Daniel Ruczko (born 3 July 1982) is a director, author, composer, writer and music producer. He started producing music at the age of 12 on his Amiga 500 computer using the software Protracker, a couple of years later that lead to a career as an internationally known DJ and producer.
After spending most of his twenties releasing records on numerous labels and touring the globe as a DJ, in 2010 Ruczko went to a music school in Hamburg, Germany to become a Film Music composer.
In the same year he won an award for the concept of his short film "Bipolar - A Narration of Manic Depression" which was chosen by the German actor Matthias Schweighöfer."Schwarze Dose Halbtagsjob 2010", The Random Noise, Berlin, 6 August 2010.
"Bipolar" got Daniel a lot of attention and also his first awards.."Newport Beach Film Festival", Festival Genius, Los Angeles, 2 February 2012.
Throughout his creative career, Daniel has received over 60 awards for his films, three of which have been screened at the Short Film Corner of the Cannes Film Festival."Daniel Ruczko article about "Duality" in Cannes", Keiszeitung.de, Bremen, 27 April 2015.
Ruczko works on commercials and music videos under his company name Misfit Media, as well as film projects under his company name Mind Pollution Pictures.
In 2018 Daniel moved to Los Angeles to work as a film director, author and producer.
He still composes and also produces all the music for a Hip hop group that he is a member of, together with the Rappers "Kayohes", "V3rb" & "Steez". He also still produces various styles of electronic music
According to IMDb Ruczko is currently working on a feature film with the writer Michael Reisz (Truth or Dare) that is believed to have a budget of 7 million dollars.
In July 2023, Ruczko published his first novel entitled "Pieces of a Broken Mind", which according to him includes some autobiographical elements.
Short Film filmography
Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes 2010 Evacuation Also editor, sound designer and visual FX 2011 Bipolar: A Narration of Manic Depression Also composer, actor, editor, sound designer and visual FX 2013 Wake Up! Also composer, editor, sound designer and visual FX 2014 Let Go Also composer, editor, sound designer and visual FX 2015 Duality Also composer, editor, sound designer and visual FX 2015 Solitary Also composer, editor, sound designer and visual FX 2018 Intrusive Thoughts Also composer, editor, sound designer, voice actor and visual FX
Film Accolades
Year Film Festival Awards Nominations Wins2010Evacuation2011Bipolar: A Narration of Manic Depression 3 22013Wake Up! 5 52014Let Go 4 32015Duality 24 182015Solitary 35 302018Intrusive Thoughts 3 3Total7461
Music Video filmography
Year Artist Title Label Director Cinematographer 2011 Bionic Stylz Feat. Warpath "Musik" Bionic Styles 2012 Kayohes "Stranger" 83 Sound 2012 V3rb "Tiger" 83 Sound 2012 Kayohes "Journey" 83 Sound 2012 V3rb "Streets Talk" 83 Sound 2012 V3rb "Standing Ovation" 83 Sound 2013 Gods Of Chaos "City Of Lost Angels" Psycho Realm 2013 Misleeding "Darkside" Keep The Feel 2014 Steez "Rottweiler Flow" Machtworte 2014 V3rb "Ah Yeah" 83 Sound 2014 Steez "Rap Ist" Machtworte 2014 Ryu "Did it To Myself" Demigodz 2015 Absztrakkt & Snowgoons Feat. Cr7z "Bodhishinobi" 58 Muzik 2015 Kayohes, V3rb & Rusher "March On" Origu 2015 2Seiten "Regenwetter / Scheiße Schön" 58 Muzik 2015 Cr7z "Sohn Des Drachen" 58 Muzik 2015 Cr7z "Verantwortung" 58 Muzik 2016 Andy Cooper & The Allergies "Rock Rock" Unique Records 2017 Andy Cooper & The Allergies "The Love That I'm In" Jalapeno Records 2017 Andy Cooper & The Allergies "Main Event" Jalapeno Records 2017 Cr7z "Polytoxikomanie" Arjuna 2018 Andy Cooper "Can't Be Satisfied" Rocafort Records 2018 The Allergies "Dance Now" Jalapeno Records 2019 The Allergies feat. Andy Cooper "Too Much" Jalapeno Records 2020 Rusher, Kayohes & V3rb "Back On The Scene" Arjuna 2020 Rusher, Kayohes & V3rb "A Better Place" Arjuna 2020 Rusher, Kayohes & V3rb "Manic Narration" Arjuna 2020 Rusher & Kayohes "Decade" Misfit Music 2020 Steez & Rusher "Outro 2020" DUM Enterprises 2020 Rusher & Kayohes "Right Minds Feat. V3rb" Misfit Music 2021 Rusher & V3rb "Genetics" Misfit Music 2022 Neonlight "Desire" Blackout 2022 Rusher & Steez "Legendary" Misfit Music 2022 Rusher, V3rb, Steez & Kayohes "Too Locked In" Misfit Music 2023 Rusher & Steez "One By One feat. Kayohes & V3rb" Arjuna
Books
Bibliography
Year Title Genre 2022 I Saw You in a Dream Last Night Art Book 2022 Christmas Nightmare Art Book 2023 This is NOT a Children's Book! Art Book 2023 Aliens Are The Better Humans Art Book 2023 Evil Clowns Are People Too Art Book 2023 Quit Hating on Satan Art Book July 2023 Pieces of a Broken Mind Fiction / Novel February 2025 Scherben einer zerbrochenen Seele (German Version of "Pieces of a Broken Mind") Fiction / Novel May 2025 Purgatory Fiction / Horror / Novel
Music
Musical beginnings At the age of 8, Daniel learned to play the accordion, but gave it up after three years.
When he was 12 years old he started producing Hardcore Techno music on his Amiga 500 using Protracker, he later switched to the PC using FastTracker 2. In 1997 he bought his first set of Turntables and taught himself how to DJ.
In 1999 Ruczko got interested in Drum and Bass and decided to make that his new genre, at first he used Fruity Loops to experiment but pretty quickly found his new home in Steinberg Cubase, which is still his main Software for music today.
He established himself as a serious DJ and producer, known for his cinematic and dark sound, and played over 450 gigs in his DJing career.
Misfit Music
"Misfit Music" or "Rusher, Kayohes & V3rb" is a Hip hop group entirely produced by Ruczko, with him also directing their music videos. After releasing the single "Some Way, Some How / March On" on Origu in 2015, the group is in the process of finishing up their debut Album with the title "Ordinary Madness" which is expected to be released in 2019.
Discography as Rusher