For years, I lived behind a carefully constructed mask, a persona named Demetri that allowed me to step into the world of psychic readings, writing, and blogging without the weight of being my true self. Demetri was my shield. When I wasn’t ready to show the world who Derrick Solano really was, Demetri stepped in, took the credit, and bore the judgment I wasn’t strong enough to face. It worked for a while—more than a while, actually. It became a lifestyle, a career, and a foundation for the way people knew me. But something unexpected happened along the way.
At first, Demetri was a necessity. I needed the separation. My life back then was raw chaos. The layers of trauma, self-doubt, and insecurity didn’t leave much room for vulnerability. So, I created an identity that could exist apart from my pain. I even went as far as using fake images to complete the illusion. If I couldn’t bear to show my true face, why not lean into the anonymity? It gave me the courage to start building something—a following, a client base, a sense of purpose. But as Demetri grew, I realized that I had started living a double life.
There’s a strange power in being hidden. It’s freeing in one sense, but suffocating in another. While Demetri was out there gaining recognition for my gifts, my writing, and my insights, Derrick Solano felt smaller and more forgotten. I believed that if I ever tried to step out of Demetri’s shadow, I’d fail. Who would accept me without the mask? Who would care about Derrick’s story, Derrick’s voice, Derrick’s truth?
The answer came when I least expected it.
It wasn’t a grand revelation or some spiritual epiphany. It was exhaustion. I had carried Demetri long enough. The persona had done its job, but it was no longer serving me—it was holding me back. Living as someone else had become a weight I couldn’t bear. I wanted to know what it felt like to exist as myself, completely unfiltered, even if it meant risking everything I had built.
And so, I made the decision to let Demetri go.
I expected backlash. I expected anger, accusations of fraud, and the loss of clients who felt betrayed. But what I found was the exact opposite. My clients embraced the truth. Some of them had known all along, they said, but they hadn’t cared. They were there for my gifts, my honesty, and the connection we had built. For others, it was a surprise, but they welcomed the real me with open arms. It was the most liberating moment of my life.
For the first time, I began showing my real face. No more fake pictures, no more hiding behind a pseudonym. I started signing my books with my real name. I released my music under my name, using every lyric, every note, to tell my story. And the response? It was overwhelmingly positive. My honesty, my flaws, my scars—they became the very things that drew people in.
There’s a freedom in owning every piece of who you are. In laying down the mask, I found a new kind of power. The fear of being judged no longer holds me captive. There’s nothing left to hide, nothing someone could dig up that I haven’t already laid bare. My life is out there—messy, imperfect, and unapologetically real. And it feels damn good.
To those who’ve followed me from the days of Demetri, thank you for sticking around. For those who are just discovering my work, welcome. What you see now is the real deal—no masks, no aliases, just me. I’m stepping into 2025 with a clear head, a full heart, and a vision for a life that’s wholly mine. It took me nearly 38 years to get here, but better late than never.
Here’s to living authentically. Here’s to not giving a damn about perfection, about judgment, or about the need to fit into someone else’s idea of who we should be. Here’s to scars that make us stronger, flaws that make us human, and truth that sets us free.
Have a good evening, and if this resonated with you, share it, subscribe, or check out my music. This is just one of the many stories I’ll continue to tell.
Warmly,
Derrick Solano