Meet Redris Bell: Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Actor, Content Producer of Urbanish Tv, Director, Editor & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Redris Bell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Redris, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I wouldn’t say I chose a career in art and entertainment. It was my destiny and I was groomed to be an artist. I come from a big artistic and talented family. My mother was a singer, songwriter and extremely talented artist. My father is a musician. My Uncle was a DJ. My grandmother and grandfather were also musicians in church. So I grew up with music, art and creatives around me. It’s who I am, I don’t know who I would be without it. As a child I picked up piano by ear from my maternal grandmother. My mother used to teach me how to sing when I was a kid and would later move me to Atlanta in support of a music career. I remember the first song my mom taught me on a karaoke machine, It was Whitney Houston’s “greatest love of all”. When we moved to Atlanta I started taking singing, songwriting & producing seriously. It was no longer a hobby but something I loved doing and I enjoy entertaining people. Another talent I Picked up from my mom was art. In the past year I shifted gears and really started selling pieces of art. Personal pieces, celebrities and portraits. It’s my way of connecting with people and sharing my stories. If I can touch just one person through music or any type of art it is worth it to me. It’s never been about the money or fame. It’s about sharing my perspective while giving people something to connect to. I pursue the people!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Being an artist is extremely hard and when your multi-talent in so many areas like myself it can become a double edge sword. Living in the entertainment world was very challenging when I first started. First thing I am a black gay man in this industry as a singer. The hardest thing for me was being stuffed back into a closet and hiding my truth to make the people above me comfortable. Back in the day it was hard selling a gay artist. Most managers & labels did not know how to market people from the LGBTQ community. I remember being told to keep my hand in my pockets at events because of my mannerisms. I’ve even had paid girlfriends to court me at events just to appear straight. So not only did I have to face backlash from the church and my family but everyone attached to my music career. It was very hard to date because guys wouldn’t understand my world and why they could not be with me at certain places. Or had to pretend to be my cousin or homeboy while I’m hugged up with a female. So I started dating in the pool of other closeted singer and that was even worse because now i’m dealing with another artist with the same mental problems and abuses as myself. I remember doing a concert on tour with my then lover and him pulling me back stage to say ” i was embarrassing him and his people are asking if I was gay and to butch up”! That really hurt me and damaged my self-esteem. This lead up to my Chronic Depression Disorder. Depression in many ways halted my career and made me fall out of love with myself and the entertainment world. I felt like I really could not connect to my audience because of my sexual preference. I felt as though if they would no longer like me as an artist because I was gay that audience wasn’t real. I began to get very uncomfortable and awkward on stage and that led to stage fright. I was no longer free to enjoy who I was and that later led to a suicide attempt by poison. After dropping my first album ” Set It All On Fire” I would quit music all together and focus on art and acting. No one seems to care if your gay if your an actor or artist. It took a few years of therapy before I started producing and writing again. I started singing again but this time I was open about my sexual orientation. Something happened I never dreamed of “The people loved me as I am”. Performing without all the negative baggage in my head was life changing. Suddenly no stage fright and letting it all hang out really resonated with my audience. I was appreciated and complimented more than ever. Soon after I dropped my sophomore album “Heart Breaker” March of 2020 right before Earth shut down due to Corona virus. Aside from music I started Content producing Urbanish Digital and became an on air personality along with J’dior, Tiffany Terrell, LT & Dr Pamela Gurley. I am proud to have created a talk show under the Urbanish brand called “The Rough Kut” starring Chanel B as my hostess. The show interviews black entrepreneurs or entertainers; getting a Rough Kut of their story and advise for up and coming entrepreneurs or entertainers. It is available on Roku and Amazon Fire through Indie Central TV. I also opened my first art store in the Green Briar area of Atlanta to start Paint and sip classes. Unfortunatley I had to close it because my mother became very I’ll and I would spend the majority of 2020 taking care of her until she passed. So money was tight and I lost just about everything but my talent. Throughout all my trials and tribulations I’ve learned to adapt and except the things I cannot change! Now I am teaching paint and sip classes instead at Cafe Blue in Austell Ga. Started season two of The Rough Kut. Also working on a ethnic Christmas script to be filmed by Fall of 2021. And I am just about finished with my 3rd album. If there was anything I want people to learn from me is never give up and adapt! Know that the test you go through are not in vain and are not for you. They are for the next generation and people who need your experience to survive. I cant tell you how many people have been drawn to me dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts. Through my experience am able to be a light in the shadows of death literally! Sometimes its hard and rough but diamonds aren’t made out of putty!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Since I’m a seafood lover I would take my best friend to Bahama Breeze or Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen for food and drinks. We would go to Little Five Points and find some artsy thing to do like listen to spoken word & shop! Also to explore Atlanta I would take them hunting for Tiny Doors Atl . Definitely would hit up a few museums as well such as The High Museum of Art, National Center for Civil and Human Rights & The Swan House. I think these places are must to get a real feel of the soul of Atlanta!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this shout out to my mother Stacy Bell Muhammad whom recently passed on Dec 26 2020. I get the majority of my talents from her. My mother was always there at any event she could show up to. She was the one who pushed me when I wanted to give up. She was the one who taught me how to adapt, fight and dream limitless. So I am carrying the torch and I hope to touch as many people with my light in all the dark places just like she did!

Website: https://redrisbell.wixsite.com/redris
Instagram: www.instagram.com/redrisbell
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedrisBell
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=503481206
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCluWZPtPpEn3Jq24Uf8y1YA
Other: https://www.artpal.com/redrisbell