Deacon’s career trajectory hasn’t always been the easiest, but the multi-instrumentalist has continuously bounced back from his fair share of mishaps: from an accident that nearly ended his guitar playing to his recent vocal cord surgery.
The six-track offering is brazen and brash as Deacon continues to blaze an authentic career path. I caught up with him last week.
For me, the new decade is full of possibility. Right now the world feels like it’s hit rock bottom and the bright side to that is that the only way is up from here.
Fame isn’t really something I know much about, to be honest. I just love making music and I want to be able to make music for the rest of my life and as many people around the world as possible.
On the day I die. Music isn’t a career for me as much as it is how I navigate my way through life. So I will never ever stop making music.
Fake people.
Music is my way of interpreting the world around me. I write music to heal, vent, contemplate and understand and when I perform, I get a chance to leave the chaos of my mind and completely lose myself.
Performing live and being able to wake up every day and do the thing I love!
Over the years I have picked up a few on-stage injuries - haha. One time whilst performing with my older brother at Oppikoppi, he accidentally hit me in the face with the head of his guitar and nearly knocked me out midway through my guitar solo! And that was where I learnt how to play a guitar solo with a bloody nose - lol.
In life, my heroes are my family. My parents and three older siblings have always inspired me and supported me. In music, I would say my heroes are: Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, my brother-in-law Thomas Selmer-Olsen (lead guitarist for Mango Groove) and my producer Paul Galanakis.
My guitars.
I will be three years sober from alcohol and drugs on 11 November this year. So a nice cold Heineken 0.0!
It’s almost impossible to choose because I have a very long list of dream gigs, but I have always dreamt of performing at the Grammys, so I’d say that’s the top one!
I don’t know, but I never fit in.
Stonehouse. Freakin Deacon. But these days most people just call me James!
I would have loved to have been a professional football player in the English Premier League.
Insane, introspective, loyal, honest, passionate.
Hugh Masekela, Nasty C, Francois van Coke, Seether, Hellcats.
Balance.
My red Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses.
Tour the world playing my music.
Having my song “Son of Apollo” synced and used by HBO in the United States for an eight-week long movie promo!
I hate complaining, so I usually keep it to myself, but if I had to choose I’d probably say the negative effect social media has had on the mental health of my generation.
The acceptance that nothing is perfect and that imperfections are beautiful.
I completely let go and jump around a lot. I am a relatively shy person on a day-to-day basis but, on stage, I get to stand out and give over to the extroverted side of myself.
I feel like I am right where I’m supposed to be at this point in my life, but I have always wanted to visit Iceland!
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