Eleri Ward, Folk Guitar Interpreter Of Sondheim Music, Kicks Off National Tour For New Album In New York City Tonight

Singer-songwriter Eleri Ward is kicking off a national concert tour for her new album, Keep A Tender Distance, an introspective folk guitar exploration of Stephen Sondheim’s music, at Sony Hall in New York tonight.

Joining Ward—who opened for Josh Groban on his national tour last summer—will be Broadway stars Laura Benanti, Bobby Conte, Julia Murney and Samantha Pauly.

Ward’s new album follows her initial album, A Perfect Little Death, which also features Sondheim’s music and was recorded in a closet; some of her first recordings were initially posted on TikTok. Both albums have been released by Ghostlight Records.

The New York Times said Ward “has fused this emo Sondheim register with a familiar coffeehouse folk sound, adding delicate fingerpicking guitar accompaniment to support her limber, expressive soprano.”

“Making this second album has been entirely different than the first in many ways, first of which is: collaboration. A Perfect Little Death was recorded completely on my own, I arranged each song alone . . .I had very clear ideas for how I wanted everything to be,” Ward said.

“In order to choose the songs for this second collection,” she continued, “I go for the compositions I love, feel connected with and hear the arrangements for in my head. Inspiration never leads me astray, so that’s what I follow. These were the songs that spoke with the most clarity and passion.”

A New York-based actor, singer and musician, Chicago native Ward has been singing and acting since she was eight. She studied songwriting at Berklee College of Music before transferring and graduating from the Boston Conservatory with a BFA in musical theater, with an emphasis on songwriting.

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