Johannesburg singer and songwriter James Deacon reflects on substance abuse and addiction in new single ‘Son Of Apollo’. The back-and-forth rhythm with Deacon’s high octane vocals and immersive pop hooks are but props for the deeper meaning behind this misleadingly upbeat song. As the South African newcomer shares: “This track means a lot to me lyrically because I struggled with drug addiction and alcohol abuse for a long time and managed to get sober and writing this song allowed me to go back to that dark part of my history and appreciate how far I've come since then. The imagery I tried to create with the lyrics is one of a drug-induced party filled with fake friends and peer pressure and most importantly drugs.” Although the music transports the listener to a hedonistic party scene, the lyrics go in a different direction entirely. Deacon portrays his former addiction as a kind of love, something that almost becomes god-like through the figure of Hepius, Apollo’s son in Greek mythology and generally accepted as the god of medicine. Yet, here Hepius becomes a direct link to the singer’s past with addiction. Throughout the song, Deacon’s voice is impressive, piqued with pain, denial, desperation, passion, and a strength wise beyond his years. - Hannah Thacker