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Ep. 212: How Russ Built An Indie Empire: Business, Burnout & Self-Belief

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Manage episode 486426760 series 2391342
Content provided by And The Writer Is and The Writer Is. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by And The Writer Is and The Writer Is or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

This week’s guest is one of the most successful independent artists in modern music.

He’s a rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer who built his career from the ground up. in this rare conversation, he opens up about the side of the journey we don’t usually hear:

The emotional weight of ownership, the mental toll of doing it all alone, and the belief system that kept him going when no one else did.


This is a blueprint for any creative who wants to build something real without losing their peace.

And The Writer Is... Russ!

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

02:14 – How Russ Beat the System Without Selling His Soul

04:16 – Childhood Chaos, Cop Cars & Creative Spark

07:06 – Soulja Boy, Pep Rallies & Atlanta Music Culture

08:19 – Rock Ballads & Soul Roots You Didn’t Expect

10:11 – The Guitar That Started It All

11:49 – GarageBand & Making Beats for Friends

12:41 – Wayne, Wiz & Folk Rock: A Weird Musical Diet

13:56 – Why Russ Doesn’t Sound Like Anyone Else

15:29 – Publishing Wars: Russ vs. Drum Programmers

26:18 – Why Songwriters Are Fighting for the Wrong Money

29:32 – The $850K Sample Mistake

30:21 – Power, Control & Protecting His Business

34:05 – Why He Still Handles His Own Deals

35:11 – A Wake-Up Call to Songwriters: Keep Your Records

39:03 – When a Song Hits Mid-Dinner, You Leave

41:44 – Burnout, Collaboration & Creative Revival

45:11 – The Line He’ll Never Cross in Rap

48:01 – Turning Fights Into Hits (Literally)

50:07 – Writing in the Shower & Whispering Hooks at 2AM

54:14 – Harmonizing with His Partner—In Music and Life

56:02 – When He Doesn’t Create, Everything Unravels

57:09 – The 20% Rule That Changed His Sanity

58:07 – How Columbia Let Him Stay Indie (Kind Of)

61:06 – Ownership, Spending, and Where the Real Money Is

63:56 – What Russ Would Do If He Had to Start Over

65:19 – Vulnerability vs. Confidence: The Real Inner Battle

66:07 – Why He Samples Even Though He Can Write Anything

66:38 – Burnout & Building a Life Outside of Music

67:52 – Being Your Own Engine (and Breaking Down)

69:25 – The Hidden Prison of Fame

70:38 – Panic Attacks, Depression & Healing

72:01 – Therapy, Faith & Finding Balance

75:17 – Music as Medicine (and a Mental Trap)

78:42 – Dopamine Detox & Spiritual Warfare

81:11 – Why He Hates LA

82:22 – “I Can Make a Hit in 20 Minutes”—But Should I?

83:33 – Escaping the Productivity Hamster Wheel

84:38 – A $25M Lesson Every Artist Should Hear

86:51 – Love, Identity, and the Power of a Creative Partner

89:09 – Real Talk on Timing, Trust, and Tension

90:54 – What Actually Grounds Russ (That You Don’t See Online)

92:33 – What He Hopes to Be Remembered For

94:10 – For the Dreamer Who’s Almost Out of Gas

96:22 – Why Gratitude Isn’t Optional

97:47 – Ego vs. Purpose: The Shift That Saved His Career

99:21 – Navigating Hate, Criticism & Longevity

102:06 – Owning Your Story Without Needing a Comeback

104:33 – Faith, Flow & Letting Go

107:18 – Redefining Wealth: What Energy Are You Leaving Behind?

109:55 – Art as Therapy: Why He’ll Never Stop Writing

112:11 – Leaving a Legacy Without Forcing It

115:03 – What He Still Doesn’t Feel Comfortable Sharing

117:12 – A Final Message to Artists Who Feel Alone

120:10 – Outro: What Russ Hopes You Take From This Episode


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  continue reading

249 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 486426760 series 2391342
Content provided by And The Writer Is and The Writer Is. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by And The Writer Is and The Writer Is or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

This week’s guest is one of the most successful independent artists in modern music.

