Filipino-Australian artist James Reid ushers in a new era with “Hurt Me Too,” the lead single from his upcoming EP.
“Hurt Me Too,” after being in the drafts for three years, marks a shift from his usual sound, as Reid delves into mellower territory with introspective lyrics about heartbreak and shared longing.
The song serves as a taste of Reid’s upcoming project, which he already considers his favorite work to date (although it’s still in progress).
Excited to share this new chapter, Reid spoke with The Knockturnal about upcoming ventures. These include incorporating Tagalog lyrics – a meaningful step for him and his fans – and a return to acting and producing with a new movie slated to begin filming later this year or early next year.
Kicking off our conversation with James Reid, we congratulated him on the single and delved into the emotional inspiration behind this track which marks a significant departure from Reid’s usual lyricism and sound.
Check out the interview below!
The Knockturnal: Your new single “Hurt Me Too” drops on May 24th, big congratulations! What personal experiences or emotions fueled this track? Can you walk us through the production process and share why you chose to release this song now?
James Reid: Actually, this song goes way back. I think I wrote it like three years ago and it’s gone through so many different versions. The way the song originally started was more like synth pop – I think that’s the kind of vibe I was on at that time. It never felt like the right time to release that song. As time went on emotionally it just wasn’t there anymore. It’s pretty heavy, I don’t write that many heavy or personal or sad songs. As time went on I never got around to it! But with this up and coming project, this new EP, I’m really leaning more towards diving into things that I’ve never really wanted to talk about.
I never felt like I could or things that feel very personal to me or like my own perspective, you know, really let my fans kind of take a peek into what it’s like being me — and it was such a good song. I felt like I was telling myself short, if I didn’t release it and I know that a lot of people can relate, will be able to relate to this track. And for me, this song is kind of gonna set the tone for my upcoming EP.
Reid highlights the deeply personal nature of the track, hoping its vulnerability allows fans and new listeners to connect with him and gain a glimpse into his experiences.
The Knockturnal: Maybe you could talk about the specific message you hope listeners will take away from the single and maybe how you relate to the whole experience?
James Reid: I think what I want people to take away when they hear the song, is sometimes you give your best, you give it your all and you even really push it, you know, to try and make things work and sometimes it’s just not enough. It was such a, like a, a heavy emotion for me at the time. I kind of never really worked myself up to releasing it. It’s just kind of saying like sometimes you give your best and it’s not enough, but I guess I was coming from a place of empathy.
Even before the official release, Reid generated excitement for “Hurt Me Too” by sharing a sneak peek with fans at a small event. “It was a small fan meet and greet for something else entirely,” Reid explained, “and then I was like, ‘You know what, I have something to play for you guys!’ So I put on the song and they said, ‘Is this unreleased?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, you’re the first people to hear it!’ They were almost in tears!”
Adding to the pre-release buzz, Reid also teased the track during his performance at the Kaogma Festival in Camarines Sur, Philippines, a festival highlighting Filipino artists.
The Knockturnal: Speaking of fans, being able to perform for them, I know that you’re hitting the stage at the Kaogma Festival just in a few days. How does it feel to be performing alongside so many talented Filipino artists and contributing to such a vibrant festival experience? — in the motherland
James Reid: It’s a huge festival that’s happening in Camarines Sur. The governor there is actually a close friend of mine – I think it’s promoting one of the biggest festivals in the world. So it’s one of the biggest free music festivals in the Philippines at least – I asked him why? And he was like, why not? Like we deserve to have cool things like that too. And I was like, you know what? Amen! Okay! I can go with that! So I’m really excited to go. And I will be performing ‘Hurt Me Too’ for the first time. And it’s going to be the night before the song comes out.
Reid isn’t just a musician; he’s the captain of his own creative ship. Beyond his own music, he co-founded the record label Careless alongside Bret Jackson. This label fosters a diverse roster of Asian artists, including Reid himself, Massiah, Jolianne, Liza Soberano and more.
