Interview: Pam Ross on "Tonight" • Americana Highways

Pam Ross interview

Pam Ross has a new song, “Tonight” coming out in February. It’s part of a series of songs she’s releasing on the heels of her recent album Outside the Box. The theme of being “outside the box” continues throughout all her musical choices, as Pam put it, she is “the red-headed stepchild” of any given music genre. Pam resides in North Carolina but still spends a lot of her time in Nashville, soaking up the influence, connections and various things each place has to offer. We had a chance to have a brief chat with Pam about the music and the recording process and more.

Americana Highways: Your upcoming single, “Tonight,” is set to release on Valentine’s Day — a day synonymous with love and romance. What inspired you to release this song on such a meaningful date?

Pam Ross: Yea, that’s really an accident (laughs). I’m releasing one song every three months and I always like to release songs on a Friday. Feb. 14 just happened to be the right time!

AH: You’ve described “Tonight” as a song about navigating the ups and downs of long-term relationships. What was it like channeling such a personal experience with your wife into your songwriting?

PR: Writing about it was easy. Telling people the story behind the song wasn’t…and still isn’t. I don’t mind writing about personal issues but I’m not crazy talking about them. I almost didn’t say where the idea for the song came from. It was a hard time, but we made it through. Probably even stronger than before. I’m sure a lot of people have been there, so I’m hoping people can relate to it.

AH: The song ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing the decision to fight for love despite challenges. How do you think this message will resonate with listeners who might be facing their own struggles in relationships?

PR: Hopefully it helps them. True love is hard to find, and when you do, it’s worth working and fighting for. I understand that sometimes relationships simply run their course, but I also feel that people often give in too easily. As soon it’s not all “beer and roses” every day, they bail.

AH. Your music blends influences from rock, Americana, and country, which fans have dubbed “Pam Music.” How do these styles come together in “Tonight,” and what makes it unique compared to your previous songs?

PR: I feel it’s primarily country and americana. I played it for a friend, and he thought it sounded pop, which really surprised me. It’s funny how people hear different things. Obviously, I’ve done some genre blending again. Even though that’s a trademark of mine, the song still has its own vibe. It’s unique in that it doesn’t sound like any other song on this or my first album.

AH: You’ve had an impressive journey, from playing open mics in Houston to recording your first album, When Therapy Fails, in Chapel Hill to releasing your second album, Outside the Box. How do you feel your growth as an artist has influenced the way you wrote and performed “Tonight”?

PR: I’m always growing and changing as a writer. I hope that continues. I never want to be one of those people whose songs all sound the same. I think the biggest growth was in recording. I’ve gotten better at it. I did more backing vocals and used FJ Ventre on backing vocals as well. It helped make this and other songs sound fuller. I also used Marc Frigo in Nashville for mixing and mastering, which made a huge difference. I think the album overall sounds more polished.

AH: Did you face any challenges capturing the emotion and intimacy of the song in the studio?

PR: No, there weren’t any challenges. I had already been playing the song live for several months before I went into the studio. I knew what I wanted to do with it. As always, I worked out my keyboard parts and knew where I wanted backing vocals.

AH: Your move to Fuquay Varina during the pandemic seems to have rekindled your musical journey. How has this new chapter in your life inspired your upcoming album, and where does “Tonight” fit into the broader themes of Outside the Box?

PR: The title Outside the Box is about all my music. I’ve realized that my music doesn’t fit into any one genre. That can be good, and it can be a pain. People like it, but the industry itself doesn’t know where I fit in.

I guess the only theme on this album is that all songs don’t fit squarely into one genre. They may lean in a certain direction. For example, I think “Tonight” leans country, but it has undertones of pop. It’s nothing I did on purpose. It’s just the way I write songs.

Check out an .mp3 preview of her song here: