Meet The Artists

Laiken Williams, Unit 1: Soul

Born and raised in Nicholls, Georgia, Laiken grew up singing in her church and school choirs, but dreamed of becoming a lawyer and diplomat. A graduate of Armstrong State University, Laiken began her singing career with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus, but later came to the front of the stage with her own band Laiken Love & Fellowship of Love. She performs frequently at events throughout the region, including Savannah Food & Wine Festival, Savannah Music Festival’s Musical Explorers, Lowcountry Jazz Festival, Savannah’s Picnic in the Park, Savannah Philharmonic’s annual Holiday Pops concert, and Jacksonville’s Jazz on the Beach.

Anders Thomsen, Unit 2: Country

Born and raised in Nicholls, Georgia, Anders Thomsen is a singer/guitarist/songwriter who lives in Bloomingdale, Georgia. He has been performing on and off for more than 20 years, in his words, “narrowly escaping success” several times. After growing up in Lansing, Michigan, he lived in New York City and Nashville, Tennessee before settling in the Savannah area. He has released several albums and played in countless honky-tonks and night clubs.

Gino Castillo, Unit 3: Salsa

Gino began playing drums at just 5 years old in Ecuador. He studied at music conservatories in Havana, Cuba, where he discovered his passion for Cuban jazz. He worked as a solo musician in New York for several years before settling in Charleston, South Carolina with his family in 2010. Gino has earned several local Jazz Artist of the Year awards, collaborated with many renowned international artists, and has taught at the Berklee College of Music. With his band, the Cuban Cowboys, Gino works to bring the music he is passionate about to Lowcountry audiences.


Becoming Musical Explorers →