Los Angeles, CA — The music industry is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Derek A.E. Fuhrmann, a revered Los Angeles-based songwriter, producer, and former frontman of the alt-rock band Omnisoul, who passed away in 2025 at age 43 following a private battle with cancer. Known for his extraordinary creative gifts, humble spirit, and deep devotion as a father, friend, and collaborator, Derek’s passing leaves a profound silence in an industry and community he helped shape.
For those who knew him—onstage, in the studio, or simply in life—Derek was more than a musician. He was a visionary. A listener. A soul who lived to connect.
Born in 1981, Derek first rose to prominence as the voice behind Omnisoul, whose 2005 breakout track “Waiting (Save Your Life)” helped define a generation of post-alt rock. But beyond the spotlight, Derek’s artistic path was one of evolution. After Omnisoul disbanded in 2008, he relocated to Los Angeles and quietly flourished behind the scenes—writing and producing chart-topping hits for artists like Phillip Phillips and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. His work, while sometimes uncredited by the public, resonated deeply within the music industry. Those who collaborated with him called him a “creative anchor”—someone who could bring out the truth in a song and the best in a person.
“He never needed to be center stage,” one collaborator said. “He just wanted the music to matter.”
That quiet humility shaped the second half of Derek’s career. From the outside, he was a multi-platinum, award-winning songwriter. But to his closest circle, he was a grounded and selfless friend, a gentle guide, and a tireless creator who wrote from the heart—even as his own began to break under the weight of illness.
Diagnosed with cancer in 2022, Derek chose to keep his battle private, allowing only close family and friends into that sacred space. He continued writing, producing, and creating even in the most difficult months of his life. In late 2024, he and his family relocated to Nashville—a move filled with purpose, reflection, and hope. There, in early 2025, he celebrated the birth of his second child, a moment that friends say brought him immense peace and joy amid pain.
“He carried so much,” said a longtime friend, “and still, he gave even more.”
In the summer of 2024, Derek orchestrated what would become his final public performance—a 20-year reunion concert with Omnisoul in Philadelphia. Unbeknownst to many, it was his quiet farewell. That night, filled with old friends, heartfelt lyrics, and unspoken goodbyes, will now stand as a treasured chapter in the story of a life fully lived.
Beyond his artistry, Derek’s true legacy lies in how he lived—with intention, love, and deep emotional clarity. He never chased fame. He chased meaning. And in doing so, he left behind a catalogue of music that doesn’t just entertain—it moves.
He is survived by his wife, two children, and countless friends, collaborators, and fans who will continue to sing his words, feel his melodies, and carry his memory forward.
As his former bandmates shared in a heartfelt statement:
“Derek was more than our frontman. He was our compass. Our brother. We will forever be grateful for the journey we shared, and for the grace with which he faced even the darkest days. We love you, Derek. Always.”
Derek A.E. Fuhrmann’s music will live on. But more importantly, so will the echo of his kindness, his strength, and his unwavering belief in the beauty of a well-told story.
“See you in another life, brotha.”
