A Season 2 ‘Kold x Windy’ Conversation with Series Leads Sh’Kia Augustin & Nijah Brenea

Key Art for Season 2 of ‘Kold x Windy’ Courtesy of ALLBLK.

Season 2 of Kold x Windy on ALBLK wrapped up the other day on the network, but we have so much more coverage to bring you. Starting with a grand discussion about all things season two, courtesy of our interview with the actors who play Malika ‘Kold’ Wise, and Renee ‘Windy’ Johnston, Sh’Kia Augustin and Nijah Brenea.
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John Betancourt: I'd like to start by getting to know what it means to each of you to be back for a second season.
 
Sh’Kia Augustin: It's an amazing experience. Um, just, basically, we just got off a strike a year ago, and a lot of shows didn't make it to another season. A lot of shows were canceled. So that's always a fear as an actor, that your show's gonna get canceled, or that you're just, you're just not going to be working. Like your parents tell you not to get into this career, because it's just not stable. So, you don't really get into this career for stability. So, the fact that we got a season two, I think, is it's just a blessing. It's a testament that somebody does believe in the show, the network believes in the show, they believe in us. So, I'm just, I'm filled with nothing but gratitude that we get to continue to work and get to, you know, continue these stories with these characters, because I feel like we do have something special and just the bond that we've been able to create as actors, as castmates. I think it's just been an amazing experience to be able to continue on this journey.
 
Nijah Brenea: Yes, yes, especially at a time where a lot of shows are getting canceled, like, big shows are getting canceled. So, it just makes you feel like, “Oh no, like, are we next? Are we going?” So, the fact that, like she said, clearly, like the network, people watching it, you know, people saying, “where's season two?” Or “I'm so happy it's back.” Like, that feels really good. And we are -- we have chose a career that, like it is full of ups and downs you just never know. So, it feels really, really good, same, filled with gratitude. I'm very happy.
 
John Betancourt: That's wonderful, and you deserve to be back. Now the first time we talked, we spoke a little bit about how complex and how tough your characters can be to play, sometimes just because of the tough decisions they make in the world they live in. And I'm very curious, since there was a slight break in getting back to the show, was it hard to return to the minds of Kold and Windy?
 
Nijah Brenea: I would say it wasn't. I don't think it was a switch that I had to, like, try to cut back on and get back in because it had been such a long time, and then an even longer time, because it we had a strike in between. So, like, I wasn't stretching that muscle as much, because it's like, everything's kind of shut down. And, I mean, just to be honest, sometimes even trying to stretch the muscle just felt like, “Oh, what's going on? What's next?” Like, it's a whole strike going on. So, but once I got into it, it was, I would say, kind of like riding a bike. Like, it's like, okay, getting more familiar, listening to the music, reading the lines. It's like, something that I had done before. So, it was definitely like, nice to get back into and even though it did come quick, I still just basically moved away all plans. It just became all about preparing for Kold x Windy to make sure I have enough time.
 
Sh’Kia Augustin: I agree. I think, I think the analogy like riding a bike is perfect. Once I found out the show was renewed, I was a little nervous, because I was like, “Oh my God, who is Kold? Who is this character I have to play?” But then I binged season one, and after watching it again, it felt like, “Okay. I think I know who this is. I think I remember.” And then I feel like, once I got the scripts, it was the bicycle. It was like, “Okay, okay. I remember this dialogue,” especially since we had the same writers. I'm sure maybe if we had different writers, that might have felt tricky, because sometimes season to season, writers will change, and you're kind of trying to figure out this, this new style of writing. But since we had the same exact writers from season one, Kenny Young wrote the first episode again, we were we were back into it. Just… it just clicked instantly. Um, even though the characters probably were emotionally in different places, I think having the same character as having Gege, having Windy, it all made everything feel more familiar.
 
John Betancourt: Now something brought up here is the fans, and their dedication to the show, and I’m curious why you think this series resonates so well with audiences?
 
