Imagine going number one in the USA with your first song. That's what happened to Jason DeRulo, the young Floridian R&B artist behind WHATCHA SAY, the smooth new song that last week topped the singles chart stateside and is currently Billboard's Hot 100 #3 and America's digital #5.

"I told my mom, 'Ma, I'm going to be better than Michael Jackson,'" DeRulo told Billboard.

He's going the right way about it, writing hits - and he's been writing them for a long time - plus accompanying Lady Gaga on her upcoming "Monster Ball" tour.

"I am a big GaGa fan," admits the singer, 20.

His diary is choc-a-block too. DeRulo is to release his self-titled debut album next year, as well as starring in the forthcoming MTV feature film, Turn the Beat Around.

"I never wanted to be a songwriter, it just kind of fell on my lap," says Jason, after co-writing recent numbers for Lil Wayne, Iyaz, Birdman, Keyshia Cole, Cassie and Pitbull among others.

"I love writing, but I always wanted to be the voice not just the pen."

Whatcha this space for more from Jason...

• Get WHATCHA SAY from Jason DeRulo here