the Ross interview. (with Ruby Red)

[@hiddeninthesand]

If you or someone you know have ever seen Tally Hall live, and took a photo, video, or recorded audio, please contact us at our email [e-mail]! We're looking to add new content to the HITS KZbin channel & galleries (with credits to the original authors).

[@project_letters]

I love how active Tally Hall members have been recently. Congratulations to Ruby, the ultimate Tally hall fan.

[@RubyRed64]

❤

[@PhoeniZzz]

That title goes to Coz Baldwin, Rest his soul

[@project_letters]

​@@PhoeniZzz yes. I'm not trying to remove him of that title, of course. she's kind of like the next in line since he's gone if you get me? 💜

[@PhoeniZzz]

@@project_letters I completely understand

[@aricusi2661]

You know if Joe Hawley is active right now??

[@RubyRed64]

OMG I'm on TV!!

[@Ghostlygummibears]

Good day reference

[@SIXGUNS333]

Yessss!​@@Ghostlygummibears

[@F6te_0f_th3_st6rz]

How was it talking to THEE Ross?!?

[@Insane_enasnI]

You're so cool meet ross

[@yourpals7276]

Cool

[@soap9752]

shoutout to ross for being super fucking cool

[@melkate4475]

and shout out to ruby who got to talk with Ross who is super fucking cool

[@georgemalpassmusic2537]

“I had the muscle memory but I didn’t have the muscles” relatable.

[@galaxyqueen.]

Ruby is living the life we all want

[@RubyRed64]

Happy to be here 🙏

[@ola33333]

Ruby's living the dream -with a time machine-

[@kuro-the-silly]

​@@ola33333you've been waiting forever

[@tatteryt]

she's been waiting forever

[@cait._.]

She can make ever wait for her

[@jorgerosado2087]

This is actually pretty wholesome, especially when Ross talks about becoming a producer for Hawaii Part II from learning from other producers. Pretty nice to know. Very excited for the other interviews. Hopefully Ruby gets to ask Bora about the Boralogues and whtever happened to his streams. Or just ANYTHING with Rob or Zubin. Would love to hear their takes on Tally Lore.

[@thewoodpeckers655]

The fandom is gonna go wild with this one

[@lemonsmug]

