The New Old Soul:
Meet Kim Ross
Future classic: if Kim Ross was a genre, that would be it. This Korean/Scottish artist is in fact an old soul: that becomes clear when she opens her mouth to sing. Kim's, sexy, passionate vocals reveal, in fact, a true artist who soars above today’s pop/R&B clichés in search of a truth that’s all too rare in this era of reality shows and manufactured stars. Ross’ maturity as a performer stems from the exotic path she took to become a performer. Born in Hong Kong, Ross moved to California when was 7, the cross-cultural switch laying the foundation for her later style.
In her new home, Ross began her singing career like many of the greats—in church; however, as her talent grew, she found herself moving away from the boy-band pop her teen peers favored, exploring instead the raw, timeless music of previous eras. In particular, Ross gravitated towards the mavericks who put their own stamp on music, regardless of genre. From archetypal divas like Aretha Franklin and Anita Baker, iconoclastic virtuosos like Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell, jazz icons like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, supreme soul men like Stevie Wonder and Donnie Hathaway, even pop chameleon Madonna—if it was unforgettable and sounded like no one else, Ross found a way to make it her own.
Ross knew she had to take action to make her solo career a reality. “I’d always dreamed of moving to New York, so I went,†Ross says. “I didn't know anybody. Finally, I met with a pianist and we started rehearsing standards. I eventually started performing solo at little places all around the city.†In those side-street bars and clubs, Ross forged her signature sound, developing her identity as an artist. And now the dream is real. Kim Ross. Future classic. A new-school old soul. And most of all, a voice you won’t forget anytime soon…
