Kevin Ross Trades Slow Jams for Love Uptempo

Kevin Ross is no stranger to the music industry. His storied career spans more than a decade, and his resume includes writing hits for artists like Trey Songz, Toni Braxton, and Tank. But make no mistake—Ross is as powerful with a microphone as he is with a pen. He’s proving that with his new EP, Love Uptempo Vol. 1.

This project offers heartfelt, mid-tempo songs that mark a shift from the moody, heartbreak anthems that have characterized R&B over the past few years. Ross shared that this departure is purposeful. He wants to fill the void of positive music in the genre and add a little more joy to a world full of bad news.

“What I aim to do as an artist and as a creative is service what I feel is needed,” Ross said. “Whether [listeners] come around to it immediately or when they’re ready for it, it’s going to be there for them. And I’m excited for those who are already on that wavelength.”

It takes experience and confidence to swim against the tide like that, and Ross has plenty of both. Love Uptempo Vol. 1 is his eighth EP. He considers this project a reflection of his artistic growth over the years. He’s also a husband and father now, and those roles have made him more decisive and intentional about the music he creates.

“Love Uptempo signals a different era for me. It’s not just a project. This is my state of mind. This is literally the way my life moves right now. It’s a mantra. I feel like that’s growth in understanding that artistry and creativity come in eras and seasons and waves, and this is the wave that I’m on,” Ross said.

It seems fans are happily embracing this new wave. “Love in the Middle,” the lead single off Love Uptempo Vol. 1, hit the top 20 on Billboard R&B Radio in just three weeks, and several stops on Ross’ ongoing U.S. tour are already sold out. Ross does not take this success for granted. Like many artists, his early career included shows with small audiences. But he points to consistency, commitment, and care for his audience as the magic ingredients that now allow him to fill venues.

“To be at a place where almost every show that I do is sold out proves that the more you are in market, the consistency that you place into your craft, into making sure that you build a show of quality—that means something. Not just to me and my brand, but it means something to the people. They want to be moved by something, and they want that feeling over and over again. I’m proud to be amongst a few good people that are able to put on a show,” Ross said.

While Ross continues to thrive on stage and the charts, he’s also jumped feet-first into the business side of the music industry. He founded the Art Society Music Group after leaving Motown Records in 2019. Driven by his faith, Ross considers his business goals a calling to challenge the industry. He’s doing that by scaling his own brand, charging his worth, and teaching other artists how to do the same.

“I love everything that my predecessors have done in the past, but they’ve left the ceiling so low that it’s hard to breathe. We won’t see the next generation thrive in the way they’re supposed to if we don’t do right by ourselves. Each one teach one to do better. That’s my mission—to do better. We deserve better as a culture,” Ross said.

Ross is the definition of thinking big. He’s got major plans for the future of his career, including partnering with like-minded artists, winning a Grammy, and entering the world of academia, where he can shape the young people who will one day become music industry executives. More short-term, he’s focused on selling out the rest of the Love Uptempo tour and releasing Vol. 2 this summer.

With a clear vision for his career and a tireless commitment to making it happen, Ross is defining success on his own terms. He encourages other artists to do the same.

“Everybody’s going to tell you about ‘making it,’ and no one has a definition for that. You should define that. Create your own barometer. Set small goals for yourself. Understand your limits and your boundaries. Start small, then start to build.”

Tune in on April 4, wherever you get your music, to listen to the musical masterpiece Ross has built with Love Uptempo Vol. 1.