-- TRANSCRIPT -- Ruby: So, Ross, Um... I prepared a couple questions, about 13 of them-- Uh... I dropped the last two, um... because Melody could not join us today So, I guess we just want to start with, um... With-- About Chicago. So you had told me that that was your first performance in what? 13, 14 years on stage? Ross: Yeah, well, technically... Technically not, um.. When I was in grad school, I played with the steel band, it's like, um... Steel drum music, uh, pan-- steel pans, and I played a couple shows with friends, but these were... Maybe 50 people in the crowd? So it was a very different-- Y'know, it wasn't a Jukebox The Ghost top headliner-- Ruby: A sold out venue. Ross: Yeah, yeah, so that was my first time in I'd-- I'd say since the very last Tally Hall show I played to be on a stage of that size in front of that many people. Ruby: So, I kinda wanted to know what that experience is like, like... Were you nervous? Did-- Did it go as you planned? What-- Any roadblocks in the way? Ross: Yeah! Um, no, I think the road-- Mentally preparing for it, that was the biggest roadblock, um... I will say, I played some shows but it had been five years since I played any show, um.. In fact, I moved into this practice space with my drumset in September of last year, and that was about the first time I played drums since, um, I moved to Boston in 2019, so, four... Little over four years, which is the longest I've ever gone in my life without playing drums, and so... Sort of picking it pack up was a little nerve-wracking to see if I would have that muscle memory, um... And I had the muscle memory but I didn't have the muscles-- Y'know, I've really gotten out of shape, and so, um... I-It was nice, I mean... These shows have been a great opportunity for me to get back in shape and, like, really get my drumming back to where it used to be, um... But yeah, it was-- It was both a physical and mental challenge to, like, get over that long blank and kinda get back in the game, if that makes sense, um... Ruby: Yeah, once you clear the-- once you clear the sludge out, then you can really get the-- get the ball rolling. Ross: Yeah, but I-- Y'know, it's amazing, I... As nervous as I was feeling leading up to it, I felt so comfortable being back on the stage again, I mean... It didn't hurt that, y'know, Andrew, Bora, these are people I've performed with so many times, um, I mean... Ruby: You had support right there next to you... Ross: Yeah, um... And had played that venue before a couple times, um... And, yeah! It just... It-- It all kinda came back that, like, "Oh yeah, this is my home away from home, behind a drumset, on a stage like this," so, kinda, once I got into that mode, I think... The set seemed to go really well, um, and I definitely left thinking, like, "Wow! We killed it! Yeah, that was great!" Ruby: Definitely agree. Ross: Um, yeah, thanks. Ruby: A little side question: Did it help knowing that people were there specifically to see you, and Andrew, and Bora, that-- Ross: Yeah! Ruby: --That you weren't just playing these Jukebox fans, like, there were people there who knew you? Ross: Yeah, there... I could tell, I mean, we could kinda see where, you and the other, kinda, Tally Hall fans were, um, and... I think-- I remember, like, the first note I came in, I-- I saw, like, a few smiles right away, and... Y'know, kinda telling me, like, "Wow, cool, I've never heard this song with a drumset before! And it's, like, really nice to hear this live!" And, like, just that little gut reaction that I could see was-- was, like, a really positive thing, it's-- Y'know, as a performer, you're-- you're feeding off the audience, (stammering) you don't have to, but I-- I prefer to, and I think most musicians I know do, um... Right? And-- and... You kinda can take the energy that people are giving off in the crowd and-- And just let it boost your performance. Ruby: I... I think I can resonate with that, from the little on stage time I've had before, I think I understand. Since you were performing with Andrew, are you lending any talent to the new-- To the new solo project? Ross: Probably not, we talked a little bit about it, I haven't-- We haven't picked up-- The conversation playing together very dramatically to these shows, if he's still looking for live drumming help and I can fit the timeline and it makes sense, I'm happy to, a-as of now, I don't have any studio time booked to contribute to it. I'm flattered that Andrew even brought it up to me to talk about doing it, and... I don't have the kinda schedule where I can get in a studio right away and do it in a time frame to release it Ruby: I mean, I will say, I hoped to see more of your live contributions, 'cause no offense to Andrew and Illicit Ghost but the D.C. show had a stark lack of percussion, I was... I was very much ready for you to say "Andrew... Taken for a Ride needs drums, do you want me to come on stage and do it for you?" But, yeah, that still was-- That show went out without a hitch. Ross: Yeah, I think it's just a different vibe, but... (Stammering) I think there are certainly some songs, and I feel like Taken for a Ride is probably one of them, it's nice to get the drum song. Ruby: It def-- It definitely is. Ross: it's a pretty drum-heavy Tally Hall track. Ruby: Oh, for sure, but Andrew does good at the tracks that have little to no percussion, that's where he kinda shines, I've come to realize. Do you think... You could tell us if you might be at Sonic Lunch this year? Ross: I'm hoping to be. Ruby: Alright! Ross: Yeah, I'm hoping to be -- I don't yet know for sure that I'll be able to, but in an ideal world I'll be there. Ruby: Well, you, me, and about 30-40 other people who have come to talk to me, and there's gonna be a big crowd. Ross: Okay. Ruby: So, everyone should be ready. Ross: And there are reasons I would really enjoy an afternoon show, as opposed to a night time show, so... Ruby: And it's outdoors, so that's really gonna be a mood booster. Ross: Yeah, it's-- it's definitely convenient for a lot of things, I'm hoping to make it work. Ruby: We-- We look forward to hopefully seeing you there. So, going all the way back to, let's say, 2004, 2005 -- Have you ever come to face to face with Steve Gallagher? Are you enemies in a way? Ross: Yeah-- No, no, we've met a bunch of times, we've been to weddings together, we've had-- Y'know, 'cause-- I don't-- I guess, I don't really know, maybe, the history of Steve leaving the band, Steve left very amicably on his own terms and I-- I was sort of approached to join the band after Steve was the one to be like "Y'know what? I'm gonna focus on other things and I'm not gonna do this," At least that's what I was told when in all of my interactions with Steve, that seems very consistent. Yeah, no, he's a really-- He's a-- He's a great guy, in fact, people used to... Some of-- Some of the, uh... The bands' other friends that we kinda used to tease, and they would be like "Man, Steve was such a great guy, such a great guy -- But, Ross, you joined-- Great drummer!" Ruby: Just a drummer, right? Ross: "You're a great drummer!" Not nec-- Kind of implying, like, your company is another thing, but... I think they were joking, but... Ruby: I guess the running joke was that you were sorta just that drummer, and that.. Ross: Yeah, I was... Y'know, and they formed the band really as friends, now, I knew Joe a little bit in high school, and I knew of Rob, I knew a lot of people that went to school with Rob, but we had never met. Same thing with Zubin, I-- I-- Like, mutual friends sort of with them? But, y'know, Steve was one-- th- this was a friend group that joined the band, so I really did come in as a bit of the, sort of outsider here, um... I don't-- I don't know if that's where the "just the drummer" joke really came from or not, um... But yeah. Ruby: I'm sure it's meant in... In light spirits, right? Ross: Yeah, I think so. I hope so! I'm assuming so! Ruby: Well, let's-- Let's assume so. -- CONT. IN REPLIES --

