After a diving accident left him with partial hearing loss, singer-songwriter Vaughn Prangley stepped away from music, only to find his way back through silence, resilience and the making of Monsters Den.
South Africa (28 November 2025)- Sometimes the biggest comebacks simply begin with silence.
For South African-born singer-songwriter Vaughn Prangley, that silence arrived unexpectedly in 2023. While working abroad, a diving accident left him with permanent hearing loss in one ear. For someone whose world was built on melody and rhythm it felt like everything had stopped at once.
“Music had always been my outlet, my way of understanding the world. Losing part of my hearing shook me to my core. For a while, I genuinely believed I might never make music the same way again.”
But what followed was a reset.
After stepping away from music entirely, something slowly began pulling him back. That was songwriting. Not as a comeback strategy. Not for radio charts. Just a creativity sparking back to life.
Before the accident, Vaughn had been one of South Africa’s exciting emerging acts. His debut single ‘Oasis’ (2020) went to No. 1 on Mix FM, later followed by charting singles, the EP ‘Where It Begins’ (2021), and his full-length album ‘Destination Unknown’ (2022).
Then life changed course.
Stepping away from music meant stepping away from the identity he had built. Yet slowly, through that silence, a new version of Vaughn emerged.
That journey eventually shaped ‘Monsters Den’, his first release since the accident. This is an indie-alternative piece about climbing out of doubt and reclaiming purpose.
The song was self-produced over eight careful months.
“I put so much weight on finishing ‘Monsters Den. It became more than just a song, it was proof to myself that I could still do this. That fight, that stubbornness, it’s in every note.”
The production became its own story, countless takes, frustrations, breakthroughs and finally, clarity. Vaughn even surprised himself.
“The addition of real acoustic drums surprised me the most… it gave the song a heartbeat. Suddenly it felt complete.”
With this release, Vaughn is re-entering the industry as someone who fought to reclaim his sound. New music is already in motion, with an upcoming 2026 EP promising both atmospheric depth and more upbeat, blues-driven energy.
“The monsters are your thoughts, and the den is your mind. The song isn’t about being a victim, it’s about resilience.”
And this chapter represents exactly that. A return to self.
Sources: Supplied
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