James Reid. Photo from Reid's Instagram account
Defining what "home" means is a personal matter. For some, it is quite literally a place to call their own, while for others, it is an emotional space that offers comfort and a sense of belonging. It is an idea that actor-singer James Reid explores in his third studio album "Honey, I’m Home."
Released on September 10, the 10-track record presents home as more than just a physical space, framing it instead as a feeling of being at peace with oneself and with the people around them.
"'Honey, I’m home' is obviously something you say when you walk through the door, but for me the idea of home became much bigger than a physical place," Reid said in a press statement, explaining the album title.
"I think I spent a lot of my life looking for something, chasing success, experiences, relationships, trying to become a certain version of myself. And this project came from realizing that maybe home isn’t a place you eventually arrive at. It’s that feeling of being completely present and comfortable with where you are, who you are, and who you’re with," said Reid.
Reid's perspective on home runs throughout the album, with its tracks exploring romance, vulnerability and intimacy through quieter, more introspective moments.
In the introductory title track, for example, Reid paints a vivid picture of coming home, from the excitement of approaching the front door and reuniting with a loved one to simply "dancing all alone in our living room."
The album also features collaborations with Arthur Nery, Luke April and Reid's girlfriend Issa Pressman.
READ: James Reid dedicates new single ‘Indiana’ to future child with Issa Pressman
Sonically, the record leans heavily into R&B and soul while weaving in elements of funk, soft rock and other influences.
"I wanted it to feel warm, soulful, organic, and lived-in," said Reid, who currently stars in the ABS-CBN romance series "Someone, Someday" alongside Kathryn Bernardo.
"I love the warmth and style of older records, but I wasn’t trying to make a retro album. It was more about taking those textures and making them feel like me now."
Much like the sense of comfort associated with being at home, Reid also believed "this is probably the most comfortable I’ve ever sounded in my music."
"A lot of my older projects were me exploring and figuring out what kind of artist I wanted to be. With this one, I don’t feel like I’m trying to prove anything or chase a certain sound. It just feels more instinctive," he said.
FROM THE ARCHIVES