How Russ Broke Every Rule of the Music Industry and Won (Ep. 48)

This is hands down one of my favorite conversations we’ve ever had!

Russ has built one of the most unique careers in modern music. He’s released hit records, built a massive global fanbase, and became one of the artists who helped redefine what it means to be independent in the music industry.

But what I loved about this conversation is that we got to go way beyond the success and really understand how he did it.

Russ takes us through his journey from making and releasing music on his own, to songs like “What They Want” and “Losin Control” changing everything, to building a career where ownership, independence, and believing in yourself have remained at the center of everything he does.

But this episode isn’t just about Russ’ story. It’s about what artists can learn from it.

We talk about what being independent actually means, why artists shouldn’t wait for someone else to give them permission to succeed, how to build an audience that truly cares about you, the importance of consistency, and what Russ has learned from betting on himself throughout his career.

💡 This conversation is for YOU if:

🔥 You’re an independent artist trying to build a career

🔥 You’ve ever felt like you needed a label or someone in the industry to believe in you

🔥 You want to understand how Russ built such a loyal fanbase

🔥 You’re an artist, songwriter, producer, or creative trying to turn what you love into a real career

🔥 You’ve ever doubted whether you can actually make it on your own

We also dive into the stories behind his music, the lessons he’s learned throughout his career, his evolution as both an artist and entrepreneur, and the next chapter of what he’s building.

What hit me most about this conversation was Russ’ belief in taking control of your own life and career. There are so many people waiting for somebody else to discover them, validate them, or give them an opportunity. Russ’ story is a reminder that sometimes you have to create that opportunity yourself.

I’ve followed Russ’ journey for years, and getting the chance to finally sit down and go through his story with him was incredibly special. I genuinely think there are so many moments in this conversation that are going to connect with artists and creatives who are trying to figure out their own path.

Russ, thank you for the honesty, the advice, and for trusting me to help share your story. So grateful we finally got to go Behind The Wall together. 🙏🔥

And thank you to everyone who continues to support Behind The Wall and makes conversations like this possible. I truly hope this episode inspires the next generation of independent artists and creatives to bet on themselves.

🎶 The interviews don't end when the cameras turn off. Join the Behind The Wall community, where artists, songwriters, and producers learn directly from the people behind the biggest songs in the world: https://www.skool.com/behindthewall/about

📘 FREE PDF: 15 Lessons from The Greatest Minds in MusicDownload now → https://nas.com/behindthewall/products/dxue

⬇️ More of Russ

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiIETTq2It3OzW8_WYRPTyQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russ/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@russ?lang=en

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1z7b1Pr1rSlvWRzsW3HOrS?si=RTyfSObAQ-W7t4J_HkOb6w

⬇️ More of Daniel

YouTube: / @danielswall

Instagram: / danielwall

TikTok: / danielswall