RICHARD Singh may have started his professional career in entertainment recently, but he has always known that he had it in him to perfect the craft someday.

The 36-year-old ‘Berbice Gyal’ singer is not up for anything bland but loves to spice up his music and skits with humour. The Buzz asked Richard a few questions lately:

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in James Street, Albouystown, but I moved around a lot as a kid. I lived in Princes Street, Lodge, then Hague, West Coast Demerara; then Kitty (all before the age of 12). I then moved up to Lusignan, East Coast Demerara from the age of 12 and lived there until adulthood.

Please explain what it is that you do in the line of entertainment.

I’m a singer and an all-around entertainer. I love incorporating humour in my music and skits. I started with Chutney music and branched off into Rap and Dancehall.

When did you start your entertainment career?

I started just over two years ago. During the pandemic, I got so bored at home that I thought it’d be fun to record a song or two. Unknowingly, the songs I recorded did relatively well at the time. The two songs were ‘Confessing’ and ‘Last Night.’

Why did you decide to get into entertainment? What accounts for your interest and love for it?

I’ve always been a glorified bathroom and Karaoke singer. As mentioned, COVID lockdown was the catalyst that got me here. But since I’ve known myself, I’ve always had a passion for the craft.

What do you think sets you apart from any other entertainer?

I don’t like to compare myself to anyone. But if I had to give advice to up and coming artistes, I’d say: Just be yourself. I honestly believe that’s what sets me apart; me on record and me in person are the same people. There’s no filter or pretending. I find that people gravitate to genuineness.

How easy is it to be in this field in Guyana, and what kind of support would you especially appreciate from authorities?

It’s not easy. You gotta have really thick skin and determination if you wanna succeed. It’s a “who knows who” type of business – no one’s really your friend. And sometimes being brutally honest tends to get you in trouble – guess I’m guilty of being one of those people. There’s no special criteria for selecting talent in Guyana. If I had to identify support for artistes, I’d say more radio time, rotate and include more artistes on shows, and value our Guyanese artistes.

What about your career are you particularly proud of it so far?

Man…everything…this started as a mere fun project and so far I’ve performed in NYC, Canada, and in several locations in Guyana. I’ve done TV and radio shows, met tens of thousands of people, but the most awesome part of this is having people saying “I’m your #1 fan.” That just fills my heart with so much gratitude and humility.
Two years in the music and entertainment industry and it feels like I’m on cloud 9. I’m forever grateful to the fans who made me, and I truly appreciate them.

My next big show is Clash of the Titans on June 22. I’ll be releasing a new song leading up to the biggest chutney show in the world.

Note: I’m actually not from Berbice. A lot of people believe so because of my song ‘Berbice Gyal.’ I apologise to them.