Meet Ross Alan | Country Disco Pop Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ross Alan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ross, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I think people outside the music industry probably don’t realize how much work independent artists do. Yes, I write music and perform it. But, when you’re just starting out? You book your own shows. You fight for yourself in every conversation and in every board room. You make your own album art. You decide what costumes work and do not for the shows. You decide the set lists and the track listing and how much goes into an album. You’re the one who directs and edits and creates the visuals and music videos. Everything comes out of your own wallet and no one says thank you.

I love this art form more than any other. But I work my ass off. It’s not just writing music and showing up.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As cliche as it sounds, I am truly unlike anyone else artistically. I don’t really fit into one genre. Started with synth pop, went into neo-soul, did radio pop for a while and now I’m headed into country disco (which is totally uncharted territory and feels the most authentically me). I am working on my next record and I am elated at the thought of what I am doing creatively. My friends make fun of me because I won’t shut up about it.

My journey has been a long one, and I definitely haven’t made it easier on myself. And not just in the obvious gender journey to realizing I am non-binary or the sexuality journey to redefining my version of being bisexual. Creatively too! I avoided honoring the country roots in me because I was desperate to get away from my midwest birthright. Now that I’m leaning in, it feels so soothing. Like I put on a pair of heeled cowboy boots for the first time that fit just right.

I’d say the two things I need people to know about my brand are as follows:

1. I am not going anywhere. I’m gonna work hard and long. I’ve got a lot in my head I am excited to share.
2. Expect the unexpected. I will never be pinned down creatively and I want that to be part of the ride.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, Los Angeles is one of my favorite places in the world. So I’ll take you through what I do every year for my birthday. I wake up and grab a fruit juice from a local cafe. I go for a hike in Griffith Park, ending up at the Griffith Observatory. This gives me the opportunity to experience visual gratitude at the beautiful city I live in. The view of downtown, the Hollywood sign, the hills… it’s breathtaking if you let it be.

Once the hike ends, I swing by a sandwich shop in Burbank called ‘The Carving Board’ (omnivores, get the Steak Diane sandwich) before heading to the Row DTLA. Once there, I get a super affordable and absolutely massive bouquet of flowers from ‘Jean Pascals’. Then I end the day either with a dinner with friends, a movie at AMC or performing a show. There is nothing quite as spicy as a live Burlesque show or some live music in Los Angeles.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My success has always and will always be thanks to the people who believe in me. I don’t know how comfortable I am with the term fans yet, but my friends and the ones who lift me up. It’s the ones who show up at the shows and sing the lyrics and share the music online. It’s the ones who hype me up and keep me focused on why I do what I do.

It’s no small feat to me how much kindness and love it takes to support an artist in their early years.

Website: https://www.rossalanmusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rossalanmusic/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/rossalanmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rossalanmusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RossAlanmusic

Image Credits
Image 1: Brendan Kimmet Image 2: Rachel Martin Image 3: B. Counts Image 4: N. Escabedo Image 5: Stephen Achzinger Image 6: Rachel Martin