There are good souls out there, and Victoria Reed is one of them. Growing up in a musical family in Detroit then studying philosophy in Chicago and finally moving to Brooklyn to pursue music, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter has dug deep into her spirits to compose her debut LP, Chariot, which releases on February 26. We caught up with Victoria before she performed at The Standard, East Village last month to talk about her music, spirituality and how she keeps it so zen.

Hometown: Detroit, MI

Homebase: Brooklyn, NY

You didn't always live in Brooklyn. You were also in Detroit and Chicago. How did these cities influence your approach to music?

My dad's a musician, so growing up in Detroit with him, I was always going to shows—his or his other musician friends'. It's almost difficult to pin down a particular way of how it influenced me because it's my entire musical introduction into the world. It just came from Detroit. I first started playing guitar in Chicago. So it was the first time I really felt like I could go out and do it on my own. So I started doing open mics three weeks after I learned how to play guitar there. It was a really non-threatening scene with friendly people. I used to play these open mics when I could barely even play guitar, and people didn't throw rotten tomatoes at me. It was a really friendly place to get my bearings as a performer and as a professional musician.

Since you grew up seeing your dad work in the music industry, what advice did he give you that you still hold onto today?

He always said have fun. If you're not having fun while you're playing or whatever, then you're missing the point. And that's really helpful to me whenever I play shows. I would think that if I'm not having fun, then I have a problem. So have fun.

You mentioned playing open mics when you only knew a few chords on the guitar. Some people would think that's crazy to do, but why did you do it?

I was just so eager to do it. I had been singing and writing songs since I was very little. There were different stints where I would work with a producer, who was a friend of my parents' or some other guitar player who was going to help me put music to my songs. The songs had melodies, but I didn't have arrangements. I mean, I had piano lessons when I was really young, but my parents didn't push me. I wish they would have though. Who knows what would have happened. But they didn't push me to learn an instrument. I guess when i first learned how to play guitar, I realized I could do this.

I was always kind of intimidated to bring my songs to friends who were musicians because I felt like they were good but you know... Your parents will tell you they're good, and your friends will, too. But I just didn't think anyone would have an interest in playing my songs. So when I could do it on my own, I started making these garage band demos and getting an idea of a sound. I mean I only knew a few chords [back then] and a few different ways of strumming. But I was so eager to really do it.

Chariot is coming out. So how does it feel to have an album finally releasing?

It's really exciting. Talk about feeling like you're actually doing it. It's crazy because I've been touring a lot and playing nonstop and releasing things here and there. But up to now, no one's been able to purchase my music or download it, too. So it's kind of a funny in-between zone of "I have this record and have been playing all these shows" and "I have all these songs. I swear, but you can't really listen to them." So it's going to be a relief, and I'm really excited.

The album was also an outlet for you to really explore your life spiritually. Can you talk a little bit about the songwriting process?

If I go into a room to write, it's so completely dissatisfying to me. I get a nauseous feeling about it. Songwriting has always been that I'm feeling this particular emotion or sentiment so intensely. I feel like my head is going to pop off. I don't know what to do. Oh wait, I can write songs, and they make me feel better. They help me to process things. I write songs when I just can't help to write them.

Spiritually, there was a moment four years ago when I hit a crossroads, some kind of major thing. I would call it a spiritual crisis. I was studying philosophy [at the time] and going really intensely into that, but also simultaneously going into different spiritual pursuits. And it all kind of came to a head at one point. I couldn't help but to sing about it. It was the only thing that would make me feel better when I'm feeling lost.

Let's talk about "Nothing to Lose." What's the song about? And what's the premise behind the glittery video?

I have glitter around always. I like glitter. [Laughs.] The opening line or one of opening lines is "Help Father, help me please as I lay me down to sleep. I fear you'll take my soul before I wake." And as a little kid, when my parents would say, "The Lord's Prayer," with me at night, there's a line in [the song] that says "Now I lay me down to sleep. Blah, blah blah. And if I die before I wake..." I'd be like hold up, wait a minute. Is this supposed to soothe me? I made them change the lines of that prayer, and I think it's kind of a testament of how I've always been just a little bit easily freaked out. But on the other hand, I'm equally reckless, at times, and fearless and charging ahead. It's a weird kind of thing. So that song is finding the balance between the two. Being very afraid, but also realizing how ridiculous that feeling is in the first place.

Sitting here with you, there's this instant calm that you exude yet you live in one of the craziest cities in the world. So how do you unwind?

I do so many things. I have a toolbox of things that I'm constantly doing. I do zen meditation. I really like it. I've been doing it for six years. I'm not super devoted, but that always helps me. You can Google it online. It's very basic and not about going far out and blissing out. It's super simple and focusing on your breath. Just moving my body. If I'm feeling super buzzy or foggy, just some light stretching. That sounds so lame, but I also do a lot of visualization methods like think of your happy place -- only more specific. When I'm feeling really, really good, when I'm feeling comfortable and relaxed and peaceful or happy, just good vibes, I take a snapshot of it. Take a really, really specific snapshot of it like how I'm feeling or whatever. So when I'm panicking over something or feeling anxious, I just go back to that.

So what's your plan for 2016?

Hopefully we can line up a great tour. I'm really looking forward to touring this record. As I said, I toured extensively with Citizen Cope opening for him, which has been amazing. But I haven't had my music out. So it's partially not real in a way. So to get the music out there, it's going to feel really good. I wrote these songs over the course of four years, and they're ready to get out into the world. I hope that people will receive it well and take something from it. And that the music will help people in some way.