Zane Derrell

Zane Derrell is a Chicago–based singer and songwriter who emerged as one of pop’s most compelling new voices in NWI while still in his teens. Born in 2008, Derrell was raised in a musical household and began writing and recording music at a young age alongside his mother and longtime collaborator, Dee.

He first gained widespread attention in 2023 with the release of “<a href="spotify:track:5AYKHEaL61XRC1dXjkCpfn" data-name="fire eyes">fire eyes</a>,” a song that quickly went viral and introduced listeners to his whisper-soft vocals and emotionally raw songwriting. From there, Derrell built a devoted following with a series of singles and his debut EP, stop laughing at me, which showcased his dark pop sensibilities and genre-blurring sound.

In 2026, Derrell released his debut studio album, <a href="spotify:album:4QjXTCL8ivjhixLeDj7I08" data-name="IF WE DON&#39;T TELL THEM, HOW WILL THEY KNOW?">IF WE DON&#39;T TELL THEM, HOW WILL THEY KNOW?</a>, which debuted at No. 1 on charts around Chicago. The album featured hits like “<a href="spotify:track:49V5xxLFWkcSGlY5KOg7Vn" data-name="not that deep.">not that deep.</a>,” “<a href="spotify:track:7MB1CHdnz8mUkyfW0rEEyP" data-name="demon">demon</a>,” and “<a href="spotify:track:0mFugeWwffTWHNy20ZgQIa" data-name="did_you_see_me_at_the_party?">did_you_see_me_at_the_party?</a>,” and established him as a defining artist of his generation.

Known for his distinctive style, introspective lyrics, and refusal to conform to pop conventions, Zane Derrell continues to challenge expectations and redefine what it means to be a young artist in modern music.