What epitomises a great pop album? Fantastic choruses? Strong rhythms. Impeccable production? The answer is all the above, but if you throw in great vocal performances, you have a winner on your hands. That’s what James Deacon’s The Plunge.
It’s always interesting to watch artists evolve. When thinking back to Season One, James Deacon was an artist finding his sound and place in the local market. But the delivery on The Plunge shows a completely different artist. Confidence exudes throughout this EP, best highlighted on “Movin’” — a catchy pop track with flair added by some incredible runs.
The Plunge is centered around a positive outlook on life and surety of self, but what’s most striking is the deliberate ‘live readiness’ of the album. On “Peruse,” heavy R&B elements get tossed into the mix as well, whilst on “Pool Man,” rap is thrown in with a crazy guitar lick to create something very, very interesting.
“My genre is evolving and my projects are never the same as the last because I’m not the same guy,” Deacon tells ne. “I’m just being authentically me at this moment and these songs are a reflection of who I am.”
That authenticity extends to the EP’s lyrical content, which balances playful sass with genuine vulnerability. The confidence never tips into arrogance—instead, it feels like an artist who’s found his voice after overcoming challenges.
“I wrote it after bouncing back from some pretty gnarly medical issues and my salvation was discovering cold plunging!” Deacon reveals, explaining the EP’s title and underlying resilience.
While many pop artists chase trends or play it safe, Deacon has chosen evolution over imitation. The Plunge succeeds both as a showcase of his current abilities and a tantalising preview of his potential. This feels like an artist just hitting his stride, and we haven’t even seen the best yet.