Conversations with Robbie Russell

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Robbie Russell.

Hi Robbie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Well I’m from Newport News, Virginia, and music has always been a passion of mine, driving me from a young age to pursue a career in the industry. I started off recording remixes on my laptop using a cheap USB mic in high school, until I felt confident enough to start creating my own original music. I released my first mixtape about a year later consisting of all original songs, I even burned CDs to pass out before school started.

Seeking growth after high school, I moved to Nashville after a brief stint at Virginia Tech, where I learned more about myself as a person, my sound as an artist, and my style as a songwriter at Belmont University. Post-graduation, the pandemic hit, and life came to a screeching halt.

I started creating TikTok remixes as a creative outlet, leading to multiple viral hits that transformed my career. Fans of my remixes became fans of my original music, and I started to see true, organic growth. Those early remixes, which sparked my musical journey, are now the foundation of my success today.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s been a smooth road because it’s definitely had its ups and downs. I’d say self-doubt has always been my biggest struggle, even to this day. I’ll get waves of feeling like I don’t deserve my talents, my music is no good, or that no one cares to hear what I have to say.

I tend to compare myself to others and take for granted the fanbase I’ve built, constantly wondering why I don’t have as many streams or likes. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting what others have instead of appreciating what’s right in front of you.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a singer, rapper and songwriter, that’s really all there is to it. I’m most known for my TikTok remixes and my song “8IGHTY”. I’m just as proud of each project and single that I’ve released as the next because each is a reflection of my life experiences and a testament to my unyielding dedication to self-expression.

I believe in using music as a means to communicate my truths, share my journey, and inspire others to find their voices. My powerful, soulful vocals, coupled with my lyrical prowess, help to set me apart from others.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
One that has always stuck with me is how I discovered the song “Yeah!” by Usher when I was 7 years old. I remember my dad was flipping through the channels when I heard just a few seconds of the iconic beat before he switched to the next channel. I asked him to go back, but the music video was over by the time he got back to the channel.

The beat was ingrained in my brain, but I didn’t know the song title, so for the next few weeks, I was on the hunt to figure out what the song was. My family used to go to the Borders Bookstore a lot growing up, and I loved going to the music section to listen to the latest CDs. I vividly remember standing there listening to a ridiculous amount of CDs, skipping track after track for what seemed like hours trying to find the song, until I finally found it on a Now That’s What I Call Music CD.

I found the song title from the track list, discovered it was from Usher’s “Confessions” album, quickly grabbed a copy, and begged my parents to buy it for me. To this day, I still claim that memory as the moment I fell in love with R&B music.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imrobbierussell/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/imrobbierussell
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@imrobbierussell
• SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/Hv5FRxupAYPiRgcc6
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@imrobbierussell

Image Credits
Chloe Champ – @chloe.delainey