With over 450,000 Spotify streams, a Josie Music Award, and a reputation for crafting songs that balance raw honesty with universal relatability, Pam Ross is no stranger to turning everyday life into unforgettable music. Her new single, “Crazy Ride,” captures the beautiful chaos of love, laughter, and daily ups and downs, reminding us not to take a single moment for granted. In this conversation, Pam opens up about the real-life morning that sparked the song, the importance of humor and love in navigating life’s turbulence, and how her diverse influences—from Dolly Parton to Nirvana—shape her Americana-driven sound.
Pam, congratulations on the release of your new single, “Crazy Ride”. It’s such a heartfelt and relatable song. Can you share the real-life morning that inspired it and how that moment turned into music?
One morning I was starting to work out. My wife was running around trying to get ready for work. She walked out of the bathroom with her curly hair in disarray and said “It’s going to be a crazy day. You should write a song called Crazy Day.” I laughed it off. Later that day I sat down and wrote the song.
The lyrics really capture the ups and downs of everyday life. What do you hope listeners take away from the message behind “Crazy Ride”?
Sometimes when everything is chaotic and seems to be falling apart, those moments can end up being the most beautiful. Enjoy the ride with the one you love. Through ups and downs, sick dogs, and all that comes with it. Don’t take any of it for granted.
You’ve been honored with a Josie Music Award and have already passed 400K Spotify streams. When you reflect on your journey so far, what does that recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
Yea, I’m a little over 450,000, which is really cool. I’m grateful that people like my music but I don’t spend a lot of time looking at streams. Honestly, I didn’t realize how many I had until you mentioned it. I went and looked on Spotify and was surprised. I’m always thinking about how much further I have to go but I am very grateful for what I have accomplished.
Your music blends Americana, country, folk, and rock. Who were some of your biggest musical influences, and how do you see their fingerprints on “Crazy Ride”?
My influences are all over the spectrum. They range from Elton John, Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Pretenders, REM, Clint Black, Mellencamp to the Chili Peppers. Hell, I’ve even got Glen Cambell on my phone.
I’m not sure which artists you would hear influencing Crazy Ride. It’s more of a country / Americana song so I guess you could look in that direction.
One of the standout lines in the song is, “You make a Monday feel like a Friday night.” That’s such a powerful image. Can you talk about how important humor and love are in navigating life’s “crazy ride”?
I think humor and love are everything when trying to navigate through life. I don’t know how anyone could make it through without either of them. We need to laugh, love, and feel loved to get by.
You’ve built a strong reputation for writing songs that feel deeply personal yet universal. What’s your process for turning those everyday experiences into songs that connect so widely with listeners?
I guess part of it is that I’ve been through the same things as a lot of other people. They can relate because they’ve been there. I also use a lot of imagery when I write so folks can really see and understand what is going on. I think that adds to the connection.
Music often becomes a soundtrack to people’s lives. How does it feel knowing that your songs — and now “Crazy Ride” — are part of someone else’s love story, road trip, or memory?
That’s so awesome! I have a hard time believing it sometimes but it’s really such an incredible feeling to know that my music has touched someone so much that it’s part of their life.
Looking ahead, Pam, what’s next for you after “Crazy Ride”? Can fans look forward to more singles, a full album, or maybe some live shows on the horizon?
I have two more singles coming out from this album. After that, I’ll have my third album ready. I’m heading into the studio next week to start work on it. So, there’s lots more music on the way and I’m always out there playing live shows. There’s plenty more to come.