Teila’s getting to know the artistes

Teila Williams is the host of Getting To Know Your Favourite Artist which is an online web series where she interviews Barbadian artistes on her Instagram @ayocreativeventures. In an interview, Williams said that the online web series which is now in its seventh season started in April 2020.

“Getting To Know Your Favourite Artist was birthed during our first lockdown with the first episode being aired on April 12th, 2020. AYO Creative Ventures is a creative arts company and most of our outlets and avenues during COVID-19 were not possible. So, I had to adjust with the times and be creative. The idea just came to me one night and I ran it by a good friend who is also an artist, and he believed my idea for a web series was feasible. I also saw it as a way to brush up, explore and perfect my hosting skills,” she said.

The creative director of AYO Creative Ventures said that the response for her previous season has been amazing, and her show has surpassed all her initial expectations as everyone has been pushing her to be better and to create amazing seasons each time.

How can persons be interviewed on her web-series? The former Springer Memorial School student said that she usually selects the artistes to be a part of her show once they align with the theme that she has for a particular episode.

“I usually select the artiste, some of whom I would have already had close relationships with from working together- whether it was providing creative direction or me being a dancer for them.

“They are also chosen to align with a particular theme of an episode, and we have had other artistes recommend others to be part of the show,” she said.  Williams said that her biggest highlight to date was interviewing one of Barbados’ cultural icons Edwin Yearwood commonly referred to as The General.

“The biggest highlight I would have to mention more than one would be interviewing Edwin Yearwood and having him tell me that he would love to do it again. If you know me, you know that I am a huge Edwin Yearwood fan. In addition, my interview with Anderson Blood Armstrong was one of many that was packed
with knowledge, but he took us way back with
so much knowledge not just of him but with the band Square One.

The next biggest moment would have to be when we celebrated our first birthday with a virtual birthday party which was a memorable moment for me.

From the artiste that performed, persons sharing their most memorable moment and just the love it was a moment of full gratitude and knowing that indeed I am on the right path,” she said.

The dancer and choreographer who worked with many of the hit soca artiste in Crop Over 2019 said she believes that Barbadians need to know who the cultural practitioners in the island are and by having this online series it allows them to see their cultural practitioners in a different light.

“I do believe that Bajans need to know our artistes and with our platform, it is really fun and interactive, so it allows persons to see them in a different light which was the objective. Barbadians still think that being an artiste is not a real job. That is a whole other article in itself. Through hosting the show though, persons truly get to hear how artistes may live and how passionate they are,” she said.

Williams said that this season, which was set to begin on Monday, July 19th, will have regional guests passing through. Thus, she invites all Barbadians to watch her channel to see who these surprise regional guests are.

“This season expect more fun as we have some regional guests passing through. Our debut interview will be Mahalia Cummins from 2 Mile Hill. To find out who these regional guests are be sure to tune into @ayocreativeventures on Instagram,” she said. (Write Right PR Services)