Sh’Kia Augustin: I think, it resonates firstly, because Kold and Windy are best friends, and everybody has at least one best friend, one person that they confide in, or at least used to have someone that they confided in. And I think Kold and Windy’s relationship is familiar to people. I think they have a sisterly bond, but I… think it's not perfect, and I think that's why people ultimately love to watch TV, because I think TV kind of depicts all aspects of the relationship. It shows the good, the bad, the ugly. So, I think people resonate with their relationship, but I think they also resonate with the familiar, familial aspect of having Gege around, having this motherly character that even though Kold and Windy are sometimes reckless and crazy, they have a motherly figure that is around, kind of always talking sense into them, always trying to get them back on track. And even though they can be reckless in terms of the street life that they have, they have Gege, which kind of shows a softer side to both of them, even like, you don't see Windy cry, but when she's with Gege, that's when you see the tears come out. So, I think it, I think it humanizes the characters in a deep way.
 
Nijah Brenea: Yeah, I definitely think that the characters seem like, raw and vulnerable. Sometimes people are crying, they're laughing, they're arguing. I feel like, if they haven't experienced it themselves, they know of someone that has and everything, just like life isn't glitz and glam. So, you know, like on the show, technically, in the TV world, the cameras are always rolling, so you're seeing the good, the bad, the ugly, like we have the -- it's really good. I think it's really important, especially in times of social media now, where they show scenes of somebody doing something on social media, and then as soon as they click in, it's like the snap back into reality. Because we all have been there, like we all have been there. And I think that part is super relatable in times where like, social media has like, taken over the world.
 
John Betancourt: So as actors, obviously, you had to find the voice in season one for your characters. In season two, what did you do as actors to further enhance the wonder of these characters?
 
Sh’Kia Augustin: I would say for season two. Personally, I… I dealt with loss. I lost my grandmother during Covid. So, I think when Malika lost Marlon, even though I didn't lose my grandmother to gang violence. I feel like that loss is still very, very prevalent in me. And a lot of times when I was reading scenes, and especially the scenes where she's talking about Marlon or thinking about Marlon, it just resonated with me personally. Because I think regardless of how you lose someone, loss impacts us. It changes us. It… makes us look at life differently. And I think because of the loss I experienced, I was able to empathize with Malika, especially losing someone unexpectedly, losing someone that you thought was going to be there long term, or at least longer than they were. So, I think a lot of people in the audience can relate to losing somebody, and that was something I was able to personally tap into.
 
Um, the only difference was the rage I needed to show from Malika was a lot different, because I personally, like I said, if you lose someone to gang violence, I'm sure you're a lot, a lot more angrier at the process because someone took that person's life, as opposed to someone dying from natural causes. So just kind of trying to tap into, “Okay, I can't relate to this directly, but I know what it means to be angry. I know what it means to be upset and kind of thinking about how I would feel if another person literally took someone from me, how, how would I react?” Maybe I might not go out in the streets looking for them. But what does that… what does that experience look like if I do just go all crazy and decide, “No, I want to find this person?” So just tapping into that that emotional space was difficult, but I thought it was, it was easy because I could empathize with someone who might be in that situation.
 
Nijah Brenea: I think on the contrary, I was able to have a little bit more fun, because I feel like I really had to tap into Windy's, oblivion. Like Nijah in real life, would acknowledge the flames around her and the issues and things like that. And Windy isn't… she doesn't do it really much in season one, but I feel like in season two, she really is just laser and hyper focusing on the good, even though the good really isn't that great. So, because of that, I was able to like to have a little bit of fun, I felt almost like the Joker in some instances, like just laughing and having a great time when it's just like, you are crazy, but it's just like, having fun. So, I that's what I feel like I tapped into, like I'm reading, and it's like so many scenes of like this person saying this is wrong, or this is going on, and then my lines are just kind of like, “Okay, so what? Let's rap, let's get money.” And it's just like, “Okay, you're just going to act like nothing.” So, for me, it was a little bit more fun.
 
