Marianne Ross Talks "violet" and DIY Artistry
All images courtesy of JSung
Before indie singer-songwriter Marianne Ross could even talk, she was making music. Surrounded by the classic rock influences of her mom’s cover band, an obsession with music was sure to grow. At a young age Ross started songwriting, and after putting out a few projects, decided to re-debut last year with the simultaneously soft and angsty single “i make U bored.” Dropping out of school and pursuing a career in music just made sense to Ross: it’s her biggest passion and dream, and the fruits of her labor have begun to bloom.
Over the past few months Ross has been able to connect with online listeners in a substantial way, amassing over 9 million views on Instagram alone. Social media and music are so intertwined now, and traction builds quickly, which promotes the rise in independent, fresh artists like Ross. “It’s literally a dream come true. It’s all I’ve been wanting since I was a little, tiny girl, to have people listen to my music and be like: ‘I connect with this,’” she says. Her music has resonated with thousands and thousands of listeners, and the fame she acquired as a result of her most recent single “violet” happened almost overnight.
“violet” has been a hit primarily with queer fans, specifically the WLW community, which was completely unintentional. After experiencing writer’s block, Ross penned the song about her mom, which wasn’t about being in love with a girl at all! However, Ross is a bisexual woman. For her, it means the world that people are accepting of her and her identity, and at the same time, she is grateful for the chance to create an accepting platform for others. “I’m helping people feel like they have somewhere to belong, which is the coolest fucking thing ever. We [have] this mutually beneficial relationship. [The exchange is] like: we’re humans, and we feel the way we do, and thank you so much for understanding me,” Ross says.
Another big part of Ross’ identity is her Filipino heritage. Growing up in Temecula, California, Ross never had any Asian peers, and therefore nobody to connect with on that level. Her town was extremely white, which created the perfect breeding ground for feelings of intense isolation to fester in her. “I never felt like I could be pretty. I never felt like I could be liked. I never felt like I could be successful because I wasn’t white, which is crazy. So crazy, you don’t even notice it when you’re in those environments until you get out of [there],” Ross says. Despite her mom’s traditional cooking and Filipino friends, the artist still felt a disconnect with her culture and struggled to accept who she was. So many people have to experience this in adolescence, which is such a hard thing to endure in the midst of all else that comes with growing up. It wasn’t until Ross met her current boyfriend, who brought her into a huge Asian community, that she really came to appreciate herself and her identity more. “I just love being Filipino because I feel like I’m the only one around. I used to be so embarrassed and ashamed because no one was like me. But now, it’s the opposite. It feels [like] reparations for my inner child […] not suppressing who I am anymore. I’m Filipino; I’m fucking gay. Listen to my music if you want to. I bet you would like it!” No longer suppressing who she is, Ross openly and proudly claims her Asian identity online, where she is able to be a role model for those like her and others.
When it comes to her writing process, Ross aims to incorporate her musical inspirations into her own work. As a kid, she listened to everything from soul diva records to alternative R&B, but right now, Lucy Dacus, beabadoobee and Phoebe Bridgers’ writing and production influence her the most. “I love how they’re able to be this singer-songwriter girl, and then also incorporate the rock elements of their angst in the writing they do,” says Ross. When trying to write, the artist tries to channel those aspects of herself and curate a somber, indie vibe. For “violet,” Ross found an instrumental on YouTube and within 10 seconds, had the first lyric of the chorus down. It took a little less than an hour to write the entirety of the song, and in one sitting, Ross channeled all of the isolating emotions she’d been feeling into it. “I wasn’t able to think back on [the past] without this sense of darkness overwhelming me. I wanted to capitalize on that feeling and make it something lighter,” Ross says. During the writing process, the artist effectively created a duality that set the song up in a dreamy, atmospheric-like setting with more profound, timeless lyrics carrying the tune along. On December 13, 2023, “violet” was released. Listening to “violet” feels like listening to your own soul cry out, Ross’ sweet voice putting a sound to what you might not have been able to feel on your own. At only 1:50, the song has that bite-sized, bittersweet feeling that’s reminiscent of quarantine — being trapped with your intrusive thoughts in a way that is surprisingly healing.
“At only 1:50, the song has that bite-sized, bittersweet feeling that’s reminiscent of quarantine — being trapped with your intrusive thoughts in a way that is surprisingly healing.”
Knowing that the song is about Ross’ mom, there is a whole other layer to unpack in the lyricism. Lyrics like “My mind reminds me, the purple hue / Matched the sight of another bruise / You left on me” hit even harder in the context of a mother-daughter relationship. At the same time, this doesn’t at all invalidate the sapphic listeners who are envisioning a former or current partner and that relationship. There are so many ways “violet” can be interpreted, which is one of the best things about this song and its subtle simplicity.
Seven days after the song’s release, Ross put out a music video for “violet.” Every single person on set was a friend of the indie artist’s: a bunch of ragtag kids coming together and doing what they love, making for a fun work environment. Shots were filmed everywhere from Cal State to Laguna Beach, and it was a collaborative effort all the way through. Ross recounts the story of the flowers that frame her face for the entire video, which had to be held up by her friends and partner. “By the end of it [my friends] were like: ‘Oh my god, I can’t feel my arm’ and I was like, ‘Please just pull through for the shot!” Later, during a break, the DP hit his pen a little too hard and was a little too high to continue right away, but this inebriation worked in the video’s favor. By the time they arrived at the beach, the sunset was perfect and lit the water with just the right hue. Talk about divine timing! Everything felt organic and real, which is characteristic of the do-it-yourself, or rather, do-it-as-a-team attitude Ross has been bringing into her music career.
On February 23rd of this year, “violet” hit a million streams! This is a huge milestone, and Ross only hopes to keep riding the wave. From playing music festivals to headline tours, having an all-girl band and recording a studio album — with the utmost confidence — Ross can say she wants to do it all. Quoting the Pixar film Soul, Ross proclaims that music is her spark. “I understand that it’s a journey and I’m very happy with where I am now, but I want to get to [achieve these dreams] too,” she says. Ross plans to drop merch and play an L.A. show at The Moroccan Lounge with her boyfriend Wes Patrick in April.