Flavia Beswick looks to win souls with Mirror Effect
In a display of unity, some of Jamaica’s emerging gospel and reggae recording artistes have given one of their own support by agreeing to perform at her event.
Twenty-year-old Flavia Beswick is embarking on a motivational event that not only speaks to persons of the Christian faith, but to a secular market as well.
Mirror Effect, hosted by Beswick, gospel singer and finalyear student at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts featuring performances by Jodian Pantry, Adiel Thomas, KVLAR, Christina Roshay, and Jerone Riley, will take place tomorrow, at 7 p.m., at Redbones Blues Café in Kingston.
“Mirror Effect is not specific to a religious audience. Instead it is focused on inspiring. As the Michael Jackson song says, ‘I’m starting with the man in the mirror’. In order to impact the world in a positive way, persons must focus on the man or woman they are,” Beswick said in an interview with THE WEEKEND STAR.
It will be the first official event that the gospel singer has executed since her introduction to the industry from participating in the 2017 Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Gospel Song Competition.
Beswick’s single, Centre of My Life, did not claim first place in the competition, but she was in the top 10 finalists and received a sectional prize for best arrangement.
“I don’t want to be presumptuous by saying God chose me to minister the Gospel using music, but I do believe the gift was given to me to approach persons living in the wrong to impact change,” she said.
The gospel singer relates the direction she has taken to personal life struggles, including finding financial assistance year after year such as student loans to attend school, which seemed futile.
“My guarantor was God. Only He could have got me this far, and I will continue to work to spread His word. I tried many times to apply at the Student’s Loan Bureau but was denied, but after a conversation with God, sponsorships from the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company as well as grants from Chase Fund followed.”
Beswick has only released Centre of My Life but has a catalogue of songs that will be incorporated in her performance at Mirror Effect (which she has actually considered naming a single). The event, she says, although not a promotional platform, may open the door to opportunities for her colleagues and for her.
“There aren’t many resources available to help with musical projects, including preparation for a similar event on a larger scale and larger venue like Nelson Mandela Park.”
She is intrigued by the idea of hosting outdoor events because of the natural ambience, which, she says, allows entertainers to connect with listeners.
“With the intimate setting at Redbones Blues Café, the expectation is that at least one person, hopefully, everyone, will leave internalising assessing how he or she can make a difference by looking at their lives, what personal changes they can make to evoke change in the world,” Beswick said.