Fiona Ross has never been one to follow convention, and her upcoming album, Moments in My Notebook, arriving May 30, 2025, is a testament to her boundless creativity and storytelling prowess. Ahead of the release, the singles “Let Your Soul Shine” and “I Don’t Want Money” are out now.

Moments in My Notebook is a chronicle of love, loss, discovery, and relentless creativity, marking her 100th original song release. Across 21 tracks of jazz-fueled storytelling, the award-winning vocalist, pianist, composer and producer delivers an expansive, deeply personal collection that spans the intimate hush of a late-night ballad to the rhythmic pulse of Latin jazz, with moments of raw, stripped-down vulnerability woven throughout.

Ross, best known for carving her own lane in contemporary jazz, Latin rhythms, and vintage club sounds, crafted this album as both a journey through time and an exploration of the present. “I still write everything in notebooks,” Ross shares. “Some songs started with a bass line, some with a lyric, some from something I overheard in a café. This album is 21 moments from those pages—21 moments in my life.” The record is also a love letter to the past, featuring two songs she wrote as a teenager that have finally found their voice.

The album’s first single, "Let Your Soul Shine," is a luminous anthem of resilience and self-worth, inspired by a moment of serendipity at a market stall. “I saw a sign that said, ‘Let Your Soul Shine,’ and I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” she recalls. “I walked home, sat at the piano, and the song just poured out in ten minutes.” The result is a soul-stirring piece that encourages listeners to find strength in their own light. Another standout, "Pirates in Paris," is a romantic ode to freedom and artistic rebellion, inspired by Ross’s many visits to the French capital. “Paris has always been my escape,” she says. “A place where I can just be me. This song is about that—about finding a space where you can exist without judgment.”

Watch and Listen to“Let Your Soul Shine” here:

open.spotify.com/track/3imAEQqHt2KQzO48Pj2roS

Then there’s "I Don't Want Money," a track that captures the struggle every musician knows too well. “Wouldn’t it be nice to just make music without thinking about the cost of it all?” Ross muses. “But the reality is, we live in a world where money dominates everything. This song is for every creative who just wants to do what they love.” And if that’s not enough, Ross also gifts us "Voices Unheard," a haunting, socially charged reflection on forgotten histories and overlooked figures—with the closing lines name-checking Melba Liston, James Baldwin, Countee Cullen, Mary Lou Williams, and Ida B. Wells.

Watch and Listen to “I Don’t Want Money” here:

open.spotify.com/album/7B3ODejvcWnedR8bN8kQi7

 “China Told Me: The Live Session,” inspired by acclaimed vocalist, broadcaster, and cultural force China Moses was rehearsed and recorded in a single day at Premises Studios, London, and features a remarkable, female-empowered lineup. ‘China’s voice, her artistry, her humanity are important. She changes lives. She empowers,” Ross shares. Collaborators include Mary Sho (championed by Moses herself), who wrote the second verse top line, and the groundbreaking J Steps ensemble — an award-winning group for female and non-binary jazz musicians under 18, founded and directed by Hannah Horton. “I am absolutely thrilled to have J Steps making their recording debut on this song,” says Ross. “It was such a wonderful day. This song is meant to be enjoyed with the video, (releasing in June), where you can see the joy, love and kindness in the room.”

Recorded with a stellar lineup of musicians, Moments in My Notebook features Gibbi Bettini (guitar), Derek Daley (bass), Marley Drummond (drums), Loren Hignell (saxophones, clarinet, flutes), Simon Todd (Percussion) and Dave Boa (trumpets), with guest appearances by Laura Impallomeni (trombone) Charlotte Keeffe (trumpet), Hannah Horton (saxophone), Diana Torti (vocals), and Migdalia van Der Hoven (drums). The album was engineered, mixed, and mastered across multiple studios, a labor of love that captures both the exhilaration of live jazz and the precision of a carefully honed composition.

With her 100th song milestone in mind, Ross closes the album with the poignant "100 Songs," an introspective reflection on legacy and loss. “What would my parents say if they were here?” she wonders. “Would they be proud? Would they understand what I’ve built?” The song lingers, leaving the listener with a sense of unresolved contemplation—exactly what great art is supposed to do.

To celebrate the album’s release, Fiona Ross will embark on a UK and European tour, bringing these songs to life on stage. The official album launch will take place on June 4^th at London’s newest, record-breaking jazz venue Soul Mama, where fans can experience the magic firsthand.

Fiona Ross – 2025 Tour Dates :

• May 31, 2025 – Highworth Jazz Festival, UK
  Tickets & Info
• June 4, 2025 – Soul Mama, London, UK
  Venue Info
• August 16, 2025 – Acorn Theatre, Cornwall, UK
  Tickets & Info
• September 13, 2025 – Hampstead Jazz Club, London, UK

With Moments in My Notebook, Fiona Ross cements her place as one of the most fearlessly original voices in contemporary jazz and singer-songwriter storytelling. One hundred songs deep, and she’s just getting started.

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