Levin singer/songwriter Dean Ward's latest song Downtown Beauty Queen is making a splash around the world and is appearing on all sorts of platforms as well as radio stations.
"I have been writing and performing songs for years," said Ward who is also a mental health and addiction support worker.
"It is really hard to get your recordings on any platform or radio station. I am used to being rejected, but this song is apparentlty striking a cord and so far no one has turned me down. I am blown away."
The song, written for NZ Music Month, was inspired by one of his clients.
"In my work I so often see the most beautiful young people, especially girls, who are trapped in a world of alcohol and drugs while trying to raise kids. I am a dad and I shudder at the thought that this could have happend to my kids."
You may know Dean as the writer/singer of Livin on the Kāpiti Coast, Cruzin around the Coromandel, Edmund Hillary memorial song and Selene. He's also played for some top bands like The Mandelz, The Kiwis and 2face.
Downtown Beauty Queen by Dean Ward Well she gets up every morning Gets the kids out of bed It's another day of struggle She wonders how she got here No money in her hand Her man don't love her Just as much as he can Now she wash'n nappies Dream'n of another man She thinks she's going crazy Wants to walk out that door Chorus: She's a downtown beauty queen stuck in her day dream She's reachin' for the bottle takes another swallow Roles another jay blows her blues away Sings up her favourite song As she fills her water bong She smokes another cigarette She scrubs the kitchen floor She wonders how she got here Can't take it no more Wants to run away Now dreams of lovin' once more.
Ward said the young lady who inspired the song, has heard the song and is "responding nicely".
Ward has been part of lots of local bands and is currently performing solo. He has performed in clubs and at social functions over the years and will be part of this month's NZ Music Month event on May 25. He will be performing at Focal Point in Levin.
Downtown Beauty Queen is a country rock song and was recorded less than a week ago at Lindale Studios in Waikanae. Ward wrote the tune and the lyrics, while Te Horo's Phil Smart did the arrangement. It is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Amazon and can be heard on lots of country radio stations as well as BeachFM.
