WRITTEN IN THE STARS

DESPITE HIS INCREDIBLY FAMOUS DNA AND FORTUNATE GENE POOL, DEACON PHILLIPPE IS DETERMINED TO FORGE HIS OWN CREATIVE PATH AND DOMINATE HIS CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN HIS OWN RIGHT. THE 20-YEAR-OLD MUSICIAN IS AT THAT SPECIAL MOMENT IN HIS LIFE WHERE ALL THE SONIC CONSTELLATIONS ARE ALIGNED AND HE’S RIDING HIGH ON THE SOUNDWAVES, FULL OF INSPIRATION AND PURPOSE. HERE HE TALKS TO US ABOUT DJ’ING, DANCING WITH HIS MOM, AND GETTING STARSTRUCK.

Hey Deacon, how are you today? I’m your number one fan. What song do you have on repeat on your playlist right now?

Hey, how’s it goin’?! Thank you so much. I don’t know, I’m a little all over the place with what I listen to, but I really love the Fred Again and Baby Keem song Leave Me Alone right now.

Well, we can’t leave you alone, because we need to talk about your music - it’s your biggest love. Did your parents play music around the house when you were growing up - is there a song that reminds you of your childhood?

Music truly is my biggest love. I never thought I would end up making it, but I always had a strange array of interests sonically. Growing up, I would listen to country, new and old, with my mom who’s from the South; rock and rap with my dad who’s from the East Coast, and as we were living in LA, I inherited some of that culture as well. I guess some of my favourites that they would play were Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney, and then Drake, Nirvana, and Green Day. It sounds strange but hearing such different music taught me that many songs are really the same in a sense. Most of the time it’s the production that discerns the "genre”.

What was the first single or album you bought, and your first concert?

When I was little, my favourite artist was Bruno Mars – I literally followed him from the very beginning of his career and to this day haven’t stopped loving his music. I was hooked from the second I heard Count on Me. One of my first concerts was seeing him in LA during his first tour, and it was so special because my dad pulled some strings and I was able to get backstage, where I gave him [Bruno] a hug. I don’t think I changed clothes for like 3 days after!

Left Full look **Celine Homme**
Right Full look **Fendi**

Cute! So, when did you know you wanted to seriously pursue music as a career, and study it at NYU – what inspired that decision?

Gosh, I guess by the time I was deciding where to go to college it was really a no-brainer. I was so deep into the idea of working in music and I knew I had to be in a big city to do it. I loved what I read about my program at school and just went all in, and only applied there. I had a feeling that it was right and trusted it and I lucked out!

How would you describe your music then, and which artist has most influenced your own taste? Like, is there a song you first heard and thought, “I wish I had written that”?

My music is, at its core, just a reflection of what I’m feeling and going through. I try not to let an artist or genre define it, but the goal is for it to be as “me” as possible. I love Coldplay, Johnny Cash, Kanye, Kendrick, Green Day, Nirvana, Post Malone, etc… But I doubt anyone will describe my stuff as sounding like any of those, so I guess to answer the second question, I really love a lot of songs, but that doesn’t mean I wish that I wrote them. I think the personal aspects of the songs I write is what keeps me invested in them, and I’m happier with my favourite songs being written by other artists, because the second I write a song that’s as good as those, it’ll feel that much better knowing how hard I worked for it.

Well, you’ve been working hard lately, as you released your first album last year, A New Earth. What’s the overall theme behind it, and was it difficult making it while also in your first year at NYU?

Yes, we did!! It was a major team effort. I worked on and released the whole album independently with the help of my best friends and roommates, Jaden and Oscar. They’re incredible people and we bonded like no other experience I’ve ever had throughout the course of the project. They’re like my brothers now. So yeah, it was difficult at times, mixing, recording, writing, producing, performing, and marketing it all on our own, especially while in school, but let me tell you, it would’ve been impossible without those boys and we will remember it forever.

Left Full look **Givenchy**
Right Full look **Kenzo**

So, you produce all your own music. Do you play any instruments too?

