Kevin Quinn talks self-acceptance, finding his voice in new album ‘Real Me’

On Jan. 17, The Panther sat down with actor and singer Kevin Quinn to chat about exploring mental health through music and how his creative endeavors reflect his personal growth. Photos by Paul C. Rivera

Ever since his role as camp counselor Xander McCormick on the Disney Channel television series “Bunk’d,” Kevin Quinn’s fans have stuck with him. Through social media, they’ve served as a base of support and distant friends to the actor in his lonelier moments, taking an interest in his projects and milestones in life. 

What Quinn’s fanbase may not have known about, was the actor’s mental health struggles — struggles that required the creative to seek treatment in a rehab facility. Having overcome these barriers, the actor has used music to spark conversations about mental health which he features in his new album “Real Me,” released on Jan. 19. 

“I feel so passionate about the ability for two people to share and be able to talk about (mental health) because it erases the stigma that’s effectively associated with it, and we should be able to talk about these things with the hope of supporting each other and getting better,” Quinn told The Panther. “That’s what I’ve always envisioned for the mental health community and part of the reason why I’m speaking out.” 

On Jan. 17, The Panther sat down with Quinn to discuss his musical inspirations, advice for young artists and the ability to be vulnerable on his new seven-track record, “Real Me.” The album is available to listen to on all music streaming platforms. 

While Quinn didn’t find opening up about his experiences on the project to be difficult, he was fearful that revealing such a personal journey might spark hesitation amongst promoters and casting directors.  

“It was kind of like, ‘What are the perceptions going to be if I straight-up come out with this — that I’ve been struggling with mental health issues,’” Quinn said. “‘Is the promoter that’s putting up the next big tour going to be hesitant to hire me? That casting director who’s casting the next big film, are they gonna be apprehensive about casting me?’ These were thoughts that actually ran through my head.” 

At its core, the project conveys themes of growth and self-acceptance. At 26, Quinn has undergone a change in mindset which serves as a baseline for the project.  

“It sounds cliché, but no one likes a poser, you know? I had to go through that at 24 when I was going through the mental health stuff to sort of reset my mind to say, ‘I don’t have to try to be anyone for anybody. I just have to be myself and the truest version of who I want to be, and no one can tell me who I am except for me,’” Quinn said. 

Quinn talked to The Panther about being raised on his father’s music and finding inspiration in contemporary artists such as John Mayer, John Legend and Ed Sheeran. When considering artists’ commercial viability and the ability to change sounds, he cites Maroon 5 and Coldplay as role models. Quinn enjoys examining an artist’s roots and how their music has morphed and altered over time.

Even at this early stage of his career, Quinn has noticed a shift in his own sound when reflecting on the jump from his first EP, “It’s About Time,” to “Real Me.”

“‘Real Me’ sort of opened up my sound and what I realized I could do in my music — the music and sound that I’m capable of. It’s totally different from the EP (“It’s About Time”) that I did before this LP,” Quinn said. “I feel confident that ‘Real Me’ is the start of a more consistent sound that’s reflective of who I am now and not the stuff I did earlier. I think (my sound) is only going to get better and grow and be more in line with this current project as time goes on.” 

Evolution in creative spaces isn’t singular to Quinn’s musical career. Acting still holds an important place in his creative repertoire and he hopes to showcase a similar change in his roles on screen. 

“I never want to remain stagnant or static in my work,” Quinn said. “The kind of auditions that I was putting on tape, or the kind of films that I was shooting are not the same stuff that I have done lately or would be doing now. It’s just a much more mature, grounded, authentic form of art and creativity that’s more reflective of where I am in the moment.” 

Offering advice to young creatives trying to make a name for themselves, Quinn assured aspiring artists to focus solely on their own creativity and not on trying to impress potential audiences. 

“Don’t think too much about it,’’ Quinn said. “My best advice to anyone trying to start an entertainment career is don’t try so hard, don’t think about it and just let your work speak for itself.”