[@lemonsmug]

Ruby: The joke was that you're just a drummer, but there's a lot of people out there who say that you're the favorite member and they're big fans of you specifically, what's it like being in a position like that? Do you like having fans? Ross: ...Sure! Yeah-- Who wouldn't, I guess, um... Ruby: I mean, I know it's not for everybody. Ross: Yeah, and it-- Well, I think some parts of it probably aren't for me and maybe as I've shifted my focus in life to my family, it can be a bit of a... Inco-- Y'know, it's... I feel like drummers are rarely the favorite unless you're a drummer yourself, um... But,, I think-- Y'know, we always try to be, in some way, modeling ourselves after the bands that found great success and, y'know, it's one-- one thing Joe always was keen on-- keenly aware of, is that, y'know, these bands like The Beatles, maybe less so Queen but still to some extent, y'know-- People knew every member, every member was a character, y'know, you weren't just kind of, like, focusing on a lead singer and the band members could kinda swap in and out and you'd never know the difference, that really wasn't the kind of band we wanted to be, uhm, and so the Internet Show, the skits, all the personalities, those were ways to... To really, kind of make sure everybody got to know all of us. Y'know, it's a little bit difficult, because they are-- they-- they're sort of characters we play to some extent, but they are also us, and I think... Ruby: I can see that. Ross: Yeah, and I think one of the-- the one thing that's been a little... Maybe the oddest about having fans is that, yeah, I think people often forget that they're fans of the-- the us that made this content, y'know, 15 years ago, to 20 years ago Ruby: That's something I pick up on a lot. Ross: And we're, y'know, actual human beings-- people. It comes with a territory, I think, you can't-- you can't be a creator and really attach yourself to the content without that being part of it, I guess. Ruby: I follow, that makes sense. I'm really curious, what goes into making an album? What went into making Marvin's, Good & Evil, or even the Internet Show, like... What's it like seeing something go from a concept to a finished product and what kind of effort do you put into that? Ross: Yeah... Yeah, it's interesting 'cause I think so many of the Tally Hall projects were very different, um... Y'know, Marvin's, two thirds of the songs were already written before I joined the band, um, and I-- I kinda came in with a "First do no harm" attitude, y'know? So I didn't-- I didn't want to really change around drum parts for no reason, the songs were written, Steve played what he played 'cause that-- that was the part that he wanted to write and those songs already existed. They're always gonna have a different flair, I think, when a different drummer plays them, that's-- That's just natural. But yeah, a lot of that album for me was just learning part-- drum parts, y'know, learning songs, uhm, there were a few new ones, and-- and that was really fun, I think, like, Spring and a Storm was new for Marvin's-- Ruby: That's such a good one... Ross: That-- And same thing with Taken For a Ride, and some of those, I feel like were the songs, I guess-- Honestly, Spring and a Storm and Taken for a Ride are the two that I felt like "Okay, here's my opportunity to kind of infuse how I am as a drummer and have been and how I learned into this-" a-and Whole World and You, I was actually very active in the marching band at the time, so if you really pay attention there's kind of a lot of very rudimental kind of marching drumming worked into the parts, just 'cause that's kind of what I was so focused on-- Ruby: That makes me think of Taken for a Ride, the dududududududu, that-- that's very much reminiscent of that. Ross: Yeah, and... For Good & Evil, it was a totally different story 'cause we were kinda all working together, writing these songs from the ground up -- Rob and I shared an apartment during most of the writing for that, and so we actually got to work together in a way that we hadn't for the first album, he kinda had an idea but he didn't really know what feel he wanted, and so he would kind of make a demo for me and then I would make a demo drum beat and then he would build off of that, and then we would work back and forth... Different writers, all-- all four of the writers would come with different ideas, sometimes not having any clue what they wanted the drums to sound like and others having a very specific idea of, like, "This is really... This is the beat for the song, can you play it?" Y'know? And then there's always that sort of, like, "Well, y'know, I can-- I can sit down and play it and this is what it's gonna sound like if I try to play what you programmed or, y'know, what you found," and then sometimes you kinda tweak and work from that because, again, all drummers have their own feel, so... I guess, really, the best drummers can match any feel, but I-- I don't-- I'm not maybe in that category where I can totally change up everything, I kind of have a default. And then in terms of the internet show, that was a wild process, I never made any kind of, y'know-- Joe taught us how to write scripts-- Ruby: Yeah, that was- Ross: --And use script writing software, I mean, it was- It was a fun experience! Ruby: I think he was the one going for film, or... He was going for film, so-- Ross: Yeah, yup! Totally, and he-- y'know, we learned a lot from him, we learned a ton about lighting, and sound, and... Yeah, just direction and plot, y'know, all these different things that go into filming. Ruby: Stuff you don't really think about until you're the one in-- you're in the director's seat... Huh, I never thought of that. So, in 2009, you sang a song on stage called Everyday, was that... What was it like being-- being the focus where... Was that your choice to sing that? Or did the band choose? Ross: No, no, that was-- I mean, I wouldn't say that I was forced into it, (Stammering) I tried to embrace it, um, I have a terrible ear when it comes to, um, pitch, y'know, like, I guess tonedeaf is the term? Ruby: Tone-- Ross: Yeah, I-- I'm pretty sure I actually am tonedeaf, um... And I-I thought I was just bad at singing, until my-- my wife pointed out that when we kept singing to out child, she's like "You are all o--" she's like "Do you know how out of tune- Like, what are you doing?" It's no secret I-- everybody sings and I don't have a microphone. I always felt like I can't sing, um... And I think Everyday by Buddy Holly is a relatively straight forward song and it's kind of in my natural register, I guess, and I think that was the logic behind, like, "This'll be really fun, let's get Ross up on the front of the stage, ma-- maybe this one's easy enough and he can sing it," and I feel like I did okay. Ruby: I mean, from what I've seen you did great, and it's good that they got some inclusion from you that wasn't just a so-- um, a song that was Jerk Chicken rap. Ross: Yeah... -- WIP, POSTING RN TO SAVE PROGRESS --

