. And from there, boom, the song is born. Some songs never make it to the live show because they were written just for me, written because I needed to get it out, get something off my chest. It can be a bit like therapy I guess.

What do you think separates a good song from a great one?

Haha,… legit million dollar question hey. If I knew the exact answer to that I’d probably be planning a stadium world tour rather than just my Australian pub tour. Honestly, I don’t know. A good song to me is a song that I find meaning in or it instils an emotion from me time and time again while I’m listening to it. Why one song does that over a million other ones though is the hard part. I couldn’t say it’s the production because I’ve heard local artists with tiny budgets and low production create some great songs, sometimes lyrics mean a heap but also artists like Korn who scat through song sections with jibberish or even instrumentals can hit home equally as effectively. So maybe in summary a good song for me is one that can drive an emotion but why any particular song can do that next to others is something I have no wisdom on but am happily searching for.

If you could jump into the studio with any artist, who would it be and why?

Ooooft, Great question. There are so many that I would jump at the chance to be in a studio with. I think if I had to pick just one person it would have to be James Hetfield from Metallica. His body of accomplished work spans my entire life and every era, every album he’s written has songs that I love. I think he would be fascinating to meet, chat with and write/record a song with. I feel that his total experience and musical wisdom would mean more to me than any other artist. He probably wouldn’t even need to play or sing. Just chatting with him would be just wild.

Who are a few local or Australian artists you think people should have on their radar?

There’s quite a few local artists that I think people should definitely have on their radar. Claudia Tripp & Amberley Maryellen are both incredible country artists who could easily be on any main stage festival across Australia, and they probably will be in the near future too. Great songwriting, very impressive vocalists and great live energy. They’re both award winning artists and have songs that could go toe to toe with any other headlining female country artist in Australia right now. There’s also Charlie Youngson who is an acoustic roots artist with the whole package. Great live performer and mind blowing skills. He’s already turning heads and I have no doubt is lining up to be following John Butler and Xavier Rudd’s footsteps. I also rate Ben Catley, another WA acoustic roots artist with a very well credentialed resume. A very rare and unique live show that should not be overlooked. Get around these artists, they won’t let you down!

What's something outside of music that you're really into at the moment?

I do a lot of things in addition to music. I love to surf when I get the chance and love being able to walk down to my local beach with my longboard. It’s somewhere in-between walking on water and flying, a total rush and pure joy. I’ve been completely addicted to surfing since I learnt when I was turning 30 and I enjoying taking the board out when I can while on tour across this gorgeous country. It levels me out and gives me great balance (pun intended). I have 3 sons and family time is always a high priority. Junior sport, their own musical interests and seeing them grow. I’m pleased too that they are at the stage now where it can be a real workout trying to keep up with them. Kicking a footy, skate parks, hikes, racquet sports, the beach & fun runs. They are an absolute joy and make me very proud to be their dad. I also run financial services businesses. Wealth management and retirement planning is something I’ve done for decades and am grateful for how the business has turned out. I have wonderful clients who share their lives with me and my brain thoroughly enjoys the challenges of solving whatever financial issues they face. Some people may find this side of my life quite sterile and boring but I struggle to see my life without all these people and my role here. Running these businesses has also allowed me to tour and travel as freely as I have to further my musical career.

Morning person or night owl?

I’m definitely a morning person, love seeing the sun come up and seeing the world come to life as it gains its colors. It definitely helps too with getting my boys sorted for the day and catching a wave when the opportunity comes. I also feel like if I were to sleep in that I’d be missing out on so much of the day, it’d be a huge waste.

What does the rest of 2026 look like for Michael Ward?

For the rest of 2026 there are another 3 singles being released and a huge Australian Tour which includes my first festival show in Tasmania and festival shows in WA & VIC in addition to more than a dozen other shows across WA and SA/VIC. It’s a hectic run and workload but I love it and couldn’t stop if I tried. We’ve been getting so many opportunities and are at the point where I have to balance some by picking only the best opportunities that arise. I’m very excited to be getting on the road again and catching up with so many amazing people I’ve met from around the country and to also be releasing some new songs that I think are absolute bangers. 2027 is also starting to be booked out too and have already been accepted to 4 festivals on the East side as well as a tour with a hall of fame country music legend. Can’t wait!

Michael Ward The 'How Good Can This Get?' - Australian Tour 2026

Thu 3 Sep 2026 – Denham Town Hall – Denham, WA
Fri 4 Sep 2026 – Onslow Beach Resort – Onslow, WA
Sat 5 Sep 2026 – Whalebone Brewery – Exmouth, WA
Sun 6 Sep 2026 – Bills Bar – Coral Bay, WA
Fri 2 Oct 2026 – Prince of Wales Hotel – Bunbury, WA
Sat 3 Oct 2026 – Mandurah Country Music Festival – Mandurah, WA
Sun 4 Oct 2026 – The River Hotel – Margaret River, WA
Sat 10 Oct 2026 – Gidgestock Music Festival – Gidgegannup, WA
Fri 23 Oct 2026 – Exeter Hotel – Adelaide, SA
Sat 24 Oct 2026 – Horsham Country Music Festival – Horsham, VIC
Sun 25 Oct 2026 – The Mallee Hen – Lascelles, VIC
Fri 13 Nov 2026 – 459 Bar – Perth, WA
Sat 14 Nov 2026 – King River Tavern – Albany, WA
Sun 15 Nov 2026 – Indian Ocean Hotel – Scarborough, WA
Sun 29 Nov 2026 – Launceston Country Music Festival – Launceston, TAS
Fri 18 Dec 2026 – Nickel Bar – Kambalda, WA
Sat 19 Dec 2026 – 33 Degrees – Esperance, WA
Sun 20 Dec 2026 – Lucky Bay Brewery – Esperance, WA

Interviewsaustralianmusicscene28 August 2026