Riiki Reid

Where are you from?

Wellington, NZ.

Was there music around you when you were growing up? How?

Yes - My two brothers both played musical instruments while I was growing up and were really inspired by rock and hip-hop music. My parents loved jazz and funk, so we had a lot of different styles playing through the house. I used to sing alongside my brothers anytime they picked up a guitar and played the piano.

When did you start making music?

How has the music you make changed over time? I remember writing my first lyrics when I was in primary school (really bad!) and used to write for a garage band. But I officially started writing music in my first year of high school. Back in the beginning of high school, I was writing as part of a 5-piece indie rock band. As I grew to learn what sort of artist I wanted to be through the years, I eventually started writing music for myself, usually only on a piano and a mic with a reverb pedal and taking videos on my phone of my songs to remember them. When I left high school, I defined my sound to be more indie/alternative pop, and this is when I learned how to use DAWs (Logic X) and started producing my own songs and learning how to record my own vocals to make demo tracks. Ever since, I have been writing songs on my piano, producing them with other producers, and writing my music in studio sessions.

Did you participate in Smokefreerockquest? If so, how was that experience for you?.

Absolutely! It was all that mattered as a young musician in high school! My band was called 'Retrospect', and the first year we entered was 2016. We were the Wellington regional final winners and made it to the National Finals in AKL. We won the people's choice award. I remember my experience at RQ so fondly, as I often refer to it as an important core memory that really solidified my love for music, being on stage, and having a glimpse at what the industry is like. Through the experience, I remember thinking to myself that if this is just a glimpse at what this path could be like, then this is 100% the career that I want to pursue. I thank Rockquest for sending me on my way. Without this experience, I don't know if I would have ever been inspired enough at that age to pursue music.

You have played on some major stages and had some great media coverage of projects you've been involved in. Is there any part of your musical journey that stands out as particularly special or a favorite moment? 

Thank you <3 I think there are so many that it makes it really hard to choose. Some of my fondest memories are in live shows and some are purely from realizing that a blog I've admired or a person I've admired has reached out to me. But every experience has been so rewarding for me and equally given me the fuel to keep going. If we narrow it down to just shows; one of my favorite shows ever was opening for Lorde at TSB Arena in WLG. My other favorite is my first-ever headline show in WLG. We sold out, people knew the words, it was just so special. Being up on a billboard in the middle of Times Square was also a bucket list moment.

When you're writing, what do you start with? 

What is your process from beginning to end? My writing process changes all the time - some days I start with lyrical ideas on a voice memo and fit the music to the vocal melodies. Sometimes I need to notice how I am feeling and try to reflect that feeling through the music first before words come. This is mostly how I work. I like to have the chords down first.

How do you choose what songs to release? 

This process is always a lot bigger than expected. I think for me a part of the question is, 'What part of my story do I want to tell listeners right now?' What is going to be the song before this release, what is going to be the song after this release, and how does it contribute to the bigger picture of what I am trying to do in that moment? One of my most special and favorite songs I have ever written I waited for 4 years to release because it just didn't feel like the right time to release a song like that amongst the music that I was releasing. Eventually, the right time came along where it made the most sense to me to release the song, and I wouldn't have done it any other way.

What are two things you have learned along your journey that you would tell yourself if you could go back in time?

 Enjoy the process and be as present as possible. It all goes by so quick, there is no time to be stressed and to worry about things, just enjoy it all and everything you do, whether it is good or bad. See both as wins because the new learning you take with you from those experiences are going to be key in your success and happiness.

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