A lot has happened for New Jersey native Sarah Ross in the past five years. Since appearing on Season 12 of American Idol, she’s signed with Average Joes Entertainment, moved to Music City and in 2015 released her debut EP, Calm Before The Storm. Ross is now ready to unleash her next project, a 5-track EP titled Nervous Breakdown due out Friday, July 20th, which features a title track written by some of the biggest names in country music today.
We caught up with Ross to talk about growing up in the Garden State, her time on Idol, and her new EP.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? What was your childhood like growing up on a blueberry farm in New Jersey?
SR: Growing up in New Jersey was amazing! So I’m actually from the blueberry capitol of the world and grew up on a horse farm. I had the best of both worlds being smack in the middle of the woods and then only about 20 minutes from a beach. Country music was a huge part of my life. I was constantly listening to artists such as Chris Ledoux, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and so on. I didn’t really begin to have a true feel for becoming an artist until I was 16, being no one in my family (besides a great aunt I apparently had that was an opera singer haha) was musically inclined. Everyone was always singing… but not with the best of voices. I ended up auditioning for American Idol on Season 12 and was noticed by my label, Average Joes Entertainment, leading me finally to Music City.
CN: When did you discover music and realize that this was the path you were meant to be on?
SR: I always grew up singing and messing around because my family did love music, but unfortunately never thought about becoming an artist until after American Idol. I don’t think I realized that this was the path I needed to be on until a few years into my move to Nashville. I’m still learning about myself everyday, but moving away from your entire family at 17 to chase a dream has its ups and downs daily. When you begin to put music out, write songs, and especially play shows, you start to realize this is what I was meant to do. (I think when I played my first “real” show in front of an audience was when I knew this is what I was meant to do.)
CN: Who are some of your biggest influences in country music as well as other genres? In what ways have they influenced you, both personally and as an artist?
SR: Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves are two of my biggest female country influencers in today’s world. Miranda has never been afraid to be an edgy badass who isn’t afraid to break the norm just as well as Kacey. They both are a strong model for independent girls/women. Also, Kacey is one of the co-writers on my new single! (YAY)
CN: American Idol fans may remember you from Season 12, when you impressed Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban with your ability to mix singing and rapping. What was the whole Idol experience like? What lessons did you take away from it?
SR: I literally think I needed to be able to wear a diaper half the time along that journey. HAHA. The experience was so surreal and nerve wrecking. Imagine standing in front of four people you look up to as an artist and try to perform your best in front of them for about 15-30 seconds without wanting to jump out of your skin. I do give American idol the props for giving me the confidence I need to move on. Idol taught me that I can stay true to myself as an artist.
CN: When did you make the decision to move to Nashville? How was the adjustment from New Jersey to Music City?
SR: I decided to move to Nashville right after I graduated high school. I had an academic scholarship to go to college but Music City was calling my name. The adjustment was a big one being alone at 17 but I feel as if it made me grow as a person in a huge way. For the better. Nashville feels like a huge city compared to where I’m from in NJ. Many people don’t think about Jersey as being rural, but it is the Garden state!
CN: As a songwriter, please take us through your songwriting process. Do you pull mostly from personal experiences, experiences of those around you, or elsewhere?
SR: Everyday experiences and random thoughts really are what drive my songwriting. I have lists and lists miles long in my phone of song ideas and titles that I’ve had. Sometimes I look back and am like, what the hell did I even mean to say there… haha.
CN: “Nervous Breakdown,” the title track of your new EP was co-written by some of the biggest songwriters in country music: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Trevor Rosen, and Brandy Clark. Talk about having a dream-team of writers. How did this song come about? How were you offered the song for your EP?
SR: I am SO SO lucky to be able to call this song MINE. Two of my best friends who are in a band called, Reverie Lane, Spencer Bartoletti and Presley Tucker, played me a song they had heard being pitched that they loved, and thought it fit me as an artist. When I heard the song, I instantly fell in love but didn’t know if the song was still available. So two days later, I went to a meeting with the talented ladies of Nashville, the Chicks with Hits! In that meeting, I was told I was going to hear a song called “Nervous Breakdown.” I told them if it’s the song I think it is they don’t even need to play it, it was meant to be, and it was MINE 🙂 Hopefully I’ll get to write alongside those masterminds one day!
CN: The 5-track EP is based on the ideas of losing and finding love. Can you tell us the story behind the EP and how it came together?
SR: The EP represents a lot of the ups and downs I’ve gone through in Nashville. Not just in relationships but also in building as a person. There are so many emotions someone at my age, 23, goes through. We love, we hate, we lie, we laugh, we cry, we learn, we change. This EP really goes through that story, but in the end I’m, “Doin Just Fine.” I’m really thankful for the friends/family that have helped me along the way with this EP. Also, huge shout out to my producer Jim Kaufman who made this come to life!
CN: Do you have a dream collaboration in mind?
SR: There are so many artists I’d love to collab with and I think my response changes EVERYTIME, but at some point I’d love to collab with either Miranda Lambert or Eminem. Dreams can come true right? Haha
CN: At this point in your career, have you had a “WOW” moment that you can’t believe has happened? And in looking forward, is there a moment or possibly an award, that you are setting your sights on achieving?
SR: One of my favorite points in my career was opening for Kid Rock and Three Doors Down in Pueblo, Colorado. That show was a rush! I’d love to one day be able to play a show where everyone in the room knows every word to my songs.
CN: Nervous Breakdown drops July 20. What’s next? Will there be a tour?
SR: I’m hoping to start to play shows coming up very soon, and get back on a radio tour to promote Nervous Breakdown.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
SR: I don’t think there is one word I can use to describe myself. There are so many constant changing pieces to me that I cant choose. Maybe I’ll say, “changing.” Haha
CN: One last question, being a fellow NJ native myself, I have to ask: Taylor Ham or Pork Roll?
SR: Unfortunately pork is the only food I’m allergic to! Oddly enough a few years ago this happened. I used to LOVE pork roll but I can no longer eat it. Weird thing is I can still eat bacon… but no more pulled pork sandwiches which were one of my favorites. Sad times.
For more information on Sarah Ross, visit her website at https://sarahrossmusic.com/ and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.