Kevin Quinn has been making a name for himself for a while now, taking both the music and acting world by storm. Kevin started out as an actor but still did music alongside it. Most recently this year Kevin starred as the heartthrob lead and troubled teen redeemed in Netflix’s faith-based musical “A Week Away”, where he would also sing 11 out of the 13 tracks on the soundtrack. This new single “Wildfire” marks a new chapter for Kevin as he is making his debut with his new label Capitol CMG. The song is brilliant and is a grand introduction for Kevin as he starts this new chapter in music. Nothing but a bright future for him!
We recently got the pleasure to chat with Kevin all about his new single “Wildfire” and much more so read below to find out!
Melodic: Hey there! Appreciate you taking the time to chat. For those who may not know who you are, give us a little background on yourself.
Kevin: Thanks so much for having me. For those who may not already know me, I am a singer, songwriter, and actor. I was born and raised in Chicago, but I have lived in Los Angeles for the past seven years. You may have seen me in one of my films or television shows, such as “Bunk’d,” “Hubie Halloween,” “A Christmas Love Story,” or “A Week Away.” You may have also heard my new single “Wildfire,” and watched the accompanying music video. I have worked in the entertainment industry for almost nine years, but my introduction to it all was quite happenstance. It was really just a hobby for me that somehow evolved into a career after I was offered some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in my teenage years. I’ve been doing it ever since.
Melodic: What are some things that have been keeping you sane in these unprecedented times of the pandemic?
Kevin: Believe it or not, the stay-at-home order was a surprising relief for me. Prior to the pandemic, I don’t think I was getting the kind of downtime I needed, but I didn’t know otherwise, as it had been nonstop “go” for a long time before that. I just always assumed that’s how it is in this business – work work work and no rest. But when the pandemic hit, everyone was kind of forced to stop whatever it was they were doing, myself included. I started to read more books. I started to paint. And write, and just play more board games – simple things I wasn’t doing enough before the pandemic. I also didn’t realize how overworking was affecting my health until I had those few months to finally breathe again, and afterwards, I felt a bit more sane. Of course, I would’ve rather there never have been a deadly pandemic like that of COVID-19, but I suppose the accompanying stress relief, and the ability to be creative with my downtime was a silver lining. Now that I’ve had those moments to myself, I feel much more ready to tackle new projects.
Melodic: Since the pandemic the music making process has changed. Would you say you prefer making music from home or rather in a studio with others?
Kevin: Call me old-fashioned, but I still prefer making music in the studio. Being creative can prove fickle as it is, and I believe in the importance of interpersonal communication when writing songs. It’s just so subjective, I mean… part of writing good songs is being able to converse about particular thoughts or ideas. That’s where the best ones come from, that place of truth and vulnerability, and I love when ideas are amplified or challenged in the room by other writers. It’s almost as if the deeper you go into the rabbit hole of conversation, the more likely it will lead to authenticity in the song’s composition. Unfortunately, you just can’t get there when sitting behind a computer screen at home on Zoom.
Melodic: You’re set to release your new single “Wildfire” , what was the process behind writing that one and the inspiration behind it?
Kevin: I think the main idea of the song spawned from the metaphor of a light (or wildfire) being inside of us all. That even in the darkest, bleakest moments of life, there is still an inner fire that burns, giving hope, driving decision-making, and offering peace in whatever the outcome may be. Look, life can be freaking tough sometimes, but it’s that wildfire in your heart, and that trust in the bigger picture that makes getting through the bad a bit easier.
Melodic: You have a musical theater upbringing, how much has that influenced the music you write today?
Kevin: Hit musical theater songs have a ton of energy, at least sonically. I have also found that they stretch the boundaries of what typical melodies and harmonies look like. Accordingly, I think there’s a lot of ear candy in its composition that sticks with the listener long after a musical theatre song has finished. I guess it’s just good music theory at the end of the day, but I definitely feel as though my songs have the same kind of energy and appeal as some of those ones, especially with the various instrumental melodies and vocal harmonies I end up layering over my tracks.
Melodic: How would you describe your music in three words?
Kevin: Positive, commercial, honest.
Melodic: How was it working on “A Week Away” and being a part of the soundtrack to it?
Kevin: Working on “A Week Away” was very creatively fulfilling for me, which I did not expect going into it. Everything about the project was awesome – the process, the people, the experience…it really turned into a passion project for me, and those are rare, as any other actor will tell you. I also enjoyed the opportunity to embrace an edgier character, and am looking forward to the next dark, edgy role. I started doing drama plays on stage, so I definitely have a sweet spot for the grittier projects. As far as the soundtrack, it was pretty seamless. We had the insanely talented Adam Watts from the High School Musical films in the studio tackling it from the production side, and that made it feel comfortable and familiar. He was so receptive to our ideas, and overall is just a wizard at making music. I really enjoyed it.
Melodic: Which song or project of yours are you most proud of?
Kevin: As my artist project is just now taking off the ground, I think I’m going to have to go with one of my earlier stage works, “Henry V” at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, under the direction of Chris Luscombe of London’s West End. I realize people may not have expected that, but it really is the most difficult piece I’ve ever had to prepare. In that show, my character was British, but he also spoke French, so I had to conjure up in a character what a British boy’s accent would be if he was of French descent. I also had to learn some French with an interpreter, and work with a dialogue coach to master the accent. Not to mention the fact that I had two long monologues, the play was two and a half hours in length, and we only had 3 weeks to prepare until previews. I’d say that’s a lot for a then 16 year-old kid doing his high school book report backstage…but it trained me well.
Melodic: Is there a moment or memory in your life that you always want to hold onto? Or a moment that has taught you a lot?
Kevin: I’m always a proponent that the best is yet to come, so I try not to look back. That said, there is a certain nostalgia I have developed as time goes on about the early 2000s. There’s something about it, maybe it’s that 90s/2000s pop culture, or just that I was still a naive kid, or that technology was much more limited compared to what it is today…whatever it is, I’ve written a few songs about that time in my life when everything felt “new” and “exciting.” I suppose I’ve finally settled into adulthood, but I can’t deny that I miss the freedoms of those childhood years that allow a person to stop and smell the flowers every once in a while, if you know what I mean. I guess what I’m trying to say is that…my life is much busier now. I have bigger responsibilities, bigger pressures, and I miss the beauty of a simpler life. But I wouldn’t trade where I’m at now for the world. I’m lucky to be where I am, and if anything, the memories I’m looking forward to lie yet in the future.
Melodic: What music have you been listening to lately? Favorite artists?
Kevin: I’m always listening to all kinds of music. However, lately I’ve been enthralled with some of the Christian hip-hop stuff. Kanye West’s “Jesus Is King” has been on repeat. “Coloring Book” by Chance The Rapper is another. I also like to deep dive into pop albums that get me in my feels, like “Purpose” by Justin Bieber, or “Multiply” by Ed Sheeran. If I’m looking to hear something fun, I’ll play “V” by Maroon 5, “Views” by Drake, or “A Head Full of Dreams” by Coldplay. I definitely have music ADD, so it’s never the same thing twice I guess.
Melodic: Lastly, what is a message you hope fans who listen to your music take away from it? (Thank you again for your time!)
Kevin: That whatever it is they’re going through, they are loved. By me, by their families, their friends, and most importantly God. I want them to find joy in my music, to sing and dance to it. I want them to be able to connect with it as being about something much bigger than all of us – and yet, something of which we’re all very much a part. Thanks again for having me.
Check out the music video to “Wildfire”
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