Bertell is a rising R&B star; with a sound that is a great mix of old school R&B and hip-hop, he is a true, welcomed addition to the music scene.  His single “Beat It Up” is all over the radio and his debut album “Goin Hard” comes out on May 4th.

Currently on a promotion tour, Bertell took time out of his busy schedule to speak to me about his life, music and the true love he has for his fans and in speaking with Bertell, I was impressed with his drive, humbleness and love for his craft.  After reading this interview, I believe you will feel the same.

Victoria: In reading your bio, there is a story on how your mom dropped you off at Greyhound station and you ended up in New Jersey and sleeping in Newark Penn Station. With no friends or family, how did you stay focused on your goal of being a star?

Bertell: Faith and giving it my all. It’s the Lord’s will and He would not put in a place I could not get out of. It’s about surviving and knowing that if I did not make, I could go back, but I had to give it my all and go out there.

Victoria: Your bio said that you bounced from school to school and town to town. In just talking with you, I can hear your determination to succeed. You were quoted as saying “Growing up in Houston taught me a lot about hustle, but Jersey had taught me a lot about trying to get that money.” Many people spend years hustling and never get anywhere, but your hustle and talent has made you a star.

Bertell: Thank you. Many do hustle and maybe better than me, but I believe I would always be a success and do something better. I have a talent which is natural and it’s a beautiful thing to share it.

Victoria: You started as a professional basketball player and transitioned into music. How did you get started in music?

Bertell: I grew up in a family that loved sports and music- so it was natural to do both. I’m a betweener. I would create remixes for the guys on the basketball team- you know like how Jamie Foxx did in his comedy specials and they would crack up and the girls just loved it so that was really good. It was a good balance.

Victoria: What similarities do find in basketball and music?

Bertell: Rhythm. The game and music is all about rhythm. Moving in time, connecting to the beat and co-existing it with it.

Victoria: Your debut album “Goin Hard” is coming out on May 4th. What can we expect from the album?

Bertell: A great R &B album. It’s a real album and people will get a chance to hear the songs and know what I am about. It’s real music that people can believe in. It’s my life.

Victoria: R&B has become generic R&B, where it’s five party songs, three ballads, etc. It’s refreshing to hear that you are just writing about yourself and letting the fans just get to you know.

Bertell: All the songs are based on my life. I have three party songs and the rest are ballads, love songs and sex songs.

Victoria: You covered all the bases. It’s a good balance- love and sex songs. Most of the time, it’s either one or the other.

Bertell: Yeah, there are times where you need a good love song and times when you want to get down with a sex song. It can’t be just be all love or all sex.

Victoria: You worked with Bryan Michael Cox- who has worked with Usher, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. What was it like to work with Bryan and what did you learn?

Bertell: I learned a lot about me. Bryan was not trying to make me be Usher or Jagged Edge. He believes in the same things as me and the music reflects that. Bryan lets me be me- he might correct a line or something- saying that ‘this does not sound like you’ and then we fix it. It’s all about making real music.

Victoria: You hear how some producers make the singer their puppet and you never get to see the true personality of the singer. It’s great to hear that Bryan lets you be you.

Bertell: I am no puppet and the way I grew up, I will never be a puppet, but Bryan has given me a chance to be myself and my music reflects that.

Victoria: What are your goals for career?

Bertell: Platinum. To be successful and to share my talent with my fans. To keep doing what I love. Letting fans know that they can believe in my music. It’s not a cartoon or fiction. They can believe in what they are buying.

Victoria: Are you touring?

Bertell: Yes- I’m on the road promoting my album and I will be on the road until the album comes out. I am doing some radio and TV apperances.  I also make video updates of my travels.  Check out my website(bertellonline.com) and Twitter (twitter.com/bertellonline) to know where I am and come find me.

Victoria: What do you want your fans and our readers to know about you?

Bertell: That I’m real. I’m hard working. I want to know my fans and I want them to know me. They can go to my website, Twitter and see where I am and to come and hang out. Email me- let me know what’s going on. I want my fans to feel like family. I want to get a special number, so fans can call and be a part of what I am doing. I was just in Jacksonville, FL and I sent a Twitter message and said where I was and come on down and it was crazy.

Victoria: I am really impressed; artists always say that they love their fans but there always seems to be a wall in between where you don’t feel a part of what they’re doing. You on the other hand are making your fans a part of everything.

Bertell: They’re like family. There are no walls. I want them to believe in what I am doing. I read the emails and messages they send. Whatever I do- if it’s an interview or a show- I always let the fans know what I am up to.

Victoria: Thank you so much for taking the time to speaking with CWG Magazine today. Good luck with the tour, the new single and album.

Bertell: Thank you.