He makes her laugh hard and loud. She makes him laugh hard and loud. In normal conversation he calls her “boo”. In normal conversations she calls him “boo”. I wasn’t sure when I messaged to ask if EASY magazine can feature them as a couple for our Valentine’s issue if I was going to get a yes.
I told him, “Please ask her first before answering for both”. The message came back, “She said yes.”
It was a breezy, easy Sunday afternoon when Randy and I trekked to St Philip. We were there to do a photoshoot and interview with social media sensations Seth Xcel Bovell and Nadia No Filter Phillips.
“What kind of ideas for the pictures do you guys have?” asked Seth. Randy, the photographer, and I had conferred on some but with Seth’s brilliant mind and some props we came up with a storyline that fit right in with their personas.
The story goes: Once upon a time, boy sees girl and likes girl. Boy asks girl out on date. Girl says yes and boy brings “bouquet” for girl on day. Boy “rides” with girl to picnic spot. Boy says date is a Bajan one so no wine but mauby syrup. Boy falls in love and proposes to girl with a “macaroni-ring”.
Seth and Nadia are Internet stars. From Facebook and Instagram, with some having over 200 000 views each and counting, their trademark “families” and “dah easy” slang is on everyone lips. The comedic duo said working together came naturally, while still trying to make a new romance work.
They officially met in person eight months ago, even though they run in the same circles and share mutual friends.
Playing devil’s advocate I separated them to see if they really knew each other.
“When did you guys meet, I asked Seth.
“I had a crush on her for a good while,” Seth said. “I was at the movie premiere for Daybreak at Olympus. I have a role in it and I saw her. I was familiar with her comedy. Getting to meet her in person things just developed That was end of May. I am not counting May (he said while counting on his fingers) so I will say eight months.”
Nadia recounted the exact same thing, even to the point of counting on her fingers, with Seth listening anxiously in.
“Yes,” said Seth, pumping his fist. “That is a relief. I got it right.”
Nadia added that Seth wears glasses and without them he is farsighted.
“So at the premiere I saw him first and shout him as this was the first time we actually met in person. He was like ‘yeah’ like I was a fan and walked past me. I was like ‘wait, just so?’ A mutual friend of ours Robin Hood was with him and stopped him and said ‘That is Nadia, B’. He realised then who it was and came back,” she said, laughing at the memory.
Acting isn’t new to them both. Nadia, 33 is mum to a boy and girl and is a certified natural health professional (studied overseas) and currently works in the family business, JNC Inc., and JENN health and beauty supplies.
In 2014 she started doing stand-up with her own show called No Filter.
“I was in the school’s (The Ursuline Convent) year book as class clown. In a warped way people used to laugh at me and with me. So when I started to pursue No Filter I said I would apply a different style to my comedy. No Filter is as the name suggests – raw and adult only. It was my freedom of expression. I give it to you straight.”
Seth, who went to school in the British Virgin Islands, said he was more of a troublemaker than a funny guy in school.
After being back in Barbados in 2007, he “found out he was funny” when he and his friends experimented and did a YouTube show in 2013 called Porgie & Murda where he was the character Tiny.
“I started doing doing some skits and sketches that were on YouTube with me and Stiffy and different characters that were about four minutes but it wasn’t until 2014 when I started doing the short 15 seconds Instagram skits that things took off.”
As a comedian Seth has different persona so some of his “side projects” were the Scab Whisperer that were web episodes and My African Cousin (with his friend Robin Hood which was picked up by the cable channel Trident10).
So far Seth has over 250 skits totalling more than 10 million views on social media, thousands of Instagram followers, countless fans and much recognition for his work.
Most of his skits deal with different Barbadian everyday situations.
“I come up with the skits naturally. With years of studying comedy shows, the jokes and comedy are almost like a reflex.”
He is also Xcel, who is a singer, with music videos.
Of late many people would have seen the parodies on social media with Seth and Nadia as costars.
“Us teaming us was a natural thing. It just organically happened. Even though I do standup and he does skits and sketches. Comedy is comedy. That is one reason why we bonded and get along so well,” said Nadia, explaining her female role in the parodies on Facebook.
The two said in terms of idea and scripts they collaborate.
“We jot down everything. Our cellphones are always used to record short pieces to develop further. We have never discarded any ideas. We will find the funniest twist to it or take out a component or add a component to make people find it funny . . . . But we have never said, ‘Nah, that not gonna work’,” said Seth.
Shooting is done over a period of days. A full production is set up with lights, green screen; they do their own voice-overs, and fix camera angles.
“We have our own production company called Bovell Productions. If you see a car or something like that, friends let me use their stuff and I have sources too. I have done a couple ads for companies so some of them let me use their props in my skits,” explained Seth.
When asked which skit as comedic couple, they said it was hard to pick but decided on Seth criticising Nadia’s cooking (Seth’s pick) and Aladdin’s Carpet (Nadia’s pick).
Speaking of cooking, Seth is a boss on bakes but can improve on his egg-cooking skills, according to Nadia.
“I appreciate the gesture but he knows his eggs are horrible,” said Nadia laughing, with Seth face looking aghast. Seth said Nadia is a great cook and he loves her baked chicken, coleslaw and cornpie.
“We also love to go out and eat so Friday and Saturdays are our days to try different cuisines like Arabian, Indian, Chinese . . . Chefette,” said Seth.
I again try to trip up the couple, asking favourite colours and shoe sizes. They both got them right.
Seth said the biggest surprise he got was this interview.
“She surprised me when she said yes. And yes with no hesitation even after I explained it was about us being a couple.”
Nadia said the relationship was a learning experience and was still very new to her.
“As women let us be honest. We are jealous. And Seth doesn’t like when I get jealous. He is a public figure. He has a lot of followers. He is popular and a lot of girls are around It really tests our relationships. I am learning every day to be more trusting and relaxed. This type of relationship is new to me.”
He said: “Nadia is bossy sometimes. But I love everything about her, even the bossiness, even though I don’t like it.”
Nadia interrupts to say she isn’t bossy, but more of a worrier. “I panic a lot when I see things not going how they should.
“But that is also why I love Seth. He is very optimistic and positive no matter what. The bossiness come from the fact that I worry very easily. Seth has a way of making me relax. He is also innovative, creative and ambitious. Very driven. He has a good spirit.”
The couple say they are learning each day how to work and play in harmony.
“Listening. Being patient. Our relationship is new so there are a lot of things we are learning about each other. Any grievance, tiff or fight can be resolved. Figure out how the person ticks,” said Nadia. Seth agreed.