Meet Gyasi Ross

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gyasi Ross.

Gyasi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My musical journey started 18 years ago when I first began singing. I was inspired to start playing music by my brother, who was a rapper that was always creating with his friends. I couldn’t rap but looked up to them and wanted to create music as well, so I started writing songs and playing guitar. It led me to study Jazz Guitar in college where I began to listen to old soul singers such as Ray Charles, Joe Pass and Ella Fitzgerald. In college, I was obsessed with singing and performing, I would spend my nights doing my homework at open mic nights after class, just so that I could listen to great music and learn to perform as well. I would drive up ad down LA, singing John Legend songs at the top of my lungs so that I could learn how to sing.

My musical journey has been propelled primarily by curiosity. After college, I wanted to focus my efforts on writing songs that chronicled my life experiences. I wanted to get my songs out there, so I started a Kickstarter campaign raising $10,000 dollars and released my record “If You Really Knew Me”. Since then, I’ve gotten a publishing deal with Catbeach Music and I’m working on my next record.

Has it been a smooth road?
Like most artists or people, my worst enemy is my mind. I’ve got to get it in my head that people enjoy hearing me share, I’ve often battled with being torn between working a full-time job in the non-profit sector and doing music. I’ve always felt like I’ve needed to pick a side but as I’ve matured and found my place in both worlds that choice feels less and less like a thing I have to decide. I’ve found that both can feed me, both can make me poor and make me rich and I’m not necessarily doing either for the money I just enjoy giving back. So whether that be helping start a volunteer project at a homeless shelter or reflecting on an ex in a song to help someone get over that last relationship it all matters.

Can you give our readers some background on your music?
Soul music at the moment but I keep trying to push myself to be just a little different or push my song subjects so they stick out amongst the sea of other artists. I’ve also been working on combining all parts of myself in my craft so people should expect that on the next record, more vulnerability and more honest songs.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
LA is a beautiful city full of dreams and people wanting the energy that comes out of the city because everyone’s trying their best gives us such beautiful art. That dreamers call is why everyone comes here but it’s also really isolating, I wish people could figure out how to build community while pursuing what they want out of life. I went to high school here so I don’t feel as isolated but a lot of the friends I’ve had moved away because they couldn’t find their people. I wish in addition to being a city of dreams, we could be a city of community, a city that welcomes people in with their diverse talents and cultural backgrounds.

Contact Info:

• Other: Stream my latest album on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/4qOgsJSVfahTQQ8btlFisE?si=AMRtBxCHRF-aS-7tSyEHBg

Image Credit:
All photos except for the nature photo were captured by hopeleigh.com

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