Meet Russell 2.0 | How music inspired a dream and impressed a special woman

We had the good fortune of connecting with Russell 2.0 and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Russell, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be a singer. At the time, I didn’t have the resources or knowledge of how to compose and arrange a song. In 2004, I drove to Chicago and knocked on R. Kelly’s door. I knew that if I could get a song produced by him, I would also be able to secure a record deal and fulfill my goal/dream of becoming an artist. I worked hard, slept on the floor, play basketball every night, and was just always in his ear saying; “I want song”. Eventually, I had a duet with him. Unfortunately, two weeks after the song was completed and released to Radio, His legal issues began. All of his music and those songs he had produced were removed from Radio. Instead of staying in Chicago, I came to Miami and started a business. I have a lovely daughter and really enjoyed those years of life with her. Fast forward to Covid, everything was completely shut down at the beginning, and I was on a date with a Woman, but I didn’t have anywhere to take her. I mean, all of the restaurants were closed, Movie theaters were not open, you couldn’t even take a walk outside together, etc. At this time in my life, I still had the desire and passion to do music so I’m looking at her, I want to impress her. I called a local music studio and told them I wanted to come make a song. I literally walked to the studio with her, took her in the vocal booth and recalled all of the techniques and things I did to write and produce songs. What began as just a romantic way to impress her, Turned into a song that is now played everywhere. The title is; Tisshko. It’s amazing because the song was never to be released, but this whole story is tied to the question, which is “how do you know whether you keep going or to give up”? And that one song proves an individual should never give up, it’s not too late and you don’t know where your inspiration is going to come from. I didn’t have a pen or paper. I was just writing the song in my head as I was staring at her beauty. She was from a country that I never heard of, Belarus. So I included it in the lyrics of the song and somehow all these women in Belarus found out about it on TikTok and think it’s the ultimate romantic story and they all started making videos using the song. It now has over 9 million streams and once again proves that when you have something that you want to do, the only thing that can stop you from accomplishing it, is giving up. God bless, Russell

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Russell 2.0 has charted on commercial radio in R&B, Pop and Rock. Also, top ten on Billboard. Russell is currently a songwriter and producer, affiliated within many major industry artist, having written and produced eight #1 hits for the likes of; R. Kelly, Jay-Z, The Isley Brothers, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Diddy, B2K, Kid Rock, Fat Joe, Deborah Cox and Celine Dion.

As an artist, Russell, is one of the industry’s leading songwriter/producer & vocalist, with a range and style that is soulful and modern. Russell has redefined himself within his own brand, Russell 2.0, pioneering the construction of a new R&B style.

Described as a virtuoso on vocal creativity, song writing and production, Russell 2.0 mentored privately, studying advanced composition and theory. And spent two years as an understudy of R. Kelly at the height of Robert’s career.

Fans will enjoy Russell 2.0 from the serious/traditional side of R&B, to the contemporary side of soul music, respectfully.

https://linktr.ee/RussellMusic2.0

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are many areas that I like. I enjoy the Hispanic culture in southern Miami along with the new urban vibe in Brickell. To the northwest, Weston has always been a beautiful bedroom community. For me, though, I like Aventura the most.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to just be grateful to the honest and hard-working people of America. I think that the diversity and coming together of community is the only way a lot of families are surviving right now. A warm shout out to Viktoria, who inspired the song; Tisshko. Along with the only person I trust with my music, Mr. Sam DeRose Jr.

Website: https://linktr.ee/RussellMusic2.0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russellmusic2.0?igsh=ODUxaTVyZTk2bHc4&utm_source=qr

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@russell2.0?si=whE8vWEkHRTivouf

Other: TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@russellmusic2.0?_t=8mQ03QLNXEh&_r=1

Image Credits
None applicable