He’s a rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer who built his career from the ground up. in this rare conversation, he opens up about the side of the journey we don’t usually hear:

The emotional weight of ownership, the mental toll of doing it all alone, and the belief system that kept him going when no one else did.


This is a blueprint for any creative who wants to build something real without losing their peace.

And The Writer Is... Russ!

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

02:14 – How Russ Beat the System Without Selling His Soul

04:16 – Childhood Chaos, Cop Cars & Creative Spark

07:06 – Soulja Boy, Pep Rallies & Atlanta Music Culture

08:19 – Rock Ballads & Soul Roots You Didn’t Expect

10:11 – The Guitar That Started It All

11:49 – GarageBand & Making Beats for Friends

12:41 – Wayne, Wiz & Folk Rock: A Weird Musical Diet

13:56 – Why Russ Doesn’t Sound Like Anyone Else

15:29 – Publishing Wars: Russ vs. Drum Programmers

26:18 – Why Songwriters Are Fighting for the Wrong Money

29:32 – The $850K Sample Mistake

30:21 – Power, Control & Protecting His Business

34:05 – Why He Still Handles His Own Deals

35:11 – A Wake-Up Call to Songwriters: Keep Your Records

39:03 – When a Song Hits Mid-Dinner, You Leave

41:44 – Burnout, Collaboration & Creative Revival

45:11 – The Line He’ll Never Cross in Rap

48:01 – Turning Fights Into Hits (Literally)

50:07 – Writing in the Shower & Whispering Hooks at 2AM

54:14 – Harmonizing with His Partner—In Music and Life

56:02 – When He Doesn’t Create, Everything Unravels

57:09 – The 20% Rule That Changed His Sanity

58:07 – How Columbia Let Him Stay Indie (Kind Of)

61:06 – Ownership, Spending, and Where the Real Money Is

63:56 – What Russ Would Do If He Had to Start Over

65:19 – Vulnerability vs. Confidence: The Real Inner Battle

66:07 – Why He Samples Even Though He Can Write Anything

66:38 – Burnout & Building a Life Outside of Music

67:52 – Being Your Own Engine (and Breaking Down)

69:25 – The Hidden Prison of Fame

70:38 – Panic Attacks, Depression & Healing

72:01 – Therapy, Faith & Finding Balance

75:17 – Music as Medicine (and a Mental Trap)

78:42 – Dopamine Detox & Spiritual Warfare

81:11 – Why He Hates LA

82:22 – “I Can Make a Hit in 20 Minutes”—But Should I?

83:33 – Escaping the Productivity Hamster Wheel

84:38 – A $25M Lesson Every Artist Should Hear

86:51 – Love, Identity, and the Power of a Creative Partner

89:09 – Real Talk on Timing, Trust, and Tension

90:54 – What Actually Grounds Russ (That You Don’t See Online)

92:33 – What He Hopes to Be Remembered For

94:10 – For the Dreamer Who’s Almost Out of Gas

96:22 – Why Gratitude Isn’t Optional

97:47 – Ego vs. Purpose: The Shift That Saved His Career

99:21 – Navigating Hate, Criticism & Longevity

102:06 – Owning Your Story Without Needing a Comeback

104:33 – Faith, Flow & Letting Go

107:18 – Redefining Wealth: What Energy Are You Leaving Behind?

109:55 – Art as Therapy: Why He’ll Never Stop Writing

112:11 – Leaving a Legacy Without Forcing It

115:03 – What He Still Doesn’t Feel Comfortable Sharing

117:12 – A Final Message to Artists Who Feel Alone

120:10 – Outro: What Russ Hopes You Take From This Episode


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  continue reading

249 episodes

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