Madison Ryann Ward’s intimate melodies are like warm, honeyed sips of comfort. The Oklahoma-born singer-songwriter grew up on church hymns, soul singers, and blues guitarists, all of which inspire her modern fusion of folk, R&B, hip-hop, and gospel. Before turning to music full-time, Ward tore up the volleyball court as a Division 1 athlete at the University of Oklahoma, but online clips of her singing eventually caught the ear of Rick Rubin, who produced her 2018 breakthrough track, the bluesy “Mirror.” As an independent artist, she has found the freedom to explore her vast influences even further, distilling them into a minimalist sound that bursts with soul and sincerity, as heard on her 2023 debut album, A New Thing.