Devon Ross is busy, to say the least. At 24, she’s been deemed one to watch in more than one arena, and well deservedly so. Ross has modeled for Gucci, Vivienne Westwood, and Valentino, and her acting career is really getting its legs — to critical acclaim, she’s starred in HBO and A24’s Irma Vep, and has noteworthy feature films on the horizon (Vindicta, Depravity). Then, last year, Ross entered yet another ring, and in good company. Partnering with Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and his label The Daydream Library Series, she released her debut EP, Oxford Gardens.
One thing to note about Devon Ross. Regarding whichever project, whether it’s on models.com, IMDB, or SPIN — when it comes to the young artist, all will note that Ross, in many ways, is not of this time. She’s got the swagger, style, and at times the sound of Patti Smith. While chic and aloof, she’ll swerve almost gracefully into riot grrrl territory, full of wit and tinged with rage. On one of the EP’s faster tracks, “Killer,” she pulls from Sonic Youth, Pavement, and embodies the punk days of downtown New York — days that Ross wasn’t even alive for — so astutely.
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There’s emotion, there’s grit, and there’s musical transportation — but all the while, Ross remains her own entity. Though she’s grown up surrounded by top-tier creative energy her whole life, with Craig Ross, Lenny Kravitz’s longtime guitar player, and iconic ’90s model Anna Bauer as her parents — the biggest lesson her father gave her was to, “learn from records.” And so she has, and it’s proven by her sound, which with her jangly guitars and heavy vox, straddles the worlds of today and yesterday.
While at the intimate studio of LA photographer XYZ, AltPress took the chance to ask Ross a few questions.
Richie Lee Davis
You’re quite the polymath. Actor, model, musician, poet… I’m sure the list goes on. But if someone asked what you do, how do you answer? How would you answer if you could only say one word or one thing?
This is quite a hard question, to be honest. If I’m in the midst of filming a movie, I’ll say I’m an actor. If I’m on tour or in my room writing, I’ll say I’m a musician. But I am constantly consuming music. That never stops.
It’s been months since your EP was released. For many artists, their relationship to an album changes in the time after it’s made public, whether in a good way, bad way, or neither. So, how are you feeling about Oxford Gardens today — having marinated in the wake of it all? Do you still love it, did you ever love it, are you ready to do something new or different?
This EP was really helpful for me to express my emotions at a time when it was very difficult to [do so]. This being my first release, I think I’ll be in love with it forever and instantly link it to an important yet tumultuous time in my life. I recorded it alone, and it was mixed by my dad, so it’s also a beautiful memory of a time I got to create and work with my dad. That being said, I’m always ready to move forward and am working on the next project as we speak.
Richie Lee Davis
Your project is still fairly new. You entered the music world, officially, less than two years ago. I’m going to ask you a Rick Rubin-style question. It’s something I’ve asked artists with a variety of experience — and am eager to hear your unique answer. What is your relationship to music?
I grew up with music playing from morning till night in my house — guitars and musicians everywhere. Music has always been probably the biggest part of my life growing up. It’s something I didn’t even think twice about getting involved in. It has been a constant throughout my life.
What’s it like working adjacent to Thurston Moore? How would you describe his approach to music, and how does that complement your own?
I haven’t been so lucky to record with Thurston yet, but he’s a friend and supporter and someone I look up to, both musically and in life. His approach to guitar playing and music has greatly inspired me, and totally changed my perception of how I look at guitar playing and writing songs, in the best way.
We’ve acknowledged you’re a Renaissance woman across your fields. But are there other crafts, hobbies, practices, or rituals that you do, unrelated to career? What keeps you grounded, excited, what do you obsess over?
Picking up a guitar is usually my go-to hobby/home activity. I’m always trying to figure out how to play other people’s songs. Watching movies is also a great love of mine! Currently obsessing over Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands.
What’s your most listened-to track right now?
This changes every week and I can’t pick just one, but currently it’s “Dress” by PJ Harvey, “Love Buzz” by Shocking Blue, and “Lava” by the B-52’s!
I’ve got a dad who’s a musician, as well, and as a result, my first word was “tunes.” What have you heard, or remember, was your first interaction with music?
I’ve heard from my parents that the first piece of music I ever heard was the Neil Young record Harvest Moon in the car on my way home from the hospital.
Richie Lee Davis
Dream collaboration or dream tour?
I’d love to collaborate with Eric Erlandson from Hole. Live Through This was one of the soundtracks of my teen years. Of course would love to collaborate with Thurston. Maybe we can make a supergroup. I’d love to go on tour with the Breeders or Pavement.
It must be exciting to be ruminating on a second project — figuring out what your core sound and ethos is, how you’ll translate or shift that as you take another step to solidify your sound. What’s your experience been with that?
I’m in such a different place than I was when I wrote my EP. It’s exciting that I’m able to write certain kinds of songs now that I probably couldn’t have last time. This time around I seem to be in a very different head space. These new songs have different emotions driving them which adds a different color. At the same time, I’m not purposely trying to shift my sound. I’m digging further into the sonic palette I found on the first one and expanding on some of the textures.
When you’re acting, or working in fashion, how do you stay in touch with your music and manage it all, creatively? Or do you separate your crafts with firm boundaries?
I’m constantly listening to music and getting inspired no matter what project I’m doing. But when I’m filming a movie, I’ve found that I really like to put my complete brain into it. To be honest, it’s hard to get in a free creative mental space to write songs while on set, but I’m always picking up a guitar on my days off.