When Josh Ross strides onto the small stage at London’s Camden Assembly, there’s no swagger — just a quiet confidence. “It’s so rewarding to think that your music can bring you somewhere so far from where you come from,” he says with a grin. “To have a whole room of people screaming your songs is very special.”
For the Canadian-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter, Later Tonight isn’t just a debut album — it’s a statement of identity. A bold, emotional, 15-track record that captures the tension between small-town roots and big-stage ambition, the album cements Ross as one of country’s most exciting international exports.
“I still feel like I’m a nobody from nowhere.”
Ross’s rise wasn’t exactly written in the stars. He grew up in Ontario, Canada, where “sports was everything” in his family. A football scholarship took him to university, until a devastating injury changed everything. “Through injuries, I ended up finding the guitar,” he recalls. “Once I got hurt, I was like, I really want to try this music thing — I just don’t know what that means.”
By 2018, Ross had packed his bags and moved to Nashville. The transition from defensive back to country frontman wasn’t easy, but it gave him something rare — perspective. “Nobody From Nowhere,” one of the most personal songs on Later Tonight, tells that story.
“I’ll never forget when we wrote ‘Nobody From Nowhere’ — I got super emotional in the room. It’s very much me.”
Josh Ross
The Making of Later Tonight
Produced by longtime collaborator Matt Geroux, Later Tonight is Ross’s first full-length album — and one that took years of self-discovery to arrive. “I was purposely holding off on doing a record,” he admits. “I wanted to figure out who I was as a songwriter and an artist. Finally, I had a body of work I was proud of — one that really sounded like me.”
That sound is equal parts country grit and rock energy, blending radio-ready anthems like “Hate How You Look” with the stripped-back vulnerability of “Songs You Gave Me.” Ross credits Geroux for pushing him to his limits. “He’s my best friend, but he’s also tough on me. He’s old-school — he’ll say, do it again, do it better. He won’t settle until the vocal and the emotion feel right.”
About the Album
Album: Later Tonight
Released: September 19, 2025
Label: MCA / Mercury Nashville / Universal Music Canada
Produced by: Matt Geroux
Standout Tracks: “Hate How You Look,” “Single Again,” “Leave Me Too,” “Later Tonight,” “Nobody From Nowhere”
Finding a Home Across Borders
Ross’s London shows mark his first-ever UK tour — and both nights sold out. He’s been floored by the reception. “The UK fans, they listen differently,” he says. “They want to hear the story. They want me to talk, not just power through songs.”
It’s a marked contrast to the breakneck pace of Nashville. “Back home, especially as an opener, you’re always trying to cram in as many songs as you can,” he laughs. “Here, I actually got to tell the stories behind them — and that was really special.”
He sees potential for his genre-bending sound in Britain’s growing country scene. “There are pop and rock influences in my music,” he says. “That blend translates really well here. I think country’s only going to keep growing in the UK.”
Staying Grounded Amid the Glory
Winning back-to-back Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Entertainer of the Year awards could easily turn someone’s head — but Ross insists he’s keeping both boots on the ground.
“I’m just so grateful,” he says earnestly. “Playing the shows, entertaining — that’s my favorite part. That’s my goal no matter where I go in the world. To have the CCMAs and the recognition from Canada follow me wherever I go is incredible.”
Authenticity, he explains, is the key. “Being authentic through the songs is something that really matters to me. Especially in our genre — it’s easy to tell when someone isn’t. I’m lucky to have a team that lets me say what I want to say and sing what I want to sing. They don’t try to make me be someone else, and I’m really grateful for that.”
“Especially in country music — fans can tell when it’s not real. Authenticity is everything.”
“I lost the locker room — but now I have a tour bus with ten guys.”
Ross may have swapped his football helmet for a microphone, but the camaraderie remains. “We’re on the road about 250 days a year,” he says. “I lost the locker room, but now I’ve got a bus full of brothers. It’s the same energy — just louder guitars.”
Touring with Nickelback last year proved another unexpected education. “Chad [Kroeger] is one of the hardest workers I’ve met,” Ross says. “He’s also great at partying,” he adds with a grin. “But seriously, getting random calls from him just checking in — that meant a lot.”
“If artists aren’t coming to the UK, they’re missing out.”
Still Chasing Somewhere
Ross’s drive — once channelled into sports — now fuels his music career. It’s visible in every performance and every lyric. But if success has taught him anything, it’s to slow down.
“If I wrote a letter to myself five years from now,” he muses, “I’d tell myself to slow down a little bit and take in the moments. I’m always looking for the next thing — but I need to remember to just enjoy where I’m at.”
For now, “where he’s at” includes back-to-back awards, a JUNO win, and sold-out shows across multiple continents. Yet, he remains grounded. “I’m just so grateful,” he says again, smiling. “Being authentic through the songs — that’s what matters most.”
And as for his growing fan base in the UK? Ross beams: “If artists aren’t coming here, they’re missing out. I’ll keep coming back. The love and support here mean everything.”
Josh Ross
Canadian-born and Nashville-based, Josh Ross is one of country’s fastest-rising stars, known for blending heartfelt storytelling with arena-ready energy. With hits like Single Again and On a Different Night, he’s already earned chart success, CCMA awards, and hundreds of millions of streams.
Building a loyal UK following through appearances at Highways Festival and Camden Assembly, Ross is part of the new wave of Canadian artists breaking internationally – bringing authentic songwriting and crossover appeal to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. Find tour info here
