An accomplished singer, songwriter, producer, and performer, Kevin Ross determines his course on his own terms. The Washington, D.C.-born artist elevates R&B through eloquent songcraft, rich sonic architecture, and downright traffic-stopping vocals. Since launching his career in 2016, he has quietly risen to the forefront of the culture with over 100 million streams and counting, #1 Billboard entries on the Adult R&B Songs Chart, and countless sold-out shows. Now, he continues to forge ahead with more music in 2023 under his artist-owned label Art Society Music Group (ASMG).
“I never wait around for anybody,” he explains. “I’m always making music with collaborators and by myself. Producing is part of who I was supposed to be all along as an artist. That’s not just an artist who can sing, but an artist who can write, produce, perform, and execute at the highest level possible in order to deliver to the masses.”
Kevin vividly recalls his first memory of music, listening to Lisa Stansfield’s “All Around The World” from his car seat as a baby. He went on to obsess over the likes of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, and Smokey Robinson. Following his high school years at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, he earned a scholarship and degree from Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music. Settling in Atlanta, he initially made waves behind the scenes, penning hit-charting tunes for the likes of Trey Songz, Toni Braxton, Tank, and many more.
As a solo artist, he wrote, recorded, and produced “Long Song Away” in 2016, toppling both the Adult R&B Songs Chart and the Urban Adult Contemporary Chart at #1. In between collaborations with Kevin Hart, Ne-Yo, and T.I., he built a bulletproof solo discography highlighted by The Awakening [2017], Drive EP [2017], and Audacity Vol. 1-2 [2020]. From the latter, “God Is A Genius” generated over 13+ million streams and counting across platforms. Along the way, he also toured alongside legends Babyface, KEM & Maxwell, in addition to picking up nominations at the Soul Train Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and iHeart Radio Music Awards.
In 2019, he founded the Art Society Music Group as the home for all of his releases. With Kevin at the helm, 2021’s Drive 2 [ASMG/Empire] represented another high achievement. It bowed at #1 on the iTunes Top R&B/Soul Albums Chart, while “Looking For Love” vaulted onto the Top 10 of the Billboard Adult R&B Radio Play Chart.
Beyond acclaim from Billboard, Rolling Stone, and BET, Washington Post proclaimed, “Ross doesn’t sound like he’s trying to find a musical identity. He knows who he is, and his album reflects that.”
“Drive 2 definitely shows growth,” he notes. “It’s been five years since the last one. I was producing a lot more on the second installment. I’m way more confident in my ability. It’s leaps and bounds better than the first. It’s all just time, growth, and awareness.”
You can hear it, see it, and feel it on his standout single “Sweet Release.” Proving to be another smash produced and written by Kevin, the single is currently climbing to the top of the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay Chart after breaking the record with the longest number-one requested song on Sirius XM’s Heart & Soul last year. With bright guitar threads around a simmering beat as his voice flutters from vulnerable verses into a vital hook highlighted by a hypnotic high register, Kevin observes, “Everybody has a guilty pleasure or something to take them away from the daily monotony It’s more so about escapism than it’s meant to be sexual or sensual. For me, the main key is the escape. If you’re riding in the car, you can play the song. It could just feel liberating like a cool breeze. This song is transformative in a sense. Wherever you are, it can be your soundtrack.”
In Ross’ upcoming single “Look My Way”, he writes about the thrill associated with the early stages of infatuation. With undertones of classic R&B inspired by the early recordings of The Jackson 5, “Look My Way” is layered with harmonious silky background vocals and dreamy rhythmics that complement Ross’ passionate and poised performance at the surface. Musing on his hopeful and passion-fueled desire, Ross tells the story of falling in love from afar and doing all he can to get her attention. At each chorus, he stays persistent as he sings, “I gotta make you look my way, because baby, there’s a lot of love on this side to give.” Influenced by the inherent romance embedded in classic R&B, the song is a musical celebration of iconic influences through a smooth and modern lens.
“When you listen to me, I hope the music makes you feel something, puts a smile on your face, or provides comfort,” he leaves off. “It’s much bigger than me. I want you to make memories of these songs. I couldn’t ask for anything else. For me to be complete, I need to write, produce, arrange, mix, and perform on stage to affect people. I feel like I’m doing what I need to do, and this is where I’m meant to be today.”
“Look My Way” is his latest release and the first single from Kevin Ross’ upcoming Midnight Microdose project.
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Source/ Photography provided by Chantal Reeder
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