John Betancourt: Obviously, one of the best parts of watching this show, are the messages it carries, and I’m curious what you hope audiences take away from season two?
 
Sh’kia Augustin: I hope they can take from season two just learning how to grieve. And I think Malika isn't just grieving the loss of Marlon. She's grieving the loss of her son, even though he isn't he hasn't passed away. He's been taken from her. And I think she's also preemptively grieving her relationship with Windy, because their relationship is, is slowly severing. It's falling apart every scene; it's getting worse and worse and worse. So, I think, I hope people can take from this show just learning how to grieve in a healthy way. I don't, I don't recommend following Malika's path. I think she's grieving it in the worst way. Um, but learning. Learning how to grieve relationships, learning when to let go of relationships, learning when to move on. I think a lot of times, we as people, hold on a lot longer than we probably should. And I think Malika is in a place where she just hasn't, she hasn't let go of anything yet, and we're kind of seeing the chaos that is resulting from that. So, I hope people can at least take that from the show and kind of learning how to discern how these characters can be inspiring, but also learning when not to follow these characters as well.
 
Nijah Brenea: I agree. I hope that people take from this season to learn how to be there for your friends a little bit more when they are grieving and going through things, even though it is very positive to look at the glass as half full, you still need to acknowledge some of the emptiness in the glass as well. Like, you can’t be so optimistic that it's unrealistic. So, I hope it reminds people to stay grounded, to prevent from things that could happen if you do not handle issues. So definitely don't advise, like, taking the Windy approach, like we see after they get the record deal, Kold blatantly lays out reasons why she's not the happiest. And I'm like, I “Cheers” to the baby stomach. Like that is like, “What?” that wasn't the best way to go about that. You know, I'm saying, like, it's like, she skips over being there for her and is just like, “I'll just be happy.” And it's like, “Well, can you just sit with me for a minute?” I think it's important, like, when people lose people, to like, don't be so quick to be like, “Everything's okay. They're in a better place.” But really sit with the depth, that they have lost someone.
 
John Betancourt: Um, obviously, there's a lot you've taken from this role, a lot from this series. What has been the most satisfying part of being a part of Kold x Windy?
 
Nijah Brenea: The most satisfying? Oh, my. There's so many things. Well, I'll say, I can say, to sum it up, I guess growing with, like, the cast, the production, like growing with people in the studio, like, it's starting to feel like family. Like, it literally feels like a family getting together and working together. So, I really appreciate that.
 
Sh’Kia Augustin: I agree. I feel like the most satisfying is, honestly what happens before and after cut. It's like being in the makeup room and being close with the makeup artist and the hairstylist, and just feeling like you're in an environment where you just went to the salon and get your hair done, and you're not preparing for a show, you're just hanging out with family, the relationship I've built with Nijah has been amazing. To be able to be like, “Oh no, this is, this is my work friend,” but this has actually become a friend in real life. I think that makes this career a lot more enjoyable. Getting along with the writers and the producers and the directors, and feeling like the directors value your opinion, and you can actually share your thoughts on the story with them. I feel like this, this career could be miserable if you don't get along with the people you work with, if you just, if you're just on set, because you're on set for 14 hours, sometimes that's a long – that’s more than a regular nine to five.
 
You're on set for a very long time, and if you don't like the people you work with, if you don't enjoy the material, if you don't enjoy the space, you're in, it could it could become a very miserable, very miserable experience. So, to be able to actually be able to send Nijah a text, first thing in the morning, “You here yet? Hey, where you at?” Or just stopping by her trailer and just talking during lunch, or just texting during lunch about how good the food was today. Having those experiences, makes the day so much better, because the weight of the material is… it's heavy, and sometimes I just got out of a scene crying, and I could go to a dark place and start thinking about my grandmother and thinking about how sad life is, but the fact that when we cut me and Nijah can, you know, crack jokes or talk about something funny on set, makes the day go by so much smoother, because it makes a huge difference.
 
Nijah Brenea: It does.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Stream All Episodes of 'Kold x Windy' at allblk.tv 

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