TEDRA, professionally known as TT The Artist, is a self-taught, award-winning film director, AI designer, two-time RIAA Platinum recording artist, and multidisciplinary creative whose work fuses music, film, fashion, and culture into bold, emotionally resonant storytelling. Her practice centers BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and women-led narratives amplifying voices historically excluded from mainstream media through visually striking, genre-defying work.

Born in South Florida, TEDRA relocated to Baltimore, Maryland at 18 to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in General Fine Arts. Without formal film school training, she forged an unconventional path working in nonprofit education, teaching media and arts, and transforming curiosity and self-instruction into a celebrated directing career rooted in community, experimentation, and cultural authorship.

TEDRA made her feature directorial debut with Dark City Beneath The Beat, a critically acclaimed musical documentary celebrating Baltimore club music and dance culture. Produced by Emmy-nominated media mogul Issa Rae and Deniese Davis, the film retains a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and widespread praise from Variety, Deadline, Time Out, and IndieWire, and premiered on Netflix. Accompanied by an original soundtrack executive-produced by TEDRA and released via Raedio / Def Jam Records, the film was heralded as a powerful love letter to Baltimore and its creative legacy.

In 2025, TEDRA expanded her impact with DENIM, a bold hybrid docuseries pilot spotlighting LGBTQIA+ creatives across fashion, performance, and art. The project earned the Special Jury Award for Independent TV Pilots at SXSW, Best Director (Unscripted) at SeriesFest, and a Vimeo Staff Pick, solidifying her reputation as one of the most forward-thinking voices in contemporary storytelling. That same year, REVOLT named her one of the Top Directors to Know in 2025.

A two-time RIAA Platinum-certified artist for her songwriting contributions to Jennifer Lopez’s “Booty” and Chlöe Bailey’s “Have Mercy,” TEDRA’s musical catalog has become a powerful force in sync licensing. Her work has appeared across major films, television series, and global campaigns including Insecure (HBO), Twenties (BET), P-Valley (STARZ), Nappily Ever After (Netflix), Logan, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and multiple Super Bowl commercials. In 2023, Beyoncé licensed TEDRA’s song “Kitty Klap” for the Renaissance World Tour.

In 2018, TEDRA founded Club Queen Records, a women-focused independent label dedicated to ownership, creative autonomy, and sync-ready music for film and television. Her directing work also includes co- executive producing Noted: Alicia Keys The Untold Stories doc series produced by YouTube Originals  in collaboration with  Westbrook and her original sci-fi musical short scripted  film Eboni 8.

AI & Emerging Technology Accolades

TEDRA is an award-winning AI filmmaker and emerging-technology director, using artificial intelligence as a cinematic tool to expand emotional realism, character-driven narratives, and world-building.

Her AI short animated films Sole Mates, a whimsical romance comedy, and  mud, a psychological horror exploration of identity and self-acceptance has been recognized across major international AI film festival platforms and festivals, earning awards and recognition in global AI competitions and establishing TEDRA as a leading voice and trailblazer in AI cinema. 

TEDRA’s AI-driven work has been recognized by respected technology and creative institutions, including honors The Leonardo Innovation Fund as a “Highly Commended Artists”, positioning her at the forefront of ethical, story-first AI filmmaking. She continues to explore hybrid production models that merge traditional directing with advanced AI workflows, redefining what independent cinema can look like in the future.