New Music in the Philippines: James Reid on New Album 'lovescene'

James Reid's third album, 'lovescene' has been making waves—most especially for his new music video with model Kelsey Merritt

You may know James Reid for his acting career in the Philippines. In his 20s, the young star has graced screens both big and small, and starred in films such as This Time and Talk Back and You're Dead. Now approaching a new decade in his life, Reid seems to have pivoted into a completely different—though perhaps unsurprising—field: music. "It’s weird to say but I didn’t find the passion for music until after I was in the limelight," the singer reveals. "I learned to perform on stages in front of thousands of people. I was confused with the fame I had overnight from winning [Pinoy Big Brother] but through all the craziness, music really spoke to me and came naturally to me."

Reid, who is also the founder and president of the independent record label Careless Music is known for tunes that are nostalgic, romantic, and funky. Mixing R&B and pop to create catchy tunes, the former reality star has found a niche of local and international listeners who are thirsty for more. While everyone likely has their own reasons for patronising Reid, his relatability—and how he candidly portrays his emotions in lovescene—has won him plenty of fans. "When I make music, I just want people to feel good," he says. "But with this album, I went deeper into my personal experiences with love and relationships. I never wanted to get too personal because my whole adult life has been exposed to the media. But the process of making this album has been very liberating."

It's no secret that fans are more than curious to know about Reid's personal life and his new album gives us a unique glimpse into his feelings during some very intimate moments. He had previously admitted that the song "always been you" is about his former girlfriend, Nadine Lustre. His new music video for u&i also got some fans talking. Featuring model Kelsey Merritt, the video showed the singer and the model getting very close. "I really appreciate Kelsey because it was her first music video and also her first on-screen kissing scene," Reid explains. I’m thankful she was open to the concept and brought amazing energy to the set. She was a dream to work with."

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James Reid Speaks on His International Music Career and New Album 'lovescene'