The stripped-down OPM track marks the new direction of his upcoming EP, to be released soon
James Reid returns to his mellow, pop-leaning beginnings with the release of “Sandal,” his latest song under Sony Music Entertainment and Careless, following the popularity of his OPM blockbuster “Randomantic.”
“Sandal,” which is essentially stripped down with acoustic instruments and mellow vocals, manages to strike a balance between accessibility and elegance, emulating the enchanted pull of his previous records.
As anticipated, Reid shows how eager he is to elevate a straightforward act of romantic affirmation into a masterpiece. He returns on “Sandal” with a new serenade that has enormous creative and commercial promise.
“I just wanted to reconnect with my roots in music, blending my past music with my new sound and writing style,” the award-winning singer-songwriter and label mogul admits. “It’s also been a long-time request from my fans. Most of the songs in my new EP are written in Filipino.”
The recording superstar wrote the track together with Luke April of the Davao-based hip-hop and R&B group, Playertwo. Both Reid and April wanted to create a material that aims to easily comfort someone going through a tough time. As the former pointed out in his press statement, “The idea is that love is strength and vulnerability, and that I will be your sanctuary.”
James Reid adds, “This song means a lot to me personally. I wrote it for my girlfriend when she was having a terrible day. I wanted her to know that no matter what you’re going through, you can always lean on me.”
“Sandal” is also produced by Tim Marquez, who has helmed tracks for eclectic Filipino acts such as Ena Mori and Zild, and previously worked with James Reid on the piano ballad “Hurt Me Too.” Building on the initial ideas brought by Luke April, Tim approached Reid’s new direction with a slow dance feel.
James Reid’s “Sandal” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment and Careless.
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