James Deacon releases his debut EP ‘The Calling’ on July 26th through Bad Future Records
Rising South African newcomer James Deacon releases his debut EP ‘The Calling’ on July 26th through Bad Future Records. A sonic tapestry weaving soul, rock, hip-hop and pop into a release that offers us a deeply personal glimpse into the life of the 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist.
After a life-threatening accident left him unable to play the instruments that he’d learned to love (violin & guitar), James’s rehabilitation and determination propelled him to pursue a musical career regardless.
Together with recording outfit Bad Future Records, the Johannesburg-based musician has created an EP that defies genre convention, with influences that range from John Mayer to Nirvana to Al Green.
'The Calling EP' features six tracks including Deacon’s powerful debut single ‘Not Givin’ Up’, which reached #2 on the Hype Machine chart, follow up track ‘Calling Home', his most recent single 'Son Of Apollo,' plus three brand new tracks; ‘Look Out’, ‘Monster and Me’ and his brand new single ‘Mamma’ which James explains is “about how technology and social media has destroyed my generation.”
Support in James's native South Africa has come by way of 5FM - the country’s biggest national radio station - and 94.7 - Johannesburg’s biggest regional radio station as well as Apple Music and Spotify SA New Music Friday. Online tastemaker support has come by way of Indie Shuffle, CLASH, Earmilk, Euphoria Magazine, When The Horn Blows, Born Music and many more.
“James is an incredible, rare talent that you might come across once or twice in a lifetime of producing music,” declares Bad Future Records owner, Paul Gala, who also served as producer and co-writer on ‘The Calling’.
“Every day that I work with James I learn something from him – it’s gratifying and exciting to work with someone of such high creative calibre. His vocal ability and all-round musicianship is uniquely creative and I look forward to every session.”
James talks us through each of the tracks on the ‘The Calling EP’ with an honesty and openness far beyond his 22 years.
Not Givin' Up: A relentless pop anthem that heralds James' awakening to his own powerful determination.
James says: It’s all about leaving the safety of a day job or desk job and pursuing my dream regardless of how hard it will be to get where I want to go. Basically life is short and I don't want to waste my life cooped up in the same environment until I die. It's a big fuck you to all the bosses I've ever had and all the people who held me back or told me I wasn't good enough.
Calling Home: A touching, deeply personal ballad that allows James’ vast vocal range to shine.
James says: I wrote “Calling Home” to help process some overwhelming emotions that I was going through after a family member, Johannes Antonie Kotze, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. It was a long battle and it took a very heavy toll on the entire family. I began writing the song from the perspective of Anton’s son, Neston, and tried to imagine what it must have felt like to have this happen to his father. The second verse I wrote after Anton had passed away and I wrote it from his perspective based on what he’d said in his final days. His message was loud and clear – that everyone should be strong and move on because he knew that this was his time. This song is a tribute to his memory and it’s my attempt at immortalising his memory.
Son of Apollo: A deliciously upbeat track with a lyrically dark undertone that deals with substance abuse.
James says: This song means a lot to me lyrically because I struggled with drug addiction and alcohol abuse for a long time but I managed to get sober. Writing this song allowed me to go back to that dark part of my life and appreciate how far I've come since then. The imagery I tried to create with the lyrics is one of a drug-induced environment filled with fake friends and degrees of peer pressure.
Mamma: A Hendrix-inspired riff takes center stage in this foot-stomping warning to Generation Z.
James says: This is about how technology and social media have destroyed my generation. Most people sit opposite each other at dinner whilst staring at their phones and I think if we all spent less time on our devices the world would be a way better place.
Look Out: In an uplifting ode to freedom of expression, James spits rollicking raps over sharp beats.
James says: This is the first ever all-rap-verse track that I've written and its message is simple – believe in yourself and be fearless with your expression. If you do that people will take notice and they'll be on the look out for you. It also has a slight double meaning in that people should look out for me cause I'm shady 😂😂
Monster & Me: An eerie, down-tempo exploration of how we are our own worst enemies.
James says: This talks about how, throughout your life you create obstacles and phobias to keep you safe and make you feel in control but in reality, you create your own demons and monsters in your imagination which effectively make you, yourself, the monster.
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