Music

Russ Explains Why His Career Is ‘Pandemic-Proof’ In A Year That Stifled Many Independent Artists’ Income

The outspoken advocate for independent artistry gave the blueprint for his successful 2020. …

Throughout 2020, the coronavirus pandemic and the collective responses to it had a profound effect on the music industry — especially independent artists, who often rely more on live shows than record sales for the majority of their income. However, one independent rapper said that his career flourished this year, boasting that it is “pandemic-proof” and that he has been getting his checks in the mail like clockwork despite the economic slowdown.

Russ, who released two projects this year and has been a vocal advocate for independent artistry, told Tidal’s B. Dot in a new interview, “I’m fortunate because I’ve set up my career to be pandemic proof.” He explained that rather than planning for a global breakdown of the live entertainment industry, he instead ensured that he owned the legal rights to all of his output, which guaranteed a bigger slice of the profit for himself. “It’s pandemic proof via mailbox money, you know, and via ownership and owning my masters and things like that,” he elaborated. “TuneCore checks didn’t stop. If anything, I’ve made more money on TuneCore this year than I did last year because I was able to record more, which means I was able to put out more, and I went fully independent.”

His output this year included the full-length project Shake The Snow Globe and its deluxe version, as well as the Chomp EP featuring Ab-Soul, Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, and more. His independent success allowed him to also give away $20,000 to his Twitter followers to boost their spirits during the summer lockdown.

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Artist Spotlight

Fanny Alexandra explores emotional recovery and self-discovery on “Ceasefire”

Not every fight ends a relationship, and there could be long-term emotional damage, with questions about identity, attachment, and the difficult path to moving on. “Ceasefire” is a ghostly alternative rock ballad in which Fanny Alexandra navigates difficult terrain, exploring emotional dependency and the search for selfhood after a toxic relationship.

“Ceasefire” is full of sad melodies and hints of atmospheric rock, making it a dark, cinematic listen. The song’s alt-rock pivot provides an emotionally charged foundation, and it’s about the internal battle, especially when your identity has been so tied to another person.

Fanny Alexandra’s ethereal vocal approach suits the song, lending real emotional weight to the exploration of self-loss and internal tension. “Ceasefire” is a reflective track, with atmospheric instrumentation and deeply personal songwriting that capture feelings that can linger long after a tough chapter closes.

It’s about finding yourself again, and its emotional arc moves from openness and dependence to the hard-earned discovery that personal freedom is more than just walking away. Fanny Alexandra’s love for dark, emotional alternative music inspired “Ceasefire.” Her art is about intimate storytelling, cinematic atmosphere, and making music that explores the quieter struggles people tend to keep inside. In this record, she turns the fallout from a toxic relationship into a meditative reflection on the long road to selfhood.

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Artist Spotlight

Stephani Ezatoff honors Elvis Presley’s legacy on powerful new single “Run On”

Gospel-rooted music carries emotional weight, especially when it explores the tension between faith, love, and accountability. With “Run On,“ Stephani Ezatoff combines these into a rock version of Elvis Presley’s famous 1967 version of the traditional African American gospel hymn.

Ezatoff doesn’t simply retrace history but surrounds it with a unique atmosphere of powerful vocals and an ever-intensifying arrangement. The single was recorded at the legendary Sound Shop Studio on Music Row in Nashville and has an interesting connection to Elvis Presley’s own recording history. The studio session was located a stone’s throw from RCA’s Studio B, where Elvis recorded his own version of the hymn.

This adds another layer of meaning to an already meaningful release, placing Ezatoff’s take within Nashville’s musical heritage. Aaron Minick’s arrangement plays on the contrast between divine love and judgment, which is central to the track’s identity. The production builds slowly, and the song becomes a dramatic, cinematic experience. Ezatoff also makes a unique contribution by singing all the vocals herself.

The story of how the recording was made adds to the poignancy of “Run On.” This is one of the last releases made at Sound Shop Studio, which hosted artists like Dolly Parton and Brenda Lee, but closed for good just days after the session. For Stephani Ezatoff, “Run On“ is a vital link between generations of musicians preserved in a recording that’s a piece of Nashville history.

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