Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirk Reed.
Hi Kirk, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My brother, Chris, and I were born in Providence, Rhode Island, and we lived in a Funeral home for the first 5 years of my life while our parents were in school.
We then moved to Connecticut where our Father was hired as a Pastor at a local Church.
So, most of my formative years were spent there. We were preacher’s kids and were also altar boys, involved in the Youth group, and the junior choir. So, the Church was a big part of our upbringing.
My first musical gig was at this church when I was 12 years old where I accompanied the music during the chapel service for the younger kids.
I also began singing in the junior choir.
My childhood was beautiful and I have many fond memories. But, as a teenager I began to experience major depression.
I dropped out of high school in grade 11, and sank deeper into despair.
From age 16 to 20, I continued to struggle, and received counsel from many psychologists and psychiatrists.
This was a very difficult time for me as well as my family.
It was during this time that I discovered my love for the guitar.
I watched the Led Zeppelin documentary which consists mostly of Live footage.
I was blown away and extremely inspired by Jimmy Page’s style and performance.
This is when I started playing guitar incessantly, and I haven’t stopped since. I took piano lessons from age 7 till 14, so I had a solid foundation and basically transitioned my musical knowledge from the piano to the guitar.
I’m primarily self taught on guitar.
I learned to play pretty quickly and joined a band within a few months of first picking up the guitar, which gave me an outlet and something I loved to focus on. As I entered my 20s, most of the depression lifted, and I became a functioning human again, with music—especially the guitar—as a big part of my life.
During this time, I was fortunate enough to be in several bands, perform countless gigs, and record a few albums as well.
As my twenties were coming to a close I began experiencing a mysterious severe chronic pain. I tried everything possible to help eradicate the pain through physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and massage, among other modalities, but nothing seemed to work.
The pain intensified until I couldn’t walk without crutches, making me dependent on my parents for the subsequent 11 years. And for seven of those 11 years, I was basically homebound. I am 5 ft 11 inches and was 94 lbs, as I could barely eat. I could only sit for approximately 10 minutes before the pain became unbearable.
Eventually, With medication, homeopathy, and other forms of alternative medicine, I began to improve. I slowly managed to walk again so I returned to music and formed my band, ‘The Reed Effect.’
There have been alterations to the lineup over the years but collectively, we’ve enjoyed performing countless times, and are gearing up to record our 5th studio album.
My brother Chris, joined my band for a few years, so he brought the other ‘Reed’ to The Effect. We recorded 2 albums together, and by 2020, he and I were the only members of the band. At that time, We were in the recording and mixing process of our last album, ‘1973’.
On October 9th, we both listened to the tracks from that album to decide if we were ready to sign off and send them to mastering. We agreed we were good to go. Sadly, the next evening, October 10th Chris took his life.
He had been struggling with addiction and mental health issues for a few years. It was heartbreaking to witness his suffering, and our family and friends supported and Loved him through it all.
Even though I knew he was going through many challenges, I didn’t expect this. It seems he waited long enough to ensure the album’s completion. This record makes Chris’s final professional recording and is extremely special.
I released every song as a single and video and worked tirelessly to get the music Chris and I created out to the masses. I primarily did that out of my deep Love for my little brother.
also, Chris had his own band as well called, ‘Fat Mob’ and the remaining members from that band and I are keeping Chris’s songs alive.
We’ve performed many times and are currently preparing to record Chris’s songs in the studio.
I developed a new line up for The Reed Effect. We are currently preparing to record our 5th album, and half the songs are based on melodic riffs and musical ideas from Chris. So, we still get to write and create music together.
I feel the band, Chris, and I now have a story that needs to be shared. A big part of my motivation and inspiration for The Reed Effect is telling this story. To bring not only great music to an audience, but to offer encouragement and hope to anyone who could use some.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For me, the depression I experienced as a teenager and the severe, debilitating pain throughout my 30s were my biggest challenges. So, it has not been a smooth road.
But now, other than the everyday stresses of life, I feel I live a full and abundant life now, free from both physical and mental pain.
And I get to do what I love to do.
The struggles I’ve experienced in the past has helped mold me into the person I am now. I wouldn’t have the appreciation, wisdom, and joy if I didn’t experience those challenges.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a full time musician now. In my younger years I made a living from manual labor. From construction to carpentry, landscaping, and factory work and everything in between. It was grueling work.
And now, I’ve gotten to the point all my work is based on music which I love. i am an instructor, mentor, song writer, and performer.
I appreciate and am grateful for what I’m doing now.
The challenges I’ve experienced in the past helped mold me and I feel, overall, I’m the better for it.
And I can experience life on a deeper and more expanded level.
Pricing:
- $10 for each downloadable album on The Reed Effect website
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thereedeffect.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereedeffect
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reedeffect/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Thereedeffect1
