For singer/songwriter Carl Brister, music has always been more than a career. It has been a calling. As an international recording artist, Brister has released four independent albums and more than ten singles spanning pop, country, dance, gospel, and R&B. Brister has been featured on Black Entertainment Television (BET), NBC’s Access Hollywood, and Aspire. Now, he returns to the studio to release a special version of a song that continues to inspire him.

Long before stepping into the studio to record his moving interpretation of the classic ballad “Hello,” Brister was already building a lifelong relationship with the song. Growing up in a musical household, he found inspiration in legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, Prince, El DeBarge, and Donny Hathaway—artists whose passion and emotional depth helped shape his own artistic identity.

Among his greatest influences was his father, Jazzie Cazzie, leader of  the R&B Funk band Sagitarian Fire. Watching rehearsals and hearing live recordings from the band’s performances instilled in Brister a deep appreciation for music as a language of the heart. Those early experiences helped define the sensitive and heartfelt artist he has now become.

Brister recognized from a young age that music was his future. That lifelong passion comes through in his new release, a heartfelt reimagining of Lionel Richie’s beloved classic, “Hello”. Rather than simply recreating the original, Brister approached the song as an artist with a deeply personal connection to its message.

Working alongside Ricky Persaud Jr., Brister transformed the song into a cinematic recording that blends emotional vulnerability with pure  artistry. The result is both familiar and refreshingly original. As the project evolved, so did its meaning.

Brister hopes listeners connect with the authenticity behind the performance. With a voice rooted in soul tradition and a message that resonates across generations, Carl Brister’s “Hello” arrives as both a tribute to a timeless classic and a powerful introduction to an artist with a story worth hearing.

We recently sat down with Carl Brister to discuss his new release, where he shared insight into the project, the inspiration behind the music, and what he hopes listeners will take away from this deeply personal  interpretation of Lionel Richie’s classic hit.

Which R&B artists had the greatest influence on you growing up, and how did they help shape your journey as a vocalist? 

Carl Brister: Stevie Wonder and my dad, Jazzie Cazzie who had a R&B funk band called Sagitarian Fire. Stevie influenced me as a singer, songwriter, musician, and humanitarian. His music crosses genres and he  unites people. He writes about all topics including love, peace, and  family. It is not just one thing.

I also admire how he always used his platform to help causes like world hunger and AIDS research and he bravely would take a stand and speak out against injustice.

Listening to my dad’s band rehearse into the wee hours shaped my discipline and love for performing live. We would always hear the live recordings after they played a gig. He also took me to the studio for the  first time when they recorded a 45-inch single called “Everybody Gonna Give Their Love Away” with Soul singer Lee Fields.

At what point did you realize music would become your career path? Was becoming a professional singer always one of your dreams and aspirations? 

Carl Brister: Very young, about 7 or 8. I was very shy but loved to sing and be on stage. My dad would always call me up to sing. So, I have always known it was my dream.

Who are a few of your favorite R&B vocalists and R&B songs of all time, and what is it about their artistry that resonates with you most? 

Carl Brister: Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, Prince, El DeBarge, Donny Hathaway. They were deeply passionate, and they killed it live on stage. Their lyrics had depth and  their voices were one of a kind.

Your interpretation of “Hello” is both heartfelt and distinctive. Was  your artistic approach to the song carefully planned, or did the  performance evolve naturally and organically during the recording  process? 

Carl Brister: So, I have been singing hello in my head since I was a kid. I love the original, especially the lyrics. I always sang it differently in my own voice. When I met Ricky Persaud Jr, I shared my vision of the song as a cinematic piece. I sent him a recording of me performing the song playing piano and he created the orchestration around that. I would say it evolved. It started when I was a kid and met its moment now in this release.

Were there any meaningful moments that you experienced while  recording this song that stand out to you?

Carl Brister: So, I was thinking about this question. I think it actually came out as I was visualizing the video. We had just entered a war in Iran. I thought about the troops that became engaged so quickly and had  to leave their families, whatever they were doing they had to transition and go and serve. When I was thinking about the video about the word hello and how they hope to get to say this again to their loved ones. So, it began to take on a new meaning for me. How special it is to get to say  hello to your loved ones.

When can fans expect the official music video for “Hello,” and what can they look forward to experiencing when they watch it? 

Carl Brister: Tentatively July 3rd that weekend to commemorate the nation’s celebration of 250 years. Because the video honors our men and women in uniform I thought it would be great to share it in July. I hope they can look forward to a beautiful love story, a new way for this  classic song to be presented and shared with a new generation. I hope they get to experience me and my artistry in a way that we can connect, feel, and have a conversation together through the message of the video.

I tried to sing this song in a live way that is organic and real, and I hope that people can hear and feel my heart in this song.