In anticipation of Stephen’s upcoming album, Akrasia, the artist had released a deeply personal and captivating new song, and accompanying music video, called “Delilah”.

“Delilah is the name I’ve given to my shadow – my repressed, unrecognized potentials and desires,” says Stephen. “She is temptation. She is seduction. The process of getting to know her has been scary and exciting, a deep sense of self-acceptance and power reached through self-annihilation”

It feels as if a weight was dropped onto your chest when the first chorus kicks in. It’s the calming yet slightly ominous introduction that make it have such an impact. That metaphorical weight of self-realization, the pressures of the world, allowing yourself to be vulnerable; it hits you all at once.

In the music video, we see Stephen exploring both the world around him and his own identity. The line “how does anybody have control?” yelled at the end of the chorus and the depiction of destruction and dismemberment of his own body in the video perfectly encapsulates the difficulty of the initial exploration of your true self. “ I experienced freedom and perspective through [Delilah] that I can’t describe, but at the cost of really hurting my body, and for a moment there losing some self control.”

So “Delilah” is the unknown. She is every stone you have yet to turn over, every road you’re scared to travel down or didn’t know existed. She is your shadow — all of your unrealized potentials; all of the thoughts, feelings, desires and actions that you are capable of, but aren’t consciously expressing or aware of. I encourage you all to be careful, but more so, brave and willing to explore the unknown sides of yourself. I’m not saying do drugs lol. I’m not saying wear a dress. I’m not saying you have to explore any of the things I did. But just… listen to your heart, and follow your passion. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The muse is calling, always.”

Akrasia releases August 21st. Watch the full music video for “Delilah” below