[@joehawleyjoehawley001]

thank you so much for this omg

[@lemonsmug]

backto doing that thing i do

[@Coristic121]

@@lemonsmug Ruby: I'm really curious what goes into making an album, what went into making marvins, good & evil, or even the internet show, like... what's it like seeing something go from like, a concept, to a finished product, and- Ross: Yeah. Ruby: like, what effort do you put into it?

[@ola33333]

THANK YOU English isn't my first language so sometimes it's hard to hear what they are talking

[@milkshakegd]

i'd love for ruby to find a way to interview all the members individually lmao

[@f7bye]

I LOVE ROSS!!!! I WISH I BOUGHT HIS YOOTOOZ HES MY FAVOURITE, IM COMING FROM IRELAND TO SEE ANDREW IN AUGUST AND I HOPE ROSS IS THERE

[@amazingpurplegirl0903]

I loved Ross' cover of Everyday. It was beautiful

[@Bunnymmm101]

I am happy that Ross still enjoys performing for fans all these years later!

[@offtheradar24245]

finishing what coz baldwin started. o7

[@RubyRed64]

He's always at the forefront of my thoughts when doing things like this 💜💜

[@Catcajat1424]

Ross is one of my favorites because he’s so nice

[@Silv3r_Gh0st]

I've never been more jealous of a single person in my entire life. Ruby is the embodiment of everything i wish i could be

[@georgespaceagency9894]

Well this sure did age badly

[@Silv3r_Gh0st]

@@georgespaceagency9894 when I said this I meant I wanted to do what she does, out of rage. I'll always be her biggest hater.

[@georgespaceagency9894]

@@Silv3r_Gh0st she 💀

[@Noodles_Poodle]

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!! I'm going to edit this and share my thoughts after the interview Edit: IT WAS EPIC

[@swordbird]

So unbelievably excited to be seeing new Tally Hall adjacent content in the year 2024.

[@edu.horowitz]

i’m actually going insane this is so awesome!!! edit: i’m halfway through this is the best interviews i’ve watched ever, ross your singing voice is so pretty you’re lying

[@Jamin910]

I have been thinking about sending some mail to Zubin but DEFINITELY not to his work place knowing it won't get accepted! Hopefully he might have a PO box he'll release for fanmail when the band gets closer together soon.

[@visibly-tired]

I absolutely LOVE hearing all this bts stuff.

[@joemo]

what

[@visibly-tired]

@@joemo I liked when Ross mentioned behind the scenes stuff

[@joemo]

@@visibly-tired ok this makes sense then!

[@ola33333]

I JUST CAME BACK FROM SCHOOL CRJJTRFG I'M SO HAPPY

[@sincerecinnamon]

As someone dedicated to playing marching bass drum (so dedicated that, as an autistic person, it's probably a special interest of mine every football season), I cried in joy a little when he said skill was required for bass drum (I'm also very interested in biology, and I'm really tempted to go into genealogy as a career in the future, which makes this feel a little more special too :] )

[@MrDynamiteCD]

Congrats ruby!

