Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross discuss their musical collaboration, their new reality show and what Evan's mom Diana is really like.
Simpson is now in a very different place. It’s been 10 years since she released new music, and nearly eight years since her most recent television series, Melrose Place, ended. Since then, she has effectively disappeared from the public eye to focus on her family. It would be completely understandable if she was hesitant to open up again. But now she’s returning to reality TV — this time with her husband, and new musical collaborator, Evan Ross by her side on their new series Ashlee and Evan.
At 33, Simpson is nearly unrecognizable from her early days on The Ashlee Simpson Show. The brunette with spiked bangs, choppy layers and green Converse has evolved into a bohemian blonde with an affinity for large hats — something she shares with Ross. When they meet with Rolling Stone at New York’s Bowery Hotel, they’re sporting almost identical headwear, despite the lobby’s dim lighting.
Starring in a reality TV show is a big change for Simpson and Ross, who have remained notoriously private since they wed in 2014. “I think in a lot of senses we still are very private,” explains Ross. “I think that with this show, you give up a lot of privacy to let people on this journey with us.” But Simpson, who had already experienced the ups and downs of reality TV, had prepared Ross for what was to come before they started. “I was like, ‘OK, babe, we have to open our hearts and just do this because if you do it, you have to be there and open yourself and open the door,’” explains Simpson.
The combination of Simpson’s sultry, raspy tone and Ross’ soulful vocals works; their songs are balanced and genre-fluid. Their material includes “I Do,” an acoustic, country-folk-inspired track; “Paris,” a seductive R&B cut that takes cues from the Badu-Q-Tip era; and the bluesy “I Want You.” The couple also recruited bassist Verdine White from Earth, Wind & Fire to play on six of their album’s tracks. “There wasn’t a limit on [whether or not] it’s pop or it’s soul,” explains Simpson. “I feel like there was a discovery of what our sound was together.” Ross’ mother is also a part of their album. “She did a song [for us] called ‘Whole Lot of Love,’ and she came up with the melody,” says Ross.” Ross’ mother also wanted the couple to do this album for a while. “She loves the way we sound together,” adds Ross.