AND THE WRITER IS...With Ross Golan
Every week, we sit down with an acclaimed and venerable songwriter to intimately discuss what happens behind closed doors in the music industry. There are millions of writers, thousands of artists and only the top 40 songs per genre at a time. This podcast is about the people who make them.
Produced by Joe London & Ross Golan
in association with
Mega House Music
Episode 212: How RUSS built an Indie Empire
Russ
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—writing, recording, producing, mixing, mastering, and releasing everything himself.
But 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.
We get into:
Publishing, splits, and how he structured his business
Why he doesn’t co-write or chase features
The pressure of independence and learning to let go of control
Burnout, success, spirituality, fear of falling off, and more
This is more than a career breakdown—it's a blueprint for any creative who wants to build something real without losing their peace.
And The Writer Is... Russ!
Artwork: Michael Richey White
Listen to the episode:
Please join us to help keep the music community alive and thriving, giving it as much as it gives us. To donate or to apply for assistance visit the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund site: https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/musicares-coronavirus-relief-fund
For information on The CARES Act visit the NMPA Resource Guide:
http://nmpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NMPA-Resource-Guide-to-the-CARES-Act-.pdf
For additional information on how to access support please visit:
Music Covid Relief - https://musiccovidrelief.com/
NMPA - http://nmpa.org/
SONA - https://www.wearesona.com/
NSAI - https://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/
To watch our Stay At Home series: https://www.youtube.com/andthewriteris
