LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� knows how the world sees her: an accomplished, polished actor who always seems to have it all together. Through new music, the Emmy-winner hopes listeners discover another side of her.
Having released her new single 鈥淪hotty鈥� on Friday, Reid wants people to meet the less pristine version of herself: a 23-year-old from Atlanta who falls in love, deals with boy problems and is still finding her way.
鈥淚 think people might think I have it all together when I really don’t,鈥� said Reid, who is known for performances in ” ” 鈥� 鈥� and 鈥� 鈥� which earned her an Emmy in 2024. She graduated from the University of Southern California last year.
鈥淚’m a normal girl trying to figure it out,鈥� she continued.
鈥淪hotty鈥� follows Reid鈥檚 debut single, 鈥淐lean Sweep,鈥� continuing a music journey she has pursued over the past year. So far, she has recorded more than 25 songs.
Reid said she hopes to focus work on her first EP after wrapping production on feature directorial debut 鈥淕et Lite,鈥� giving herself time to shape a project that tells a cohesive story. She’s releasing music independently through her label, 1720 Music, saying the approach gives her greater creative freedom while leaving the door open to partner with a major label in the future.
鈥淭he indie route, you have a little bit more autonomy of what you want to do and how you do things,鈥� she said.
Reid said ownership also gives her an opportunity to create doors for other artists.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the most powerful thing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to sign people. I want to sign songwriters and producers and artists, and give them opportunities.鈥�
Music has quickly become as important to Reid as acting, a career she’ll continue with upcoming projects including Netflix鈥檚 鈥淩oommates鈥� and 鈥淕et Lite.鈥� Preparing for Taylor’s film pushed Reid outside her comfort zone as a dancer, challenging her to become more comfortable as a performer.
It’s a skill Reid hopes will eventually translate to performing her own music.
鈥淚t鈥檚 as big and as important as acting is,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that I want to continue to do and want to continue to grow at.鈥�
Reid said years in Hollywood prepared her for criticism.
鈥淧eople didn鈥檛 feel like I deserved to win an Emmy, but it鈥檚 still sitting in my house,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still in my mama鈥檚 house, so I don鈥檛 really care what people say.鈥�
Since releasing 鈥淐lean Sweep,鈥� Reid said she has largely stayed away from reading online comments.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to get distracted or discouraged,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ostly I鈥檝e been so thankful. The sentiments have been really nice and people have been supportive. … I’m excited and can鈥檛 wait for them to hear more.鈥�
For Reid, music has become more about who she’s always been.
鈥淣ot everything is gonna be perfect. Not everything is gonna be prim, proper and pristine and eloquent,鈥� Reid said. 鈥淟ike yeah, that鈥檚 a part of me, and I can do that, and I can do it really well. But also 鈥� this is me too.鈥�
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