For Jim Ward, Sparta has always been a special part of his musical journey. Though only up until the last two years has it really all slotted into place.

Since first returning to the name back in 2018, plenty of music has been produced, but none as laser-focused, compelling and wonderfully crafted as is found on the recently released ‘Cut A Silouhette’. As perfect a collection of rock songs as you’re going to hear in 2026, there are few factors that have allowed this to be possible.

One is that is has been recorded alongside J. Robbins, known for his time with Jawbox and a personal hero of Jim’s as much as now a close friend and collaborator. Another is that it was created in just seven days rather than over a drawn out period where overthinking and nitpicking can take place.

But the main one is that Jim is happy, healthy and grateful to be able to make music more than he probably ever has been. The result is infectious, and feels like an instantly timeless addition to a career full of innovation and expression.

To find out more about the process and how Jim is feeling at this point in the journey, Rock Sound caught up with him for a little chat.

Rock Sound: How are you summing up where you find yourself right now, not just within your music, but within yourself?

Jim: I think the coolest part for me is that I get to see it with 49-year-old eyes. I’ve lived through so much of this stuff so many times in such different situations and in different levels of awareness. From being out of it or burned out or drunk, to going through it as healthy as I’ve ever been, mentally and emotionally and physically, has been pretty incredible. I think it’s one of those things where you can’t manufacture these moments. You can make the best record in the world, and if all the stars aren’t aligned, it just doesn’t really matter. But I think this time I can recognise what’s happening in the moment, and I can enjoy it. And that’s what I’ve been trying to do. I go into every rehearsal and show and every soundcheck grateful. To be able to be still doing this with my head intact and enjoying it is areal privilege, honestly. I’m like a rock and roll cat; I keep on getting more lives, and I love it. I’m really here for it.

To be six years on from choosing to return to Sparta and release music again, and feel that way, is something rather special, to be honest. Because to make that decision, you’re almost having to immediately ask yourself if it’s the right thing to do, whether you’re just shouting into the void for the sake of it.

Jim: The thing is, I wanted to start Sparta again in 2018 because I wasn’t in good shape for the At The Drive-In stuff from 2016. I’m a big believer in that things happen in the universe, and I try to not hold on to anything as much as you can. But I just wanted to play fucking loud. I didn’t want to start a new thing. I wanted to play with Matt. That was the main thing. So, I just called him and said, “Do you want just to play one show? Just get a lineup together, dudes that we love, and play that one show and then not make any decisions before that show is finished.

So we did that, and then we increased it every time. Let’s do a Texas tour. Let’s do a week on tour. Let’s make a record. And then COVID happened, and that changed everything. But I want to do this if it’s fun. Because I’ve done it in every version, and really, when it’s fun, it’s the most magical life on EarthEarth. It’s better than any drug. And when it’s not fun, it’s the fucking worst thing on Earth. When it takes something that you love and makes it unbearable, it’s the worst thing. So I just wanted to go in increments, and I think everything, for whatever reason, led to this lineup, to these songs, to this label. Everything slowly slid into place. I don’t want to predetermine anything that’s going to happen. I’m just trying to go with the flow, and It’s just worked out really well this time, and it feels so good.

RS: It feels like a lot of that comes through in the music and the lyrics that define this album. There is a real purity to the message you are putting across, where it feels like you are totally at peace. That must be a nice place to be as an artist.

Jim: It’s so incredible, and I mean I’m just so grateful for it. I feel like, looking back, there are a lot of things where I think, ‘I wish I had been a little bit more appreciative of the moment’, or, ‘I wish I had been a little bit more aware or self-aware’. Every day is a learning process, and you’re still trying to figure out who you are. The race to honesty is one that I want to keep running, and it’s not easy. Because our job is, to some degree, above reality. To be an escape. And so, I try and find that lane for myself where I want to make honest music, but I also want to entertain and engage myself. So, I’ve found that using words that have multiple meanings has helped with that. And I think when the foundations of what you’re doing are really pure and honest, then it gives you like a lot of leeway to be able to spend the time working on those parts. We just worked really hard on this record, and we spent a year on it from start to finish before we ever got to the studio. That’s the longest I’ve ever spent just writing and recording and demoing and trashing and starting over, which I had never really done before, and now I’m like super hooked on it.

