Jill deRusch’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We recently had the chance to connect with Jill deRusch and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jill, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I would say both. I usually think I’m walking a specific path, until something new I want to try comes along. So, maybe I am walking a path but I’m open to wandering a little on the way. Keeps life interesting.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey!
My name is Jill. Im the lead singer of my band, “Comfort the Dead”, and an actress.

Comfort the Dead is a punk/alternative band I put together a few years ago. I’ve been writing music from the time I was a really little girl to now. What’s funny is the themes never really changed, I’ve always been trying to express some emotion that feels too big for me. Its great to be able to do that through music, I can be as dramatic as I want and I can be as honest as I want. The goal with my music is that not only myself, but anyone who is listening can relate their most difficult, seemingly irrational, angry, even excited emotions to the songs. I think way too often we push our feelings down because we think they’re too much for people to handle, I very much strive to not hold back in my music for that reason exactly.

As for acting, I just recently filmed , “Once Upon a Killing Time”, by Micheal Moutsatsos. It’s a horror movie involving the darkest sides of our favorite childhood Disney characters. I had so much fun during the making of the movie and I love doing horror in general. Exploring the darkest sides of people is a really unique and complicated experience in the best way.

Right now, Im working on my next EP. There’s been a BUNCH of self reflection put into this one, so maybe my listener’s can get to know me just as Jill a little better. My life has been shifting a lot and I think its been good for me. Writing about who I was in the past few years is a good way for me look at everything clearly.

As for acting , it sounds like I have a other horror movie coming up!

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Definitely the part of me that kept trying to squeeze into places I didn’t belong. It’s exhausting. Also, the part of me that believed people’s weird projections onto me.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I would say suffering taught me that I can handle so much more than I remember a lot of the time. I don’t really have to be nervous about anything, I already know how to handle the worst.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. I don’t really put up a persona very well. I dont think so, anyway!

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Im doing what I was born to do. There’s not really anyone to tell me to do anything. Unless you’re my manager or something … you know what I mean.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfort_the_dead?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Image Credits
Micheal Moutsatsos

Jordan Council