The lead singer of one of New Zealand's most iconic bands is going solo with the release of his debut album this month.

Feelers singer James Reid has just released his first solo album Saint – a collaboration of songs based on one man's journey through the music industry.

James is hitting the music scene with his new solo album.

'I started recording a while back, but focused on it in March. So it's taken a few months of solid recording and living it day and night.

'It's been a fun process because I started with a lot of songs, like I normally do, and then whittled it down to tracks that sound really good with vocal and acoustic songs that tell a story about where I am in my life now.” Talking to SunLive earlier this month, James described the album as a 'bit of a story about love, innocence and a traveller who has been through it all”.

He says people can read into the songs how much they want, as each song tells a bit of a story.

'I thought it was about time I did something that was slightly out of what The Feelers are doing.

'I wanted to do an album that was a different style, one that was more folk and more country here and there.” James has been able to produce the album in a way he thinks is more palatable for his fans with older ears.

While he still loves making a racket, this time he has avoided big guitars on anything.

'It's mainly strings, keyboards, piano and acoustics. It has a balance of programmed and electro, I'm trying to think of a genre for it, sort of electro-gipsy or gipsy-rock.

'I have just taken on board everyone I have grown up with. It's what the songs deserved.”

James says people can listen to the album loud, soft, angry or happy, which is the way it is supposed to be.

'It can be thoughtful or background.”

SunLive has one copy of James' debut album to giveaway.

Simply ‘Like' the story link on our Facebook page and a winner will be chosen at the end of the day tomorrow.