Getting references after a company closes - 8 months and counting

The company closed and I am not sure how to reach former colleagues. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. I have one former client who liked my work. How do you ask politely?

A client reference worked well for me. It shows you deliver outside the company too.

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 8 months ago, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.