by DERUSZ
“It all started with a tap to download and some written lyrics, and next thing I know, I was doing something that no one (at least I think) has ever done before.”
Listen to the album while reading the text.
Hello, my name is Derusz.Ā I’m a singer/songwriter and producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania born and raised and I’m so happy I was given the opportunity to share my ways of creation with you all. I have never written for a website about anything before involving me so please, bare with me. š
How I Started Out
Music for me was a form of therapy that I could use to escape problems in life that I was dealing with. And writing things out always worked better for me to combat stress than the worst alternative. When I was young I used to write out lyrics and grab my microphone from a Wii gameĀ and plug it into my computer to record acapellas, or sing on my Nintendo DS in the little Sound app. But as time went on and I grew up, I changed my methods of recording to be more mature and fitted.
While I didn’t have the required materials to create music like: access to a studio, a microphone, a mixer, or keyboard, etc. I made do with what I had (and in my case was the cheapest):Ā a pair of headphones, an iPhone, and the drive to write endless books of lyrics. From there I went looking in the App Store for music developing appsĀ to just mess around with and have fun.
And so I came across what was once called Propellerhead (now Allihoopa), which is a music making community that shares its creations and ideas with the world using tools and software available on iOS and Windows/Mac systems. When I found this I wasn’t looking to do anything serious with it because I knew it wasn’t a legitimate way to perfect the craft. However, down the line I learned how to master the application and my voice to make things sound professionally done (like a studio).
2016, The Year of Popularity
In 2016, I remember watching YouTube videos of songs created for video games by people like Five Nights at Freddy’s, Bioshock, and pretty much anything that was out. I was inspired to create my own and so I did with the app ‘Take (an app where you can record your vocals similar to a pocket studio)’, using a beat I made from a connected app called ‘Figure (an app where you can make beats and drop them into Take or other similar apps given from Allihoopa)’.
I made a track called ‘Get Back On Your Stage’ for Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location. It blew up unexpectedly, because I hadn’t promoted it to anyone. But it was one of the first songs made for that game before it even launched, and fans of the game had found it.
I was amazed and pretty proud of that little accomplishment, because I took it a step further and decided to make more music originally. Which leadĀ to me tweaking little things here and there as to how I wanted my sound and quality.
Difficulties & Challenges
Of course, when doing things different than other people, you are bound to cross a few bumps that you haven’t before, like trying to master / get your music to sound as crisp as fellow artists when it comes to quality. I have encountered many issues where one song sounded higher than the others. Or all tracks sounded non-mixed and the beat drowning out my words.
I still do have these issues today. Due to not being able to make music correctly by stacking stems as it would be done through a professional studio software, this is the consequence that comes with creating through an app. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s an obstacle that cannot be tackled. It just takes more than a simple click to get your music to where you want it.
I have recently recorded stems for each track of an albumĀ and split them all up into single files to stack them in a music software called ‘Audacity’, in order for my track to sound full and complete like a normal one. It wasn’t anything I wasn’t used to, because I have done it before. But this just goes to show that it requires more work than I thought, But it is worth it.
Where I’m At Now
After releasing the track I made for Five Night’s at Freddy’s and other projects via Bandcamp, I decided to work on a free album throughout 2016-2018 to share my story with the world and my love of creating music. Still using the apps I had started with and with the help of some amazing producers from Allihoopa and other creative artists,
I have attracted a lot of attention with how different and unique my sound is. And that itself is such a wonderful thing to know about your mind and work – is how nobody can compare you to another artist or try to say you remind them of someone else. A fresh face in my book is always better than a duplicate or adaptation. And I think the world would benefit more if we all opened up and explored the depths of which we’ve never gone before with our taste in things. Weather it’s music, movies, art, or anything in life, I feel as though we should give new things a chance because we might enjoy them. You never know.
Thank you for taking the time to read my “DIY hack” to how I make music without a studio. If it is possible for me, it is possible for you!
Wish you well. <3
Derusz
Derusz, Category: Artist, Singles: Ifeeldrugged., Someone You Deserve., You’re Ours, LURK: More Unreleased Tracks, Scared No More, Top Tracks: Get Back on Your Stage (for Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location), Ifeeldrugged., Scared No More, You’re Ours, Someone You Deserve., Biography: Derrick Russell Jones, known professionally as Derusz x Derk Tang, is an American singer, songwriter, and producer., Monthly Listeners: 225, Where People Listen: Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Mexico City, Brisbane
DERUSZ.
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ITUNES.