FROM RICHES TO RAGS

You’re stuck in a dead-end situation: one step forward and you’ll begin walking the long and winding road to your lifetime ambition, the same step forward and you’ll be cutting ties with your easy and satisfactory enough future. Whatever you choose, you’d be losing something important in your life. Self-fulfillment? Stability? There's no such thing as a free lunch.

According to Derek Russ, this was the toughest decision he had ever faced. ‘Whichever way you look at it, the outcome was a turning point in my life. Had I chosen to follow my father’s footsteps, now I would be answering your questions dressed in an expensive suit instead of this wrinkly shirt!’. Derek laughs as he tries to even the wrinkles helplessly. There he sits, wearing a pair of grungy old jeans and an orange shirt wrinklier than a Pug’s face. Still, he somehow glows more than the wealthiest businessman.

Derek Russ was born on September 2nd, 25 years ago into a rich, high-class family. He was raised Catholic and his parents made sure he was always provided the best education. Derek never fell below the top five highest scoring students in high school. Everything was settled so that he would succeed his father as the president of the country’s biggest electrical company. He had everything a sane person would dream of: a more than stable financial situation, a stable job, a future stable family, in short, stability. Was Derek insane for refusing this desirable plan? He seems to think so. ‘Yes, that’s a good word choice, but then again, I’m as insane as the next person. You lose interest in books when you know what’s going to happen beforehand, and that’s what happened with my life, I was growing tired of it since I already knew all the spoilers. Even so, it sounds insane, yes, but I don’t regret it one bit.’

On his way to school, Derek would always pass homeless people in the subway station. More than once did he miss the train while engrossed in those poor yet at the same time endearing people. ‘Their smile was warm, and they made people happy. Nobody acknowledged their presence but they brought kindness to the otherwise full of concrete station. I really liked them, they made me smile with their improvised songs.’

Teenage Derek spent half of his lunch money tipping performers. Up to this day, he dedicates part of his income to needy musicians who play in the suburbs or the subway. Many think that his path was easy, he was the only son to a rich family, after all. ‘Yes, my situation was somewhat different. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to be seen as my father’s son, so I tried to conceal my background whenever possible. Luckily, I had the support of my close friends and my mother, who understood that this was what I really wanted, to help people and make them happy through my music.’

His brows furrow slightly when I ask him about his father yet his trademark warm smile doesn’t falter even once. ‘He was devastated. The thought of my not becoming the next president never once did cross his mind. He gave it for granted. My mother already knew and came to accept it, but my father wouldn’t tolerate his son stepping into that gay world, as he called it. Three months later, when the situation cooled down, he approached me and told me to do whatever I wanted to, but that I should carve out my own future, and only when I’ve reached the top, if I ever do, he would give me his approval. That made me much more motivated than I already was.’

Derek Russ is slowly making a name for himself. Fans appreciate him for his heartfelt lyrics, his humble character and his kindness. His last single, “Bang!”, charted on the international top ten for three consecutive weeks.

Please give your support to Derek Russ!