Laying Bare the Pain of Addiction, Redemption, and Quiet Strength of Self-Awareness
“With razor-sharp songwriting chops, a tendency to never leave sincerity from sentimentality, and guitar licks that no Southern rock fan could turn their nose up at, Ross Flora is the aural comfort we never knew we needed on our playlists. The Blue Ridge Mountains native has built a career around channeling the sounds of his roots through his own signature timbre, shaped as much by classic Southern rock and bluegrass as it is by the literary giants he studied as an English major.” – A&R Factory
The big decision of moving from his hometown Virginia to Nashville to take his music career to another level, had paid off fruitfully For Ross. His gutsy soulful fusion of Country and Folk along with compelling storytelling has earned him a dedicated following. – New Lease Music
Americana singer-songwriter Ross Flora is set to release his deeply personal and emotionally charged new single “Old Habits,” on July 25–a reflective, soul-baring song about confronting unhealthy cycles, owning your past, and finding the self-awareness to break free for good. The track is a cornerstone of his forthcoming concept album, The Garden, arriving September 19.
Co-written with Dee White—the Alabama-born artist recently praised for his sophomore album Heart Talkin’ (produced by legendary country producer Tony Brown) —“Old Habits” showcases the power of collaboration at its most honest and vulnerable. White, known for his debut album Southern Gentleman (produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys), has toured with Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, and Ashley McBryde, and is one of Nashville’s most compelling young voices in modern country-soul.
“Writing ‘Old Habits’ with Dee White was a great experience,” says Flora. “It was one of those songs that really took its own path. The initial idea was a light-hearted song about looking back and maturing from our younger selves and the mistakes we made, but as we began editing the lyrics, it became clear the song had a stronger message.”
“‘Old Habits’ is ultimately about accepting the unhealthy tendencies that at one time may have controlled you,” Flora adds. “It’s about growing to a place where they no longer have that power—while staying self-aware enough not to fall back into them. I hope it helps the listener reflect on how far they’ve come beyond the detrimental parts of their past, and encourages them to keep making strides toward a better future.”
White reflects on the collaboration with equal admiration: “Writing ‘Old Habits’ with Ross Flora was one of those rare moments where everything just clicked. Ross brings so much soul and grit to a room. I’m proud of what we created together.”
That message—about confronting addiction, repeating cycles, and the quiet work of self-awareness—comes through with poetic force:
“They still call me by my name
A different picture, same ol’ frame
Still hanging on the walls
’Til this old house finally falls…”
The single is a pivotal emotional moment in Flora’s upcoming album The Garden—a deeply personal collection that traces the human experience through collapse, surrender, and spiritual rebirth. Each track builds on the last, exploring faith, heartbreak, regret, and healing with lyrical depth and sonic soul. “Old Habits” represents a turning point in the narrative—where the shadows of the past are named, faced, and released.
Flora will debut new songs from The Garden at an intimate showcase on August 19 at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge in Madison, TN, from 6:00–8:30 PM, offering fans a first live look at this next evolution in his artistry.
For more information and to connect with Ross Flora, please visit
Website, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, YouTube and TikTok.
For more information, contact Dead Horse Branding at the following:
Danielle Reiss
Dead Horse Branding
pr@deadhb.com
Phone: (949) 421 9787
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About Ross Flora
Ross Flora is a seasoned and multifaceted singer, songwriter, and musician from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Growing up just south of Roanoke, Ross was deeply influenced by the rich traditions of R&B and Bluegrass. When asked about his earliest musical memories, he recalls, “My dad would stand me up on the back of a church pew and teach me harmony parts with the congregation.”
At age 12, Ross’s musical path took a defining turn when his dad found him playing along to a Van Halen CD—he signed Ross up for guitar lessons that very day. By his teenage years, Ross was performing at venues and festivals throughout the South Atlantic. At 19, he joined The Kings in Roanoke, Virginia, as a guitarist and vocalist.
In 2012, Ross moved from the family farm to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue music full-time. There, he built a dedicated following as a solo artist and toured nationwide as the lead guitarist and vocalist with acts such as the Johnny T Band and Smoke n’ Guns. Since moving to Nashville, Ross has played thousands of shows while continuously writing and producing his own music.
Ross’s sound blends tasteful guitar work and bold, emotionally driven lyrics rooted in Southern Rock. His influences include legends like Gregg Allman, Duane Allman, Chris Cornell, and Ian Thornley. As an English major, Ross also draws inspiration from literary giants like Emily Dickinson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman—infusing his songwriting with rich storytelling and poetic nuance.
In 2022, Ross released his debut single, Cannonball, to glowing reviews from the Southern Rock and outlaw country communities, with fans calling him “The Golden Age of Rock ’n’ Roll with a Southern Flare.” That July, he followed up with his first EP, Shoulders of Giants, which was featured in the Roanoke Times alongside fellow Virginian Morgan Wade as an emerging Nashville talent.
In March 2023, Ross released “Part of Me,” a project recorded at the world-renowned Blackbird Studios. He also collaborated with hit songwriter Jason Nix (Lainey Wilson’s ACM Song of the Year, “Things a Man Oughta Know”) on a stripped-down version of “As the Crow Flies” for his Fall 2024 EP of the same name.
Ross continues to tour across the world as a solo artist while holding a residency at multiple Nashville venues, captivating audiences with his blend of grit, soul, and Southern storytelling.
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