Russ Coson (pronounced Cuh-Sone) is a Filipino-American Recording Artist born on March 9, 1989. He was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and his hometown is San Jose, CA. His music has been listened to and shared internationally over mainstream, online, and satellite radio. Russ hopes to inspire others by leading by example. He believes in striving for success and only competing with nobody but your old self. He is always looking for ways to improve his habits and creative operation. We had the opportunity to have an interview with Russ Coson.

Hello Russ Coson, Thanks for coming to Honk Magazine to talk about your career.

Tell us a little more about when you first got into music?

Growing up, my family would sing Karaoke all the time. During my High School years, I started to rap and got into beat production and began making a name for myself locally as an artist. After I graduated college, I really wanted to focus on my music and decided to pursue my dream of being an established recording artist. Since then, I’ve been growing and making consistent music, developing my skills and talents in the process. 

If you could describe your sound/style in one word, what would it be and why?

I would say “Smooth”. A lot of my listeners say I have a smooth voice and delivery in my songs. Whether it’s an R&B or a party song, I like to make my music catchy and easy to listen to.

What would you say to any aspiring recording artists who look up to your work?

First, I would like to thank them for listening to my music! I would probably like to know exactly what they like about my music. And lastly, I would tell them to keep going and that I’m happy to be an inspiration to them that will hopefully inspire others as well. 

What quote or mantra do you live by?

A quote I came across recently that aligns with my values is “To get what you really want, you have to be who you really are.” I like this quote because it relates to my life and music journey and I’ve experienced both sides of this situation. In the past, I used to “dim my light” and my music to try to fit in and do what all the “cool” people were doing and listening to. Doing so, I lost myself and started making music for the wrong reasons. Since then, I’ve come to the realization that you can only play that role for so long, it’s not sustainable or emotionally healthy. By being your authentic self, you will never run out of inspiration and you will attract the right listeners to your music and message.

What is your hobby outside of music?

Outside of music, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, outdoor recreational activities such as hiking and swimming. I also enjoy reading, watching sci-fi and comedy movies, traveling and learning about history and spirituality.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I will see myself living in Los Angeles, CA with my girlfriend. I see us having kids, owning some properties, and still being heavily involved in the music. I see myself writing Grammy Award-winning songs for established artists as well as my own originals. I see myself owning a recording studio for the youth to develop their musical talents. I see myself surrounded by loved ones who always believed in me and us celebrating the life we dreamt about in the present moment.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why.

Find your strengths and weaknesses: I wish I had someone tell me to focus on what I was good at from an earlier stage in my life. I now know that it’s far more important to be really good at one thing then be mediocre at many things. 

Don’t make music to fit in with the “cool” or “trending” crowd: Unfortunately, I also fell victim to the external praises of people who don’t really appreciate you as a unique artist and individual. When you make music for others that don’t necessarily align with your values, you increase the possibility of losing yourself. Make music for you that heals your soul and voices how you feel and think. You will never lose because you are being yourself.

Practice self discipline: Being a recording artist is just like being an entrepreneur. You are your own boss and you create your schedule and the daily tasks you need to complete. If you aren’t disciplined or have a schedule for yourself, it’s easy to become complacent and laziness could take over. When you are disciplined, you are able to schedule in when to create, when to learn, when to handle business, and when to rest.

Be confident in who you are and your abilities: You need to make sure you know who you are and your worth because if you don’t, someone else will tell you and it’ll be far less than what you think you are. When you know yourself, you set the standards of how others will respect you, how you are paid, and how they will treat you in the future.

Practice faith: My personal experience in this music journey has been a roller coaster of emotions as well as successes and setbacks. There will be times when you doubt yourself, your negative mindset will tell you to quit, and your finances will collapse. In dire times, our reasoning mind will try to defer us from living out our dreams/passions. By practicing faith, you begin to believe in the impossible and it’s easier to persevere through life’s challenges.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

To avoid burnout, you need to be organized with your tasks and manage your time wisely. I use Google calendar, Google Keep, and Google Docs to write out my monthly goals, my weekly goals, and daily tasks and I look at these everyday as if I were at a regular 9-5 job. Being a full time recording artist is a real job that requires your full focus. Use Google calendar to schedule your weekly tasks and spread them out throughout the week and month. Don’t over schedule yourself and make sure to book in time for rest and reflection.

Do you have anything new or upcoming we can expect to see from you?

My new EP “Getaway” is out now on all streaming platforms! This project features 5 brand new R&B songs that are relatable to people in love and those in relationships. I am also doing a special series on my Tik Tok & Instagram called “If I had a verse on…” where I cover popular songs with my own written original verse.

What is the inspiration behind your latest song?

My latest project “Getaway” was created during the Covid 19 pandemic. During the last phase of the lockdown and quarantine here in the U.S., most people were getting impatient and anxious for the world to open back up again. International travel was banned but we were still able to travel locally. This project was inspired by those hopeful moments of freedom. Being only 5 songs, it represents the sweet and simple comparison to a weekend getaway with your significant other.

How can our readers follow you online?

Please follow me on all my social media under “Russ Coson” including IG, Tik Tok, Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook. My music is available for download and streaming on all music platforms such as Spotify and Applemusic. You can also check out my website at www.russcoson.com!