I only booked seven days. Some people on our team were like, ‘Let’s hold studios in L.A. for the next week, take a week off and then come back to LA’, and I was like, ‘Nah, we’ll be done.’ And within the first 10 minutes of the first day, I knew it.

RS: It feels like more than anything, you clearly had unfinished business with Sparta as a project. Rather than moving on to something else, you’ve put yourself all back in with a name that has been with you for decades. What does it mean to have been able to get the reins on that name in the way you have once again?

Jim: It’s such a good question, and it’s one that I haven’t really been able to put into words. I came into this band with a really immense amount of baggage; I didn’t start Sparta. I came in because Paul and Tony wanted me to come. They wanted me to be the singer of their band. It took me a long time to sort of deal with the chip on my shoulder and take real ownership of my role. It’s really hard to explain because I don’t know how I got here, really. Even looking back, I can see some key moments, but it’s all culminated in the last two years. Like the last two years were hard, and it’s a hard time for the world, and it’s a hard time to be alive. I think maybe part of it is just getting to this age, and a lot of bullshit gets cut out the older you get. You stop caring about certain things that you used to care about. But I’m not quite at the age where I’m thinking about like the legacy or anything. So I’m kind of in a sweet spot right now. And with that, now I want to feel good.

And the thing is that I talk to every person that’s ever been in this band. I communicate with every person that’s ever stepped on stage in Sparta, and I love that. Like, I love being able to send people notes, check in on the family, and see what’s going on. A lot of the drama part has evaporated, honestly, and what’s happening now is just really pure. And all for the love of music. There’s no big payday, and nobody’s arguing over royalties. Like that’s it’s just all those days are done.

And it also makes me so grateful that I started At The Drive-In when I was 17 because it’s taken 32 years to get to this point, right? Because I started young, I got to go through all this stuff, even when it seemed like a curse at the time to be young and being successful and getting out of your mind with shit. But it was cool to go through that and get through it. We all survived. We all lived through it, and we’re still young enough not to regret all that stuff. I’m just so grateful for this whole journey.

RS: It makes you realise that pivotal moments aren’t exclusive to your youth. You can feel the way you want to about music at any point in your life, and life can show you something new without borders or boundaries. And that is a lifelong feeling you can tap into.

Jim: When we started writing this record, which was July of 2024, I consciously went back. I listened to all the records that I loved when I was 15 and 16, and that’s how we landed on J.. Like, when I was 15, I would have killed to just be in a room with him, and like now I can actually call him asking if he would be interested and he can say, ‘Fuck yeah, I would be’. That’s such an easy thing now.

But yeah, going back made me realise that shit’s not in a time capsule. It’s still here with me every day, and I can access it and still be inspired by it. I can still get turned on to the younger generations and the Turnstiles and the Billie Eilishs and everybody who’s learned from our generation who is doing something so interesting and unique and wonderful.

I know there’s a sunset in my future. I know that singing this way is not physically possible to do forever, but that’s why I’m saying I’m not at the point where I worry about that yet, but like I know.  I know these are the days to enjoy. I know that this is when I need just to be carefree and fucking loving every day that I can.

Sparta are set to make their return to the UK and Europe later this year, with support coming from Hammok. Here are all of the dates.

OCTOBER

04 – DUBLIN The Sound House
06 – BRISTOL The Croft
07 – MANCHESTER Yes
08 – NOTTINGHAM Rock City Beta
10 – GLASGOW Stereo
11 – HUDDERSFIELD The Parish
12 – BIRMINGHAM Castle & Falcon
13 – LONDON Downstairs at The Dome
14 – BRIGHTON Patterns
15 – ST ALBANS The Horn
17 – PARIS Petit Bain
18 – ARNHEM Willemeen
19 – COLOGNE Garagen
20 – BERLIN Neue Zukunft
21 – HAMBURG Betty
22 – KORTRIJK Wilde Western