Christopher the Conquered is returning to play at the M-Shop after two years Saturday, April 5 at 9 p.m. with doors opening at 8:30 p.m.

Christopher the Conquered is mainly comprised of Chris Ford, a co-founder of Maximum Ames Records, member of Gloom Balloon and member of the Des Moines Music Coalition. Ford has been preforming since 2007 when he released his first album I Guess That’s What We Are Dying For.

 “I haven’t playing the M-shop in a while it seems like,” Ford said. “I’m looking forward to bringing a new band to town.”

Christopher the Conquered plays with a lot of different background musicians, Ford said. There have been many recent additions like a new saxophone player and female background vocalists, said Ford. Most of the new additions have only been playing with Christopher the Conquered for only a few shows.

Ford has recently returned from Memphis where he has been recording his new album, in Ardent Studios, set to drop in the spring of 2015. 

“There’s still a lot of recording to do and mixing to do but I am very excited,” Ford said. 

Ford’s friend, Patrick Tape Fleming of Gloom Balloons and The Poison Control Center, is producing the album and decided where is should be recorded, Ford said, and Memphis was it. The record is more piano based and soulful, said Ford, “it was the best studio for the record we wanted to make up.” 

With this new album, Ford is trying to make it more for others than for himself. Ford’s goal with this new album is to make it more assessable to others and provide more soulful and groovy tracks that will have people clapping along, bobbing their heads or singing along with the words.

“It’s hopefully more about the songs and less about me,” said Ford. 

Ford plans to play most of his newer music at upcoming shows. His goal is to introduce what they are planning on doing with his new album and get a feel on how the audience reacts to it. Most everything being played will be brand new said Ford.

With just getting back from recording in Memphis, Ford has managed to stay pretty busy with working at Maximum Ames, the Des Moines Music Coalition and playing as Christopher the Conquered. Though being on the road can get pretty busy Ford expressed how traveling around has been greatly beneficial for him by allowing making new connections and see what other musicians are doing.

Ford will be playing as Christopher the Conquered along side We Are The Willows, Saturday, April 5 at 9 p.m. Tickets are available for $7 for public and $5 for students who show their ISU Student ID at the M-Shop box office or on Miswestix, with a $2 cover charge the day of the show.