Jac Ross: 10 Things We Learned In 10 Minutes (Exclusive)

The R&B game is taking the spotlight from some of the biggest rap stars as of late whether you’re looking out for Summer Walker’s Still Over It preparing to drop and SZA teasing new tunes or even the appeal of Beyoncé slaying in Tiffany & Co. campaigns and Mary J. Blige killing it - literally - in STARZ’s “Power Book II” series. Crooner Jac Ross adds even more levels of talent with a soulfully powerful voice and personality you can’t help but find yourself attached to the minute he speaks.

ATC had the pleasure of not only meeting Jac Ross but getting the backstory behind the start of his popular covers series, finding out what soul icons impacted his life plus digging into his new Campbell’s Soup “It Had To Be You” collaboration and plenty more. Buckle up and check out 10 Things We Learned In 10 Minutes with Jac Ross.

1. Jac’s YouTube Covers Aren’t Going Anywhere

The motivation for these covers really came from being at home as a new artist and trying to find an avenue to continue to reach people and that’s honestly how it started. It kind of turned into something else. I think the fans and supporters just gravitated toward it and made it successful. I just never stopped continuing the process of doing the covers. 

2. Otis Redding’s Family Reached Out To Ross Over A Cover

I think one of the biggest compliments out of the process was I just couldn’t do one without the other, it had to be two and when I did the Otis Redding cover of ‘Try A Little Tenderness’ it kind of led me to his family and they reached out and I think the daughter of Otis said she had never heard anybody sing this song ‘that’ close to her father. That was just, like, amazing to me. 

3. Even Sam Cooke’s Estate Loved His Cover

And the same thing [happened] with the Sam Cooke song I did, ‘Nothing Can Change This Love.’ His granddaughter and the head of his estate reached out and we follow one another closely and she was just like, ‘Man, this is amazing.’ So just to have the bloodline of those actual legends reach out is something just so special when they make those kind of comments.

4. Believing In The Covers Process

It’s kind of just random and off the top of the head. I know it just started out with me in the living room at the beginning of the pandemic and going through the songs that made people feel good and from there I just continued to use that process and look at the times we’re living in. ‘How can I motivate people? How can I get people out of this stuck mentality that we’re in right now?’ And it’s evolved and I believe we’re on the other side of the pandemic, things evolved and I just want to continue to make people feel good. That’s really the process.

5. Ross Refused To Let The Pandemic Slow Down His Career

It’s been unique and I think it’s also been very special to be a part and having a career in a worldwide pandemic, it causes you to be creative in a different way. It causes you to stretch yourself. But it’s also been challenging as well as a performer and artist. Performing is where your heart is so for over a year and a half, there were many times where you weren’t actually able to perform and touch your actual audience and feel the vibration of your fans. But you make it work how you can. I think my team and myself have done a great job of navigating the waters virtually and we’ve done a great job where we can - going and reaching people from the standpoint view if their city or state is open, we reach them.

Honestly, it’s been a fulfilling process. It’s been one that’s allowed me to get the best of both worlds, I think. The virtual world and this real world that we’re managing right now. 

6. Quarantine Was Cool But Jac Loves Connecting W/ Fans In-Person

I can’t really 100 percent say [the pandemic] leveled the playing field simply because I feel like there are some artists who do better virtually. Some artists do better live. Some artists have actually stumbled upon doing a venture in a virtual way that they feel very comfortable and that their fans enjoy. So if anything, I think it definitely gave it a variety and I can speak for myself and say that I thoroughly enjoy being out in the open and performing in front of people. That’s my perspective on that.

7. You’ve Never Experienced A Jac Ross Show Until You’ve Experienced A Jac Ross Show

What a Jac Ross live performance is like is first of all, it’s a good time. It’s a great time. You go through a lot of different emotions. You want to scream, you want to shout. You want to cry. You want to have fun. And you experience all those things. I feel like when you go to my concerts and my shows, it’s like a big bowl of special soup combined with so many things in it. But it all tastes so good. That’s what it’s like.

8. Campbell’s Soup + Jac Ross Were Just Meant To Be

This Campbell’s opportunity means the world to me. I have so many memories related to Campbell’s. As a kid, I remember being sick and especially with my asthma and literally the only thing my mother could get me to eat was that Mac & Cheese. It just brought back so many memories and even seeing my siblings or my father and when you’re sick and see that Campbell’s Soup on that countertop and my mom’s opening it up and getting ready to make everybody feel good, this opportunity means the world to me you know my brand. I’m about making people feel good and I believe Campbell’s is about making people feel the same way as me.

It’s just so many different emotions but I’m just stoked and super excited about this opportunity. 

9. Ross Knew Where He’d Be To Celebrate Today’s Launch

I’m always with friends and family just as I stated before, Campbell’s Soup has always been such a staple for my family so I’m definitely going to be with my friends and with my family. I’m just going to shout it from my rooftop. It’s such a cool opportunity to know that your sound is hidden behind that iconic white and red can and all you gotta do is scan that QR code and boom, right there. Jac Ross. I’m just a small town kid from Live Oak, Florida so now to be put on to this label that has helped so many people and it still continues to be such a huge part every week - I know for me every Sunday of our lives, it’s just amazing. I don’t even know how I’m going to celebrate to be honest with you but I know for sure I’m going to be with family and friends and we’re going to have such a great time. 

10. Jac Has Nothing But Respect For The Soul Icons

For me, that Soulful Mt. Rushmore would have to be Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, David Ruffin, Marvin Gaye. That would be my Mt. Rushmore of the soulful world and I stand by that 100 percent. 

Jac Ross’ “It Had To Be You” Campbell’s Soup collaboration is now streaming everywhere.