Meet TAP | Creative, Personality

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

Hi TAP, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m a black woman born and raised in The Caribbean to a Jamaican mother and a Bahamian father. Growing up in The Caribbean and The Bahamas, more specifically, has had a profound and undoubtable impact on who I am, how I view the world and who I’m yet still becoming. I come from a long line of black women who have had to fight harsh and unfavorable circumstances while having to still carry their families and society on their backs. I don’t say this to glorify trauma, but to provide context on how the spirit of these women were forged through (unfortunately) having to be resilient, inventive and un-afraid especially in the face of literal changing surroundings and circumstances. I grew up hearing “If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere” and let me tell you, after actually living in NYC, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Actually, If you can make it The Caribbean, especially as a creative, you can make it anywhere. I think the greatest thing my background and upbringing gave me and prepared me for as a black woman in media and as a black creative was: providing me with the ability to make something out of nothing. The reality is. my field isn’t widely supported in my country. It’s kind of still in its infancy stage, to be honest. So for me, to take that leap, to be brave enough and to choose to not look at what was lacking around me but to draw from the resources within me and to draw from the examples of the incredible women in my life was a major factor. I think about the fact that my maternal grand mother and mother both moved to completely different countries and started their lives over and went for what was best for them. That’s so inspiring. I almost feel like that bravery is embedded in my DNA and being exposed to that, I was unknowingly being prepared to have the courage to live life on my own terms and to seek a career path that I truly wanted, despite the lack of fertile ground, that was my surroundings.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what sets me apart from others is my authenticity and ability to speak about things that are still very taboo coming from a black Caribbean woman. My entire career has consisted of me just genuinely following my heart and my gut. When I started, I never cared about metrics or being seen. I actually just had such a strong and overwhelming urge to express and overtime that evolved into a mission to ensure that people like me felt seen and supported.

There’s no secret formula to getting where I am. At least, I don’t personally believe that. I believe in following your gut, doing things with the right intentions, challenging yourself and surrounding yourself with the right people. And let me say, was it easy? HELL NO. Plenty of times I wake up and I wonder, why didn’t I choose the road less travelled? Why do I have such strong convictions? Why not take the easier route? Why not take the more socially respected and convenient path? Why do I have to be this passionate person? I’m still reconciling a lot of these questions and that’s okay. I try to return to myself and my inner child and remind myself of why I’m doing this. Knowing your why is crucial. I think no matter what career path you choose, bad days are inevitable, that’s life, there’s a cycle with everything. But that WHY is what gets you out of bed. If you’re doing something to please others, it will never be sustainable. If you’re focused on the opinions of your family and your society, you’ll never truly be completely at peace and content. So, I always return to my WHY. That is my guiding principle.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned on my journey is to continue to trust my intuition. Further, who you surround yourself with and who you share your dreams and plans with can make or break you. Surround yourself with go getters and people who believe in your vision and people who have better skillsets than you. It’s impossible to know it all, but to have a team that excels in areas you’re weak in, is invaluable.

I just want the world to know that I’m a woman who is just doing what the f*ck she wants and not for the gaze of anyone else. I want the world to know and remember that good, bad or ugly, I am being my authentic self. I’m not afraid to change my mind. I’m not afraid to have 1000 titles or roles or jobs in this life. I’m not bound to anyone’s perception of me and what I should be and I’m just here to be a light and make other woman feel comfortable, seen and powerful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d definitely say Cacique, for when I wanna hear a good mix of music and muggle (aka dance)/I loooooveee The Island House for great environment, service and an amazing sunset view.

Sky Bar is definitely a vibe when I’m feeling bougie and just wanna have that on top of the world feeling.

Social House is my literal favorite place for a lychee martini.

And Costa in The SLS, literally has it all: great food (I love the tacos), cocktails, great ambience and service.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to give so much credit to Mark Cartwright. He’s a business man and the owner of a studio In The Bahamas that’s fondly called “The Hill”. He was so instrumental in the launch and development of my career because he gave me and so many other young people an opportunity simply by allowing us to have a literal free space where we could create, mess up, experiment and express ourselves. He gave me a chance without even really knowing me. I was actually introduced to him by someone else who was also very instrumental in my journey, Showtime Shaddy, a producer. Mark literally didn’t know me from a can of paint, but gave me the chance to come to the studio and play around with creating music and eventually videos and that physical space is literally where my creativity really began to grow and where I began to garner a lot of support for my brand in the early days. It’s also where I began to learn a lot of other behind the scenes skills in media and creativity. I will forever be grateful to him and his entire family because not only did they accept me in the studio but also their home. I have countless memories of me and other young people filling his house and coming over for food or parties. He’s truly a one of a kind individual and I’ll always be grateful to him for what he’s done for me and literally hundreds of other young people.

I’d also have to say, although I never met him, Sir Sidney Poitier had a massive influence on me. Finding out he was Bahamian, just like me, but became the first ever black person to receive the Oscar for best actor really reverberated throughout my entire being. When I found that out, watching an episode of The Oprah Show, back in high school, it was like. switch in me flipped. I felt like there was validation and manifestation in human form that my dreams weren’t far fetched despite my background and despite things I perceived at the time as deterrents to possible success. I actually re-read his autobiography, “Measure of a Man” a few months before he passed away, at a time I was really lost and feeling like a fool for choosing my career path, and it truly changed my perspective and gave me motivation to follow my North Star. A lot of times, you mention the name Sidney Poitier and of course, people are quick to talk about his Oscar achievement but I think so few people know about or have taken the time to explore the amount of hardship he endured to get to where he got. I’ll forever credit him as inspiration and a motivating source.

Finally, my close and very best friends, who have literally been a rock. I am an extremely self motivated person but no one is an island. We need people. I think that’s the whole point of life: human connection and human experiences. My people. My chosen family. I love them so much and they have held me up in their arms, supported me, literally worked on every single project I’ve ever done (whether they wanted to or not lol) and given me space to rise and fall, heal, break and do it all again without loving me less. I’m thankful for them. Being a creative (again, from a place that doesn’t really support it), can be mentally exhausting and it wears on you over time. Having people that protect me and create a safe space for me is something I do not take for granted. Many times, they have actually inspired my work, too. They are sounding boards. They are my soul mates and I definitely wouldn’t have made it this far with my mind in tact without them.

Instagram: @theycallmetap

Youtube: YouTube.com/theycallmetap

Other: Tik Tok: @Tapthecreator

Image Credits
Blair J Meadows