Devon Ross surprise releases a new four-track EP of covers
Back in 2023, Devon Ross took up her rightful post as music’s newest cool girl. With her debut single ‘Swim’, everything came to fruition as years of effortlessly voguish guitar videos on social media of her playing blues riffs and rock standards turned into a run of incredible singles.
In 2024, the crown was locked in. Her debut EP, Oxford Gardens, sat as one of the most interesting short-form releases of the year. It captured exactly what makes Ross so great and what feels like the guarantee of her future greatness as the four-track run purveyed her field of influence.
‘I Don’t Wanna’ combined slacker rock with old school sleazy blues. ‘Swim’ is luscious with shoegaze energy, while ‘Mine Not Yours’ and ‘Killer’ both buzz with tension, reminiscent of Kim Gordon’s angst. It’s really no wonder then that the up-and-comer has been swept up by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, releasing via his record label, Ecstatic Peace.
Since then, Ross cut her teeth on tour, following in the footsteps of her father, Craig Ross, who plays with Lenny Kravitz. Honouring her guitar heroes like Keith Richards and Tom Verlaine, she also released ‘All The Things’ in 2025 as a darker, heavier tune.
Now, she’s back with a surprise. If Oxford Gardens was taking her inspirations and imbuing them into her music, Pins Ups is a straight-up alter to her gods as she shares four covers of some of her favourite songs by her favourite artists, including Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson and Buddy Holly.
It honours Ross’ devotion to the classics and the greats. But as each song is brought into her own world, given her downtrodden vocal treatment and meeting her own unique guitar playing that combines traditional blues with a modern angst, each tune becomes her own.
The standout comes on track three with Ross taking on Dylan’s ‘Fourth Time Around’, taking the waltzing Blonde On Blonde track and making it her own with her electric guitar rather than a folkish acoustic one.
In case anyone has forgotten to keep their eyes and ears firmly locked on her, this EP is a reminder that Devon Ross is one to watch, especially with a league of inspirations this powerful.
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