James Reid on guilty pleasures, foreign collabs and fashion
MANILA, Philippines — James Reid continues to collaborate with foreign acts, the latest of whom are South Korean idol B.I and Grammy-winning producer DJ Flict for his new song Jacuzzi.
In an exclusive interview with The STAR, the singer-actor and Careless music label founder shared the spontaneous nature of these music collaborations, stressing the challenge and growth they bring to his artistry.
On how his latest collab worked out, he said, “I was in the US a lot of times last year and I was able to work with DJ Flict. He’s a Grammy-nominated producer and he’s actually Filipino, but he’s based in L.A. and we made the song then. It was just a super fun track. I didn’t really have plans for it. And then this year, luckily, I was able to meet B.I when I was in Korea.
“I was actually backstage at a concert and B.I was also there. I met him in person and he told me he was performing in the Philippines for a concert and asked if I wanted to open for the concert. So I did. And then he was shocked at the reaction from all of the fans.
“When I performed then, he’s like, wow, we should work on something together. So I was like, perfect, here’s a track called Jacuzzi and he liked it so he sent me one of his tracks, too, called 4 Letters, and we did a swap.”
James performed on 4 Letters while B.I performed on Jacuzzi. “It was very easy. It was super easy working with him. He’s super talented. Like (he’s a) singer, rapper, and he sounded really great on the song.”
James sees working with international artists as a way to elevate his craft, citing diverse standards that push him to excel.
“It kind of challenges me to do better, especially working with international artists. They have different standards. I’ve worked with Benjamin Kheng in Singapore and working Han Bin (real name of B.I), they all have different standards. It really pushes me to do better, to take it to the next level.”
The singer continued, “But also, it’s really fun working with different artists and seeing what kind of sound you create, crossing over fans, being able to perform in different places. So yeah, it’s fun.”
Reflecting on his collaborative process, James mentioned meeting artists organically rather than actively choosing them.
He said, “It’s not really that I choose them, but I just kind of meet them. Even with Benjamin Kheng, I went to Singapore for the first time. I met with the music industry there and Ben came through. He was there at the event and then we talked to each other and I told him that many people are telling me that I should work with Benjamin Kheng. And then I saw him there in front of me.
“And then we said, ‘Let’s do it, let’s do a song together.’ And that’s how we did Rock Bottom Blues, which was part of his album. So all these collaborations happen because I just randomly meet them.”
The collaborative track Jacuzzi features a music video shot at Okada Manila, showcasing a vibrant party scene and the high-end lifestyle. Adding to the visual narrative are special guest appearances by Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee, Maris Racal and AC Bonifacio.
Discussing the making of the video, he said, “The music video as a whole is just really like a big party. It was a lot of fun to make. It was great having, you know, Michelle Dee do come through and really highlight that it’s very, you know, fashion forward and then AC Bonifacio, you know, is a really great actress and dancer, bringing that dancing element to the music video that it needed.
“And then, Maris looked great on the golf course scenes. She really embodied that very luxurious high-end vibe, which was what we were looking for. It was funny, actually, because she never played golf before. She doesn’t know how to swing a golf club. And I said, you’re an actress, so just act (laughs), and then she did and she did pretty well. It was funny.”
The music video is a celebration of life’s pleasures. When asked about his guilty pleasures, James shared his love for motorcycles, long rides, and outdoor activities like hiking.
“I do have a pleasure. I wouldn’t say it’s guilty though. I love motorcycles and I like going on long rides. But I rarely get to just because it’s so busy. And also, it’s been the rainy season, so I haven’t been able to do it either. What I also haven’t been able to do in a while is hiking, like climbing mountains. I just love being outdoors.”
He also recently rediscovered golf. “Actually, I used to play when I was a kid, maybe 10 years old. I really used to play it, but I stopped for forever. But I had some friends that were playing golf and they invited me out and I started picking (the sport) up again.”
James was partly inspired by the fashion associated with the sport. He incorporated this to the aesthetic of the Jacuzzi music video.
“I really got into the fashion, the fashion of golf, you know that kind of leisure sports, high-end kind of look, which is what I really wanted to create in the music video. We wanted to be fashion-forward and I’d noticed a trend in leisure sports entering high fashion,” he noted.
“You know, a lot of the new models are famous tennis players or basketball players. So, I noticed that trend and I wanted to make the most of it. So, I was having fun playing golf and I included golf in the aesthetic for the music video.”
According to James, fashion is an area he’s “moving into naturally,” influenced by his experiences in the industry. He sees fashion as an integral part of his identity.
“I do enjoy fashion and it’s part of what I do and it’s part of who I am. And I’m also surrounded by people that are in fashion. John Lozano actually is my stylist and fashion director. I work very closely with something I like to incorporate in a lot of the content and the music videos and just in my lifestyle. So, it’s been headed in that direction, yeah. And I’ve definitely enjoyed exploring this side, you know, being able to go to Paris and that kind of thing. So, it’s been very fun,” he said.
James loves exploring various styles, drawing parallels between his fashion choices and musical experimentation. He tries to integrate his evolving interests in music and fashion into his lifestyle.
“I’m very versatile and I like to explore a lot. I’m like that as well with fashion. I’m not really afraid to try anything,” James shared.
“You know, as long as you’re confident, you really can make anything work. It’s very similar to how I tackle music. I experimented with a lot of genres, but then my style still comes through and it’s in my singing, it’s in my lyrics. It’s very rooted in R&B. I do experiment a lot, but there’s still something that is still very me in all of it.”
Check out James’ Jacuzzi music video at https://tinyurl.com/36xdsa9w.
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