Meet R&B newcomer Tanek Montgomery. The talented Pennsylvania native  recently released the video for his latest single “Hey Girl”, which is lifted from his upcoming EP.

Check out the video below…

Aaron:  Tell us how you got your start in music

Tanek:   I started singing when I was 4 years old.  I would duplicate or mimic any song or artist that came out of the radio and or television.  I always had a genuine love for music as well as an incredible way to duplicate what I saw or heard even if it was only one time.

Aaron:   Would you say that your music is a reflection of your personal life, or just lyrical creativity?

Tanek:   My music is a portion of both personal and creation.  I strongly believe you cannot sing/talk about something unless you’ve had some type of personal encounter with whatever it is you are speaking on.  You can’t sing the words to a song without any conviction unless you have been in and experienced it in your lifetime that enables you to relate to what you are singing about at the time creativity is a must. You have to be able to think outside the box, use metaphors and storyline format that makes a listener say, “Wow, that’s interesting.  I never looked at it that way but it makes sense!”  I believe the more creative you are the more separation you put between yourself and the rest of the fold who write and sing about the same thing, but explained and plain text.

Aaron:   You’ve sung with Kim Burrell, indeed one of the greatest voices of our time. What was that like?

Tanek:   Ms. Kim Burrell is a monster when it comes to vocal skill and capability.  One of the best to ever do it.  That was an exhilarating experience.  Just sharing the stage with her and watching her go forth in song and testimony was monumental.  Truly an inspiration and a vocal powerhouse and asset to the music world….indescribable!

Aaron:   Anyone you haven’t worked with that you would like to work with?

Tanek:   The R&B general himself, TANK!  I think the man is a lyrical genius. Tank’s metaphors are not like anything we’ve ever heard before and that’s what makes him a genius lyrically.  Truly underrated and because of that outside of the box way of thinking or telling a story for some reason, he doesn’t get the recognition he should, but in my book, the baddest cat to ever do it is Tank.  I would love to work with him.

Aaron:   Which acts are on your iPod?

Tanek:   Tank, Terrell Carter, Zacardi Cortez, Jasmine Sullivan & Shaneka “Neka LB” Brown just to name a few.

Aaron:   Your songs “Lovin’ You Better” & “Hey Girl” are true to that classic R&B sound. What are your thoughts on the current state of R&B today?

Tanek:   I think R&B is need of savior.  The Ne-Yo’s, Chris Brown’s & Usher’s, I think artist(s) today are being diverted towards that pop/rock dance music.  That era is truly taking over next to hip-hop.  I truly understand when there is a movement, you must move with it or get trampled on in the process and I think because true R&B has not converted over to the new style, it has for a lack of better been stomped out, but in all fairness, I appreciate and love all music.

Aaron:   You’re in the studio working on your EP, what exactly can we expect from the project?

Tanek: Expect nothing but the best! I’m giving the fans my hard work, sleepless nights, my sweat, years and emotions when I sing as well as perform.  It is done with passion intensity and conviction even in the studio, I’ve been told from behind, I look as though I’m performing in front of thousands and thousands of people.  Truly, when I stand behind a mic and open my mouth, they deserve to get everything that I have to offer, so expect nothing but real R&B, stories told metaphorically that supersede time and space and just the fans fall in love with me and what we deliver to them.

Aaron:   Finally, tell us about your new video “Hey Girl”

Tanek: My new video, “Hey Girl,” was awesome to work with my childhood friend who is more like family, Shaneka “Neka LB” Brown, was my leading lady in the video and we just kicked back and enjoyed ourselves and had fun with it. No script meaning rehearsal just a nack and natural ability to go in front of the camera and perform.  The video is doing very well on VEVO and YouTube and it pretty much talks about a guy seeing a beautiful woman and as we do when we see this, we pursue and he’s trying to convey to her that if she gets in and take a ride with him, she’ll never want to ever again take another ride with anyone else any ride that will have you screaming for good reason is a ride you definitely wanna ride again and again and again! LOL!

You can download Tanek’s music here: