BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Actor, singer, songwriter, and record producer James Reid has teamed up with Singaporean singer-songwriter Benjamin Kheng for a fascinating collaboration on the single “Rock Bottom Blues,” the first release from Benjamin’s highly anticipated two-part album, Gloomy Boogie.

Produced by Charlie Kurata and Saint Kid, “Rock Bottom Blues” digs about the depths of emotions experienced during hardships and toxic relationships. The song navigates the pain of feeling stuck in a cycle, especially in self-redemption and longing for redemption. 

This song is composed by Benjamin Kheng, Olivia Knox, Saint Kid, and James Reid.

The joint forces between James Reid and Kheng marked the first time the two artists have collaborated, creating a quintessential “sad bop” that blends emotive vocal deliveries against an infectious dance arrangement. The synergy effortlessly marries somber tones with danceability, resulting in a truly unique musical experience.

According to Reid, Kheng is a talented musician and it’s been an honor working with him on this track.

“The song holds a serious topic, but Ben’s playful personality couldn’t help but shine through. We aimed to infuse a playful energy into the song while staying true to its heartfelt essence,” Reid said. 

Kheng is also grateful to be working with Reid. The award-winning artist is looking forward to more collaborations with Southeast Asian performers like him.

“It’s been amazing getting to work with James on this track, not just to witness, up close, a superstar of his caliber be the amazing talent and human that he is, but also how beautiful it is to be able to make music across borders and draw parallel lines between our journeys,” Kheng said. 

“Here’s hoping we build more music roads across our barriers and get to see more Southeast Asians working together,” he added. 

The accompanying music video for the music is directed by Barnabas Chua of Murk & Marrow Films. 

James Reid is the founder and chairman of “Careless Music”  an independent music label based in Manila, Philippines. He began his professional acting career in the early 2010s after being named as Big Winner of ABS-CBN’s reality show “Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash 2010.” 

He came into prominence for his leading role in the Wattpad-inspired movie “Diary ng Panget” teamed up with Nadine Lustre, and as they say, the rest is history. 

Singaporean artist Benjamin Kheng is a versatile musician known for his exceptional talent as one of the founding members of the pop-quartet “The Sam Willows.” Recognized for his contributions to the music industry, Benjamin received the Youth Music Award for Best Male Artist in 2019 and was nominated as MTV EMA’s Best Southeast Asian Act in 2020. Gloomy Boogie, his two-part debut album, promises to showcase his multifaceted persona and creativity.

“Rock Bottom Blues”  will be available on all digital streaming platforms from July 28, 2023. #

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from Instagram (@Benjamin Kheng)