I’ve never been a huge instrument guy, honestly. I mess around with certain instruments but mostly I work with my laptop, a small keyboard and a microphone. I’m not the best with music theory and the technicalities, but I’m absolutely obsessed with the science and the general outcome of putting sounds together. I guess that’s why production just stuck; to me, it feels like a blend of art and science/technology in a way that makes sense to my brain.

What about the visual side? Do you enjoy making the videos and getting all styled up, and do you have a full say over the vibe?

Music videos are really challenging and fun for me. Doing them independently is tricky because I end up doing random things like taking a City Bike in the rain to Caine’s to pick up chicken tenders for the video, 5 minutes before we start to film, and then end up crashing on Broadway sending the tenders everywhere and almost being hit by a car! But I love those kinds of moments. It’s hectic, it’s a team effort and most of all, it means that people believe in me enough to show up and do a hard job for the sake of something I made, so honestly, I can’t complain. Plus, we get to make an awesome product and I meet so many talented people on the way!

You’ve also done some DJ’ing gigs for brands. What are your DJ pet peeves?

I’m not a good enough DJ to have peeves! But I will say that DJ’ing the right way is more difficult than people think and as someone who’s still learning, I just have to say that the big DJs like Skrillex and Martin Garrix have so much talent. Learning a bit about the craft has raised my respect for anyone who can do it professionally insurmountably.

Speaking of DJs. I see from your socials you like to dance. Who taught you all your moves?

I do!! My mom and I used to take dance classes together - we learned hip-hop and breakdancing. I remember I was like 10 and I was the only guy in the whole class, but I didn’t care because I was going to be the coolest person on the dance floor when I got older! I try to dance now but I think I used to be better, and I need to practice more, honestly.

Well, we all know who your parents are! [Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe] What’s the most fun or wild stuff that goes on in your family group chats that you can tell us about?

Nothing crazy, just a lot of my grandpa going on tangents about the weather and my dad sending me memes!

Did growing up in the public eye come with its ups and downs? What’s been one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned?

I think one of the biggest things is that money and fame don’t mean happiness, that’s something you have to find within. External validation is fleeting and fragile – there’s nothing like loving the person you are, what you do, and the people around you.

And with all the celebrities you’ve been around, have you ever been starstruck yourself?

I don’t know about starstruck, but it’s always awesome to meet people you admire. I’ve been lucky enough to go to some Philadelphia Eagles games and practices, and meeting the players there is crazy since my dad and I are such massive fans. I think growing up with famous parents really desensitised me to it, sometimes I even forget that they’re famous! [Laughs]. No matter what, it’s important to know that at the end of the day, people are people, and other than the respect I have for someone’s work ethic or talent, I don’t regard meeting a celebrity any differently than talking to a stranger at a coffee shop. I basically treat everyone with as much love and respect as I can. In all fairness though, that’s probably because I grew up around all this stuff!

Being part of this acting family dynasty, is there a movie you would like to score?

I’d love to score any movie, but a Christopher Nolan film would be crazy. Scoring and acting in the same film is a huge goal for me at some point!

Well, I think it’s going to happen for you Deacon, the stars are aligned! OK, lastly, I’ve got to talk about your swanky student-pad-but-not-really-like-any-student-pad-we’ve-seen. Please tell me you’ve had some great parties there, and annoyed most of the neighbours with your music?

Yes, the HQ!! I moved in last August with four of my closest friends/schoolmates, and we basically turned it into a studio/content production house. It’s perfect for what we do, and I’m so grateful for every second in there. My friends and I picked all the interior design stuff which was such a fun, new experience. Honestly, we don’t throw many parties. We mostly stay in and work on music and schoolwork, which unfortunately might annoy the neighbours even more. But yeah, we stay focused, that’s the only way to make it in this business!

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Discover the full story in our SS24 CRAZY LOVE Issue .

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Sam Ramirez

Fashion by Oliver Vaughn

EIC Michael Marson

Casting by Imagemachine Cs

Creative Consultant Ton Aguilar

Grooming by Kimberly Bragalone at @exclusiveartists using Murad and Balmain Hair Care

Photographer’s assistant Andrzej Lawnik

Stylist’s assistant Ashley Amway