[@Thestuffdoer]

13:40 here’s when the ミラクルミュージカル stuff starts :D

[@ola33333]

And then he starts talking about how deeply interested in proteins he is lol 21:00 I'm going to make that out of context Ross

[@tailseatingnails]

THIS WAS DURING A CLASS OF MINE AND I COULDNT WATCH IT LIVE I LOVE ROSS FEDERMAN I WISH I COULD JUST SIT FOWN AND TALK TO HIM 😭

[@jack101starZ]

Ross my beloved

[@emzailor]

what a great interview! thanks Ruby for conducting the interview and sharing it with the world :)

[@Soda_Fizzy]

This chat was so much fun to be in

[@giralarv]

I am so silly i am so excited aaaa :3

[@incollalios4801]

i love these newer interviews and such we're getting, keep up the good work, per say!

[@Niko_Zidnesser]

Mucka blucka

[@whitepumpkinenthusiast27]

bro wtf is that translation 💀💀

[@Thestuffdoer]

Thank you, Ruby!

[@Cojumpendium]

Amazing stuff!

[@buozelbirhesap]

ross looks like my dad lol

[@_EGROEG]

I like ice cream

[@Avivathebeatlemaniac]

Me too bro me too

[@soap9752]

me too :D

[@NeonYRG]

Ayye me too!

[@JakkzOfficial]

Happy birthday Ruby Red!

[@GracefulJabberwocky]

ROSS‼‼‼❕❕❕❕❔❔❕❕

[@Coristic121]

RUBY HOW ARE YOU SO GODDAMN LUCKY???!?!?!?

[@RubyRed64]

I don't know 😭

[@cojumed]

I CANT WAIT AAAGHHH!!

[@soaprii]

RAHHH I CANT WAIT

[@kquiwi]

WOOOOO ROSS!!!! 🗣️🗣️🗣️ thanks ruby red and ross for this interview :D

[@talltally]

YAY!!!

[@MadCritter]

Ain’t nothing wrong with DMB! Sure his voice is terrible but Carter fucking Beauford is a beast of a drumer

[@SonomiSuzuki]

this interview was cool but i was so distracted by the live chat lol 😿

[@_basils._.flower._.pot_]

Same😭😭😭😭

[@GracefulJabberwocky]

same lol

[@Niko_Zidnesser]

I'm so happy

[@bunjection]

amazing interview ruby!! 💜💜

[@zubinsedghibassguitar]

CONGRATS RUBY!

[@Insane_enasnI]

ROSS!!!

[@Vectorcollapse]

Thanks, Ruby Red!

[@RubyRed64]

Of course!!

[@Vectorcollapse]

@@RubyRed64 You're suddenly in all of my feeds!

[@Blueberryvoiceovers]

GO ROSS^^

[@HoneyBrain.]

Going cuckoo for my cuckoos rn

[@The_silver_tie]

Badass move, Ruby.

[@RubyRed64]

❤🙏

[@I_also_like_tally_hall]

YIPPEE‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

[@SillyDogAwwww]

CRYING

[@Insane_enasnI]

Woaah

[@Avivathebeatlemaniac]

OH MY GOD AHAAAAAA

[@TwoWuvChonnyjashCover]

woooo fuck yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@chillyhuahuavazquez7148]

NO WAY WHAT!??!?!

[@Wheatleyfromportaltwo]

WOOOOOO

[@CSharpDCS]

that is NOT what you meant by till the end

[@grassmaker96]

OMG!

[@SillyDogAwwww]

YAYYYYYYYY

[@chewzX3]

YAYAYAYA

[@dragonsfire286]

ROSSY :D

[@wooglefurf]

why does ross look photoshopped in 😭

[@flazeanimations]

EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING LMAO

[@alecboi777]

MOOT ON TWITTER DETECTED!!!!

[@SillyDogAwwww]

EEEEEK

[@JakkzOfficial]

666th like

[@theawesometeg219]

Damn Ross lookin old

[@amazingpurplegirl0903]

I don't think he does at all. Just grey hair on a man nearing his 40s

[@MadCritter]

He’s got a condition where his hair went gray a lot earlier in life than usual. Not super rare, just what he’s got lol

[@theawesometeg219]

@@MadCritter I know

[@hummingatune]

​@@MadCritteryeah but if you put a photo of him now to his tally hall says there is a huge difference (duh, he's gotten older ofc, but still)

[@starchildmimi]

YAY!!