JORDAN WARD Releases Sophomore Album 'Backward'

Today, St. Louis singer and songwriter Jordan Ward releases his highly anticipated sophomore album, BACKWARD via ARTium Recordings / Interscope Records. The album arrives executive produced by Lido and featuring collaborations with SAILORR, Smino, and TiaCorine.

The “THEMSELVES” video shows off Jordan’s natural fluidity as both an artist and performer. Set in an apartment parking lot, the visual finds him moving in and out of formation with dancers as his band plays behind him, blending moments that feel both spontaneous and choreographed. It follows last week’s COLORSxSTUDIOS performance of BACKWARD opener “STRANGER”, a stripped back moment that spotlighted the subtle warmth of his voice. Watch HERE.

Fans were previously treated to singles including the introspective “CHAMPION SOUND,” blunted love letter “SMOKIN POTNA” featuring SAILORR, and “JUICY,” an aspirational cut about finding peace and settling down. In the lead-up to BACKWARD, Jordan also covered YAMS Magazine, previewed additional songs via the intimate “A Night In With Jordan Ward” in Atlanta, and shared background on his path to the project in an accompanying video interview.

Jordan Ward will bring BACKWARD to life when he heads back out on the road next month with his headlining The Apartment Tour, set to kick off February 18 in Vancouver and travel through major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, London, and more. Jordan will join J.I.D as a special guest for the Australia and New Zealand leg of his "God Does Like World Tours" this May. Tickets and more info can be found HERE, and the tour’s full routing is listed below.

Wed 13 May 2026 – Shed 10 – Auckland, NZFri 15 May 2026 – Riverstage – Brisbane, QLDSat 16 May 2026 – Margaret Court Arena – Melbourne, VICWed 20 May 2026 – Hordern Pavilion – Sydney, NSWSat 23 May 2026 – Metro City – Perth, WA

The new album follows the success of FORWARD, which included appearances from Joyce Wrice, Ryan Trey, Gwen Bunn, and Joony, and landed on 2023 best-album lists from Rolling Stone, NPR, Complex, UPROXX, and others. Jordan was then nominated for Outstanding New Artist at the 55th NAACP Image Awards, played the 2024 BET Experience festival, and hit stages across the globe, including supporting J.I.D and Smino on the Luv Is 4Ever Tour.

BACKWARD

1. “STRANGER”

2. “SMOKING POTNA” with SAILORR

3. “HIGH FUNCTIONING”

4. “BWD (INTERLUDE)”

5. “ROSS FIT”

6. “NOISY NEIGHBORS”

7. “CHANGE OF SCENERY”

8. “JUICY”

9. “THEMSELVES”

10. “TAKE-OUT”

11. “TIL THEN”

12. “CHAMPION SOUND”

13. “Y”

14. “CUTTI” with Smino [BONUS]

15. “CARSEX” with TiaCorine [BONUS]