Careless champions artistic freedom, allowing its artists to express themselves in their own unique styles and across various genres. In a recent interview, Reid discussed his journey towards creative independence and his aspirations for Careless’ future.
The Knockturnal: I’m just gonna transition a bit into Careless Music because it’s definitely something you’re very passionate about. It must have been a journey to reach this point of creative control. How empowering is it to be the captain of your own ship and what keeps you motivated to just keep going and keep doing this thing?
James Reid: I think it’s honestly the people I work with, it’s
being able to work with people and create that kind of work environment, doing something that you love And doing it on your own terms. I worked with a lot of big companies, big management before when I was starting out in the Philippine entertainment industry. I like acting and everything and I mean, they know what they’re doing for sure they know what they’re doing. But they always told me there’s a formula, there’s a way to do stuff that has to be like this. I’m very curious, I have a very curious soul. I was just like, I just can’t agree with that. I feel like, you know, someone has to try and do things outside of the box – someone has to push it a little bit because otherwise how do you know if it work? So I think the greatest reward for kind of taking creative control over my music and really pushing Careless is being able to take risks that I think other people might be afraid to do, but they do come with a cost. It’s a double edged sword but it’s fun. I’m having a lot of fun.
The Knockturnal: Careless Music’s last release was “Jacuzzi” featuring B.I. and DJ Flict. What direction do you envision for the label, and are there any dream collaborations you’d love to see happen, whether with Filipino artists or international acts?
James Reid: This EP that I’m working on is actually mixed with a lot of the Tagalog songs that I’ve been writing, which that’s probably going to be news. I don’t think I’ve said that yet to my fans yet. So they should be excited to hear that! And it’s really targeted at the Philippines, Southeast Asia – I hope to bring this to Southeast Asia and collaborate with a lot of local and Asian artists. I’ve collaborated with a few already and it’s always a lot of fun.
Musician James Reid isn’t just known and loved for his catchy tunes; he’s also a talented actor with roots on the big screen. Beyond music, his career began in acting. We got a peek into his well-rounded tastes during our interview, where we included some fun questions about his favorite recent shows and movies.
Even more exciting news came when he revealed his return to film after a 4-5 year hiatus! This upcoming project perfectly brings together his passions for music and acting, as it revolves around a musician.
The Knockturnal: Before we close off I want to get into some fun questions revolving around you – You’ve been in the entertainment industry, transitioning from acting to focus more on music. Any recent shows or movies that caught your eye and deserve a shoutout? If not, any music you’ve been listening to?
James Reid: When I am in an album making process I try to not take in too much influence from stuff because I keep on changing my mind – so I try not to. Now that you mention film, I do plan on going back to film! There is a movie that I am trying to help produce and I will be starring in, either this year or beginning of this year. It’s really early stages. The movie would revolve around music – not like a musical – but about musicians.
Before closing off the interview we asked Reid for advice on navigating the music industry and his own label, Careless. While his initial response offered a lighthearted glimpse into a potential Reid-and-cooking-show crossover, his core message resonated with determination as emphasizes the importance of perseverance.
The Knockturnal: You have come so far with all these years of being an artist and with your ever-growing fanbase, what advice would you give your younger self when you were first starting out in specifically music and building your label?
James Reid: Don’t do it. Just go and be a chef instead! That’s what I was going to do when I was a kid. I was like, I always imagine one day I was gonna be a chef, because I loved cooking. Then I don’t know, my whole world just kind of got flipped upside down when I moved to the Philippines and took me down a completely different path. Stick to your guns and what it is that you want, even when everyone’s telling you, it’s not gonna work out, go back to doing this, blah, blah, blah – Eventually it’ll all make sense and eventually it will fall into place. Just gotta stick it out.
Reid presents his anticipation for his upcoming musical project constantly describing “Hurt Me Too” is just the first look. He assures fans, promising a whole new era of music with similar vibes.
While still under wraps, this project is already his favorite, and his infectious enthusiasm is clear. He hopes the music resonates with them, and encourages everyone to stay tuned!
Check out our interview with James Reid here!
PHOTO CREDIT: Aya Cabauatan
