All Photos taken in downtown Fort Worth by Alan Mercer
Aliza Ford is a Country Singer, songwriter, and musician from Fort Worth, Texas.
At five years old, Aliza's father, Chance Ford, bought him a drum set for Christmas because he eventually wanted a drummer for his band. Right away his parents knew he had musical potential because he could already keep time. The drums were too loud for the apartments they lived in, so Aliza gravitated to the guitar instead.
At about age 10, Aliza began to get serious about the guitar. His dad started teaching him everything he knew about heavy metal. In high school, Aliza and his friends formed a garage band called Envenom. The band entered their school's talent show with Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and they took first place. A year later, at age 16, Aliza began developing a new passion for country music. He took the skills his dad taught him about songwriting, and he started writing country music like his influences such as Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Senior, George Jones, and Elvis Presley.
Over the years, Aliza has developed his own unique sound. When you hear his music, you know for a fact it’s an Aliza Ford song.
Aliza is currently working full time as a carpenter, but he has definitely found that his passion in life is singing and playing his music for the world, giving glory to God that he now knows his purpose in life.
Alan Mercer: Aliza, let’s talk about your new release, ‘Four Strong Walls’ coming out at the end of April. How did you come up with the name?
Aliza Ford: I was having a bad day and that’s what Country music is all about. I don’t know really; the song just came out.
AM: What is your writing process?
AF: I have different ways of writing my songs. Sometimes I start with the guitar and write a riff, or I might start with a verse and go from there. My songs have to have a beginning a middle and an ending. It’s like a book.
AM: I’m so excited to hear the new album. How many cuts are on it?
AF: We put 7 songs so it would be an album and not an EP.
AM: When did you record ‘Somewhere I Belong' and how long has it been available?
AF: I recorded it in 2016 and it’s been available for almost 2 years.
AM: Wow, it’s brand new to me.
AF: I wrote those songs when I was 16 years old.
AM: I can’t stand it. They are so good. Do you still like the songs?
AF: Yes, but the level I’m at now when I look back at the songs, I become my worst critic. To me, they could be way better.
AM: How did you get to record your first record?
AF: My dad and I ran into a producer from Nashville named Billy Herzig. My dad is a builder and we started talking to him. My dad suggested that Billy and we do a trade. We could build his studio and he could produce a ten song CD for me. So that’s what we did.
AM: So, your dad is your biggest fan.
AF: He has to be. (Laughter)
AM: How long did it take to build the studio?
AF: It took a year.
AM: And how long did it take to record the album?
AF: That also took almost a year. He would record me whenever he could. It was fine by me. That was my first time in a studio.
AM: Is it true that you actually started out in heavy metal?
AF: When I was in high school, we had a heavy metal band called Envenom. I had long hair and the leather jacket. My best friend Austin Garcia played bass. We would jam on weekends and I would write most of the songs.
AM: Did you take the band seriously?
AF: I took it very seriously. I thought we were going to be rock stars. The rest of the band wasn’t really serious about it.
AM: What happened to get you into Country music?
AF: I had a weird turn in high school when I was 16 years old. I was going through a lot of anxiety and I think that’s what did it. I did a 360 turn around. I started getting into Johnny Cash and Hank Sr. and I realized how great these guys were. I started watching the movie, ‘Walk The Line’ about a thousand times.
AM: Johnny Cash…they don’t make em like that anymore.
AF: They don’t.
AM: You have a very natural Country Rock music style that I enjoy. I especially like the minor chords you use in some of your songs.
AF: That creates the mood.
AM: A lot of your songs have a cinematic quality. I can easily imagine them in movie soundtracks.
AF: My songs paint a picture.
AM: Your song, ‘Broken Hearted Dream’ is incredible and I love ‘Don’t Be Like Me.’
AF: I wrote that being inspired by Megadeath, believe it or not. I wrote the riff first and the lyrics just poured out. In fact, most of the songs on the first album just poured out naturally. Also, I recorded a few of my dad’s songs. We write together.
AM: Which ones are his?
AF: ‘Drinking My Sorrows Away’ is one of his and also ‘Wrong Side Of Midnight’ and a few others. He’s my go to guy if I have any questions. He’s my editor too.
AM: I love his songs too! Do you have several unrecorded songs that you want to record eventually?
AF: Yes, one song on the upcoming ‘Four Strong Walls’ album called ‘I Just Don’t Care Anymore’ was written when I was sixteen. I want to say I have about 30 unrecorded songs. I’d like to go into the studio and knock out a bunch of singles.
AM: Who produced the new album?
AF: Jude Dyllan with Red Dirt Records produced my second album. Half of the new album was sponsored by HJ Foundation. It’s the Heart Journey Local Music Foundation. They gave me a nice investment. I’ve had a lot of equipment given to me.
AM: Sounds like the universe is supporting you.
AF: It is. The guitar I’m using now was given to me.
AM: Did you start off playing the guitar as a youngster?
AF: My dad started me off on drums. He wanted me to be his drummer, (Laughter) but I got a hold of the guitar when I was 5 years old, I just stuck with it. I was so interested in it. I wanted to learn different things.
AM: I’m glad you stuck with it.
AF: At first it was a hobby for me, and I loved it so much I kept singing and playing music. I had other hobbies like fishing and being a black belt in taekwondo, but music took over my life. I’m getting chills now just talking about it. I can’t get away from it. It’s part of my life.
AM: Those of us who like your music are very happy about that.
AF: My songs are like reading my diary. If I can touch anyone with my music, that means the world to me.
To learn more about Aliza Ford follow his facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Aliza.C.Ford/