Actor Storm Reid is venturing further into the music industry, aiming to reveal a more authentic and less polished version of herself to listeners. Reid, known for her roles in "Euphoria," "A Wrinkle in Time," and the Emmy-winning "The Last of Us," released her new single "Shotty" on Friday. The track follows her debut single, "Clean Sweep," and is part of a larger musical endeavor she has been pursuing over the past year, during which she has recorded over 25 songs.
Reid, who graduated from the University of Southern California last year, described herself as a "normal girl trying to figure it out." She hopes her music will introduce listeners to this side of her, contrasting with the perception of her as an accomplished actor who always has everything under control. "I think people might think I have it all together when I really don't," Reid stated.
Independent Music Venture
Reid is releasing her music independently through her own label, 1720 Music. She believes this approach grants her greater creative autonomy and allows her to maintain control over her artistic direction, while keeping the possibility open for future partnerships with major labels. "The indie route, you have a little bit more autonomy of what you want to do and how you do things," she said. This ownership also provides an opportunity for Reid to support other artists. "It's the most powerful thing," she said. "I want to sign people. I want to sign songwriters and producers and artists, and give them opportunities."
Following the completion of production on Teyana Taylor's directorial debut film, "Get Lite," Reid plans to concentrate on her first EP. She aims to shape a project that conveys a cohesive narrative. Music has become as significant to Reid as acting, a career she continues with upcoming projects including Netflix's "Roommates" and "Get Lite."
Embracing Performance and Criticism
Preparing for Taylor's film involved Reid stepping outside her comfort zone as a dancer, a challenge that helped her become more comfortable as a performer. She hopes this will eventually translate to live performances of her own music. "It's as big and as important as acting is," she said. "It's something that I want to continue to do and want to continue to grow at."
Reid also addressed criticism, stating that her years in Hollywood have prepared her for it. Referring to her Emmy win, she said, "People didn’t feel like I deserved to win an Emmy, but it’s still sitting in my house... so I don’t really care what people say." Since releasing "Clean Sweep," Reid has largely avoided reading online comments to prevent distraction or discouragement. She expressed gratitude for the supportive sentiments received and excitement for listeners to hear more of her music, emphasizing that not all aspects of her life or art are perfect or pristine. "Like yeah, that’s a part of me, and I can do that, and I can do it really well. But also … this is me too," she said.