Interview with Pam Ross

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I always loved music. I can’t say there is any particular thing that influenced me. It’s literally something I always wanted to do from my earliest memories.

I have a bachelor’s in criminal justice and a master’s in security management, so I guess I might be doing something in the legal field if I wasn’t playing music.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I like working out…running and lifting weights. I also love going to the beach. I sometimes write lyrics while I’m running. There’s been quite a few times where I have gotten stuck writing lyrics and finished them when I went running. The beach helps clear my mind and puts me in a good place.

How long have you been making music?

I started writing lyrics when I was about 13 years old and started playing guitar when I was 15. Oddly enough, I didn’t start putting music to my lyrics until I was around 20. I’ve been doing it my whole life.

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

Right now, I live in a suburb of Raleigh, NC, but that’s not where I’m from. I’ve only lived there for four years, so I don’t think this area has had a huge influence on my music. My style of writing was already developed.

I was born in Pittsburgh, spent most of my life in Houston, and lived in Nashville for several years when I was younger. Those places had a lot to do with shaping my music. Pittsburgh is a real rock ‘n roll town. At least it was when I was a little kid and that’s where my rock roots were formed. Houston has a big country scene, but it also has a big rock scene. I got into country music while living in Houston but still focused mainly on rock. I spent several years in Nashville and that had a big impact on my music. Nashville really helped me develop as a lyricist and taught me how to bring imagery to life in my songs.

Tell me about your most memorable shows, if you haven’t played live what is your vision for a live show?

My most memorable show was probably the BMI showcase at the Exit Inn in Nashville. I did several of them. It was really amazing to play for a crowd that size and everyone was listening. I also did a BMI showcase at the Saxon Pub in Austin, which was great. My favorite shows are listening rooms.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

I really love playing in Nashville. I think some of my most favorite shows have been there. The Commodore Grille is a great place to play. I always enjoy performing there. I’ve got some shows coming up there next month. Although I have played at the Bluebird Café many times, it’s always been at their open mic. I love playing there. One of my biggest goals is to play there as a booked artist.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Hmmm….good question. I’m guessing they all have to be alive, so I’m thinking the Foo Fighters, Dolly Parton, Elton John.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Be yourself. The worst thing you can do is try to imitate who’s popular right now. You can’t shine in someone else’s shadow. Be the trend setter, not a follower. That can be the harder road to take when starting off, but it pays off later.

The advice I would give to my younger self is be more open-minded. I was really head strong when I started off. I knew what I wanted and rarely listened to other people’s advice. There were times when I should have listened and wished I did. Luckily, I’m not like that anymore.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

I think that changes from time to time. For a while it’s been an unrecorded song called Who’s Gonna Save You. It’s about self-doubt and self-destruction. Recently I had a friend I grew up with die of an overdose, so a song had already written about addiction called I’m The One has been my favorites.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

Again, my favorite song to play changes. However, Fire in The Hole, Better Than a Good Thing, and Doublewide are the most requested. I always get people requesting to hear them.

What is your creative process, and what inspires you to write your music?

I usually start playing around with chords on my guitar or keyboard until I come up with a riff that I like. Sometimes I know what I want to do and sometimes I don’t. My songwriting rarely starts with lyrics.

Do you have messages that you like to get across in your music? if so please tell me about them.

Some songs do have messages, like a new song I wrote called I’m The One, which I mentioned earlier. Falling Off the Merry Go Round is about school shootings, but usually there aren’t any messages.

Do you have any new singles, videos, or albums out that you would like to tell me and your fans about?

My second album is called Outside the Box. Doublewide is the first single and you can check out the video on my music website or You Tube. I released the second single, Kansas, in November. I’ll be releasing songs from that album throughout 2025.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you

Want to spotlight what is coming up?

Like I said, I’ll be releasing songs from my second album throughout 2025. The third one comes out in mid-February. I’ll be playing a lot in Nashville, North Carolina, and other places as well. Basically, I just plan on continuing to do what I’ve been doing.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

Folks can find me on my music website at Pamrossmusic.com. They can also find me on Facebook, Spotify, and Instagram at Pam Ross Music. I tried to keep things simple. No crazy names or anything like that. Just Pam Ross Music.