James Reid and TJ Monterde: Inside the Making of 'Pahinga'

It was certainly no ordinary Roadshow episode when James Reid and TJ Monterde boarded the Wish Bus on June 17. The air buzzed with excitement, the streets pulsed with music lovers, and inside the mobile music hub, the unexpected pairing blended their styles into one unlikely but oh-so-right song.

Reid and Monterde’s “Pahinga” is all about acknowledging how even in the strongest of relationships, rest is necessary. The song is co-written with Jason Marvin, who also took on guitar duties during their recent Wish Bus stint. In an era of overhyped collabs, this one feels like a breath of fresh air — much like the reprieve that the title implies.

In this interview, the two OPM stars talk about how this project came to be.

Let’s dive straight in: How did this collab come to life?

James: Honestly, TJ was at the top of my mind when it came to collaborating with someone for this track. He did not disappoint. From the lyrics to the vocals, I think we just totally aligned on the direction for the song. I just love it. It's so good to listen to, and I love the song.

TJ: James DM-ed me out of nowhere. He played me the demo and said, “I have a song.” So of course I need to take a listen. He said, “There's a space there. You wanna put something?” First listen pa lang, I said, “What a beautiful song.”

‍James: We were in a songwriting camp. Jason and I wrote the song together, along with Brian Lotho, the producer. And I was playing the demo version of this song. I was in the Sony office. And luckily, TJ's music manager was there in that building. She came down and I was, like, "Look, I need you to hear this. TJ needs to be on it.”

Jason, this song by James Reid featuring TJ Monterde also has you as a co-writer. How was it working with them?

Jason: It’s always a privilege to work with the best of the best. 

What was it like in the studio while recording the song?

James: I think TJ just came back from the U.S., and he wrote his part while he was touring. He was able to record at the Careless Studio, the studio we have in Poblacion. We got to work together on finishing the track, recording the vocals. So, core memories were made on the recording sessions.

Now, let’s talk “Pahinga.” The song's name itself begs the question: What does your ideal rest day look like?

‍James: For me, it's just being able to be at home with my loved one and just be in our little world. We've built a world of our own at home. So for me, just being able to take a pause and appreciate what we have around us, appreciate what we have, that's a good rest day for me.

TJ: In my imagination ngayon, parang nasa garden. Kasama ko si KZ. Umuulan, may gitara at may kape. ‘Yun na ‘yun.

Watch the full Roadshow Interview below:

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Editor’s Note: Minor edits have been made to the interview for clarity and grammatical accuracy.