We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Decker Rush. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Decker below.

Hi Decker, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I ever took was trading a stable, well-paying job for the uncertain life of a musician. Before I made that leap, I worked in experiential marketing for a major brewery. It was a solid career—I got to work with big brands, create memorable experiences, and it provided a steady paycheck. But despite the stability, something was missing.

House music had always been a huge part of my life. I was that person who never missed a show, a festival, or an after-hours event. I would stand there and look at these DJ’s and go “I could do that. I know I can”. I used the first stimulus check to buy my first DJ controller and never looked back.

At first, DJing was just a hobby, something I did to bring back some joy in those isolating days. But the more I practiced, the more I felt like I’d tapped into something real—a part of myself that I’d never fully explored. It ignited a fire in me I hadn’t felt before, a deep passion I couldn’t ignore. This wasn’t just a side gig; it felt like what I was meant to do.

The adrenaline while performing on stage was something I’ve never experienced before and I knew after the first show I ever played at a legitimate venue, Larimer Lounge, that this was something I needed to seriously pursue as a career.

That realization led me to make the boldest decision of my life. I quit my stable job and packed up to move to LA, where I enrolled at Icon Collective College of Music. It was a huge risk—trading a career I’d built over years for a dream that had no guarantees. But I knew that if I didn’t give this a shot, I’d always wonder “what if.” The transition wasn’t easy, but I was ready to put in the work and learn the craft, no matter the cost. A quote that always stuck with me is that “the biggest risk in life you can take is taking no risk at all”.

Looking back, it was the best decision I ever made. Leaving stability for passion isn’t easy, but sometimes that’s what it takes to live the life you’re truly meant to live. I still am currently enrolled in the school so I don’t have success story just yet, but I am currently living out my dreams and working hard day in and day out to achieve my goals.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

So, here’s a bit about me. I grew up in Colorado Springs, and music was basically in my blood from the start. I was in the school band playing trombone, and I’d even hop on hand percussion with my dad’s band at local bars (whenever they’d let me in as a “member of the band”) . In high school, I was all over the place with drums and guitar, but honestly, I kind of moved away from playing in college and became more of dedicated listener.

The real game-changer for me was this totally spontaneous trip to Tomorrowland right after high school. That festival blew my mind. The energy, the crowd, the music—it was like I’d found this whole new world, and I was hooked. After that, I dove deep into EDM but more specifically house, learning everything I could about the genre. I didn’t think production would be part of my future, but music had its grip on me.

Once I graduated and moved back to Denver, I got a regular job, but let’s be real—my nights were all about the music scene. I was out five days a week, meeting people, going to shows, connecting with DJs & promoters. Eventually, I joined up with the 128 Productions team to help them throw events around the city, which got me even closer to the scene. Before long, I decided to go solo with my own artist project.

Now, I’m a DJ, producer, and creative who lives to bring people together with. I’m here to give people an experience—whether it’s a track that gets stuck in your head or a live set that leaves you buzzing. What sets me apart? I’d say it’s that I’m all-in on creating something real and personal for everyone who connects with my music.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Honestly, the coolest part of being an artist is getting to be the soundtrack to people’s best memories. Like, knowing my song is the one they crank with the windows down or the one they’re vibing to when they’re hyped before a big night out? That’s unreal. It’s crazy to think something that started as a random beat in my head can end up being part of someone’s core memories.

When I hear that one of my tracks was the song of their night or that it just hit them emotionally? That’s next-level. It feels like I’ve connected with them in this super real way without even being there. It’s such a wild feeling, honestly.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

One resource that had a massive impact on my mindset was this leadership program called LEAP that my mom sent my sister and I to back in high school. Honestly, I dreaded going and couldn’t see the point at first. But once I got there, I realized how valuable it was. They covered so many topics that they didn’t teach in normal school that completely changed my approach to life—goal setting, effective communication, how to network, and even how to interview people to gather insights.

The biggest lesson for me, though, was about mindset. They taught us that while you can’t always control what happens, you can control how you respond. That idea has stuck with me ever since, and it’s been game-changing. I credit LEAP with shaping me into the positive, upbeat, and always optimistic person I am today. I can’t imagine where I’d be without it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Rz4TikEfEd7o3ExMJHgrJ?si=qXQs51QrSR-8bhtWLrcJXQ
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deckerush/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/deckerush
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@deckerrush

Image Credits

Brian Rivera (@_cinc0_)