On James Seafoam oversized suit with acrylic chains by FRANCIS LIBIRAN; On Bret Blue satin button down and trousers by FRANCIS LIBIRAN, and all gold chains and rings by COLD GOLD

“I felt that I had some things that I wanted to do. And my ideas were different from Viva’s (his former management agency). So I decided it was best that I take control of my career. We’re still on good terms. But I don’t know, I had a different vision of where I would be in my career and a lot of it was to do with music. I really wanted to push it further and I wanted to see how far I can take this,” James tells us. The decision was a bold and unexpected move that astonished both fans and critics. With his departure from Viva, the agency handed him his music label—then known as Careless Music Manila—and with it, the management duties. Now the chairman of the recently independent label, he takes on a gargantuan task—one that he is more than willing to take.

James, after all, is no stranger to the music industry. With the critical success of his third album Palm Dreams a couple of years ago, it is without any doubt, that he has more aces up his sleeve. The drive and purpose alone of Careless is a breath of fresh air from what most artists in the country are used to. And this vision has attracted not only throngs of fans but the respect of many talented artists as well. “We want to be the label that artists can go to, and know that they have creative freedom. We just want to change the game,” he explains. Having observed much of the processes that his contemporaries go through, further reflection on the issue made him realize what he can do with his own volition. The incredible power to spark change was something he just couldn’t put aside. “It was hard for me to not do it once I saw it because I felt like I was in a position to help change it. So it wasn’t even my choice anymore. I knew that I had to do this. It just felt right,” he affirms.