Today we’d like to introduce you to Skyler Reed.
Skyler, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Music has been my passion, and singing has been my purpose, since as long as I can remember. I started singing at family functions as a young girl, and begin songwriting shortly after my mother passed away. I was 9 years old when my life suddenly changed, and I had to move away from the city I was born, Wilmington Delaware, to a place I now call home, Fredericksburg Virginia. My aunt gave me a journal, and from there I went on to win poetry slams and compete in local talent competitions. I started singing in the church as well as the school choir during my middle school years. I followed my love for music to college, where I studied vocal performance, and earned a Bachelor’s of Music Degree from Virginia State University. Not even a month after graduation I was on a plane to Los Angeles. There, I dabbled in singing in operas, and eventually became an R&B/Soul artist. After 3 years of pursuing music there, I decided to move to Atlanta. I’ve been here for a year and a half, and am really loving it! I’ve established my music lessons business, Skyler’s Music Studio, LLC, as well as making a name for myself as an artist, entertainer, and songwriter.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am an R&B/Soul artist and songwriter. I create impactful music, and an experience in my live shows. I write from personal experiences, or things I’ve seen or heard that move me. Songwriting is therapy, and singing is an escape. I hope to inspire people to discover their purpose in this world, and be brave enough to follow through with their wildest dreams.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
The biggest challenge I think artists are facing today is financial support. The music industry today is flooded with so many artists, and labels are mainly checking for indie artists who are already established. To become successful as an n indie artist, the music has to be undeniable, obviously, but it does help greatly when they have money to access the resources they need. Getting a lot of paid shows is unlikely at an early stage. Consumers don’t really buy music either. On the bright side, due to this age of social media, artists can easily connect with fans, and build their own audience. I think Atlanta is doing a great job at offering a variety of music events where artists are given the opportunity to perform. I believe that offering more paid performance opportunities, which have the artists’ best interest in mind, would be very beneficial.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My website is the best place to see my work: www.skylerreed.com. People can watch my music videos and live performances on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/iamskylerreed. All of my music is on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/iamskylerreed. You can purchase my new single, “Issa Rae,” off of iTunes.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.skylerreed.com
- Email: iamskylerreed@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/iamskylerreed
- Facebook: facebook.com/iamskylerreed
- Twitter: twitter.com/iamskylerreed
- Other: wwww.skylersmusicstudio.com
Image Credit:
@ellmatik for the one in so soul shirt and striped outfit.
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