James Deacon’s new single & music video for “Take Control” explores serendipity while living it up

After being nominated for a SAMA for Best Alternative Album and his previous singles receiving massive support, including playlisting and charting on the biggest radio stations in South Africa, as well as streaming services across the board, James Deacon returns with some feel good vibes.

His latest single and the accompanying video for “Take Control”, out on October 23rd through Bad Future Records, is a positive and upbeat expression of the appreciation of chance encounters, and shows off the singer’s trademark sound as he continues to blaze an exhilarating career path.

“Take Control” co-written with Paul Gala is a bluesy, blustery jam. Deacon’s signature genre-busting style shines with haughty, enigmatic rap verses that contrast his soulful vocals, groovy guitar riffs and bold, heart tickling bass lines. This clap commanding anthem is an instant modern day classic, featuring 60’s style blues guitar driven lines layered effortlessly over slickly produced hard hitting hip-hop beats, vintage breaks and 808s. The middle 8 section makes use of psychedelic country soundscapes created with Deacon’s voice and some production genius on behalf of the ever present Paul Gala.

“‘Take Control’ is a fun track all about meeting a girl at a house party and the song is basically just me hitting on her for 3 minutes. I started off only singing in the verses, but after listening to the track a lot I decided I wanted to try and rap over the verse and it flowed really nicely. The main guitar line that features throughout the track was written years ago but never used until one day in the studio when I heard Paul’s beat which seemed to fit with it perfectly and ‘Take Control’ was born”, James explains.

James also releases the video for “Take Control” which sees him once again joining forces with creative visionary Eric T Graham, who explains: “‘Take Control’ is essentially a homage towards every house party I’ve ever thrown. Taking place within a broader framework (yet to be revealed), ‘Take Control’ makes an early reveal as the culmination and celebration of a few different projects.

As with most of the projects I’ve tackled alongside James, we started off with a vague idea of what we wanted to accomplish and figured the rest out on the fly. I’m all about nudges, easter-eggs, references and pouring elements of the artist’s life (as well as my own) into a project, without feeling the need to ever discuss the underlying meanings. Is it poetry? Is it art? It’s just a house party.”

With James’ previous work receiving online support from lauded sites Complex, Record of The Day, Earmilk and CLASH, playlisting on Passport Approved, an independent internationally syndicated tastemaker import radio show that airs on over 70 radio stations and six continents worldwide, and HBO selecting his single “Son Of Apollo” to soundtrack an 8-week movie promo campaign in America, the anticipation around “Take Control” is palpable and warranted as James is poised to spread his musical message globally.

“Take Control” is the latest single off James Deacon’s highly anticipated upcoming debut album ‘Season One’ which is out November 20th. Catch James performing at the 947 Joburg Day Festival on 23rd October.

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