Reed Shannon

RIVAL MAGAZINE JUNE 2022 RIVAL MAGAZINE JUNE 2022 RIVAL MAGAZINE JUNE 2022 RIVAL MAGAZINE JUNE

By: Olivia Vitarelli

Reed Shannon has shifted into drive, or, as he more astutely calls it, “high speed pursuit towards greatness.” With a principal role in season two of Amazon’s hit series The Wilds, as well as an upcoming music release, the boundless nature of his creativity is evident. Exuding humility and gratitude, Reed chats with Rival about The Wilds, his dream music collaborations, and a visit to New York that changed everything. Shannon grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. Well, sort of. He quickly clarifies, “Technically, my address is in Wake Forest, NC, but most people I meet only know Raleigh and Charlotte, so it’s just easier that way.” This candor might be what makes him such a magnetic artist; a willingness to tell the truth wrapped in a desire to help others characterizes not only his response to “where are you from?”, but also his pursuits across music and acting fields alike. From a young age, he’s been entertaining. “I left home for 16 months to travel across America with Motown: The Musical,” he says. The previous year, while not performing, he “had the opportunity to travel to Beijing at the age of 12 to be immersed in the culture there.” Expressing gratitude for what he describes as a “super blessed life,” Reed notes, “My parents always wanted to make sure that I had everything I needed to be successful in whatever I set my sights on. On that same token, growing up as a young black boy, this country and world can be very unforgiving when it comes to mistakes or missteps. I feel as though being able to see the world at that young age and then to come back and experience America in the heat of the Ferguson riots that came from the killing of Michael Brown showed me every aspect of life that I needed to strive for success in my life.”

It was his first time visiting New York that left Reed with an unshakable awareness, this “success” would be found in entertainment. “I was 9 years old, and I remember going to see the musical Memphis and watching Derrick Baskin perform the song ‘Say A Prayer,’” he says. “The performance was so moving. The audience was captivated. Standing ovation at the end of the show, of course. Once it was over, I ended up meeting Carlos Pena from Big Time Rush, and he had some great words of encouragement. It got me so hyped up that I left the theatre on the wrong side and got lost in New York. I’ll never forget feeling scared but exhilarated at the same time. I knew I had to entertain, and I’ve honestly never turned back.”

Over a decade later, Reed’s making his younger self abundantly proud, starring as Scotty Simms in season two of Amazon’s hit young adult series The Wilds. Season one of the series follows a group of teenage girls – unknowing subjects of a social experiment – as they are stranded on an island, forced to overcome conflict and mystery

in order to survive. Season two begins when a gaggle of teenage boys are thrust onto the island as well. “I’ve said it before, but I feel like I can’t say it enough! The Wilds, to me, is a showcase of some of the most talented young actors this industry has to offer,” says Reed. “This new season takes the heat up on all levels. The intensity that comes with season two is unmatched in any other YA show out right now. I’m super excited for audiences to see the way boys being thrown into the mix changes the dynamic… [Creator] Sarah Streicher and [showrunner] Amy Harris are geniuses and masters of their craft.”

Following the series’ premier, a devoted body of fans quickly amassed. Among them? Reed Shannon himself. “I was a fan of the show when it first came out in December 2020,” he reveals. “It was so dope to me that these young actors were getting a chance to perform with depth and talent. I felt like I’d never seen a ‘teen’ show with such compelling stories.” When the time came to fly to Australia – the onlocation site for the filming of season two – Reed says, “I felt some pressure pulling up to the airport, but as soon as I met some of the other guys, I realized that we were all scared and nervous, so it made me feel a little less alone.”

This connection between cast members mirrors the show’s broader goal: to breed understanding and, as Reed calls it, “conversation.” He says, [The Wilds] deals with parallels in teen life that humanize what would be seen as ‘dramatic teenage behavior.’ I think it also does a great job at completely stripping the structure of America and presenting it to audiences through unique characters from all walks of life. Getting to play somebody like Scotty Simms, who I relate so closely to, was an extreme blessing. Everything these kids on these islands are talking about matters. That’s important in a society that can be so divided in so many different ways, nowadays.”

Reflecting on the experience of filming, Reed reveals, “I can’t begin to describe the ways in which I’ve grown from even just landing in Australia for the first time. I’ve always been the type of person who understood the value of personal growth. The way that life challenged me while we were filming, showed me a lot about myself and the people around me. For the first time in my life, I was able to see a new me.”

He continues, “I was given the chance to throw myself into a character and leave it on set when I was done for the day. In my time off, I had to make sure that I didn’t lose myself or become stagnant in my pursuit of life. It wasn’t easy at first because I never traveled that far to live somewhere else. I had a hard time grasping that, but eventually I caught myself. I was able to understand a little bit more about my purpose. Those kinds of realizations only set fire to the craft of acting. It gave me experience to pull from in my work. That’s all we as artists can ask for.”

Reed’s artistry isn’t limited to just acting. As a musician, he describes his work as the “chronicling of [his] journey…a corner where Soul, Pop, and R&B meet.” On dream collaborations, he reveals, “I don’t think this feature is long enough for me to make my perfect pitches, but I’ll try my hardest. I definitely need a chance to work with, or even just sit down with, Donald Glover (Childish

Gambino). I would love to work and learn from Pharrell. Last but not least, I need to get on stage with Bruno Mars before I die. I’ll tell you right now…THAT show? Legendary.”

On May 26th, Reed is set to release his next single and music video: ‘Drown.’ “I’m super excited about this record,” he says. “It was produced by my The Wilds castmate Aidan Laprete. Aidan is the GENIUS producer behind my last song ‘Bad Girl.’ I’m hopeful that we’ll get another chance to tell the story of The Wilds and come back for a third season. But, if not, I’m still going to be here. Creating dope art and spreading love everywhere I go!”

Love seems to be a signpost for all that Reed does. “In regards to acting,” he says, “I just hope to entertain and inspire. I get absolute joy from putting smiles on people’s faces. That’s all this is for me. I sincerely hope that I continue to tell stories that matter and play characters that are compelling.” With his music, Reed says, “I just hope that whoever stumbles across me feels my soul through what I create.” Adding a touching note of recognition, he says, “I just want to thank God, my family, and Dajuel for holding me down in every moment and facilitating a life where I get a chance to spread my wings and fly as high as I can go. Big thanks to A3 Artists Agency and Christy at 42West for joining me in my pursuit of whatever I’m meant for.”

Co-Directed: Heather Koepp & Oththan Burnside Photographer: Heather Koepp Wardrobe: Oththan Burnside Grooming: Chatwaka Johnson