When Vaughn Prangley stepped back from the stage in 2023, no one knew if he’d ever sing again. The 20-year-old South African singer-songwriter, once hailed as one of the country’s most promising young voices, had just lost a crucial part of his art: his hearing. A diving accident — likely near the coastal waters of his native Johannesburg — left him with partial hearing loss, a devastating blow for any musician, let alone one just beginning to find his voice. But here’s the twist: he didn’t quit. He relearned music — not with his ears alone, but with his soul.
From Stage Lights to Silence
Before the accident, Prangley was on fire. At 17, he sat on the Expresso Show couch on October 20, 2021, talking about how he started with classical guitar, then fell in love with finger-picking, then with storytelling through song. He mentioned his EP, his upcoming album Destination Unknown, and the song that had won him the Unsigned Only Music Competition: "Breathing." "It’s about letting go of what traps you," he said then. "When you do, it feels like you can finally breathe again." His words were raw, mature beyond his years. Critics called him "depth, soul, and talent" wrapped in teenage skin.Then, silence.
The diving accident — no one knows exactly when or where — changed everything. Hearing loss doesn’t just mute sound; it fractures rhythm, distorts pitch, isolates the artist from the very medium they use to connect. For Prangley, who built his craft on feeling vibrations, reading lips in studio sessions, and trusting his instincts over what his ears now struggled to confirm, the road back looked impossible. He vanished from public view. No interviews. No social media updates. Just quiet.
The Comeback Nobody Saw Coming
By 2025, something extraordinary happened. Prangley reappeared — not as a cautionary tale, but as a revelation. His official website’s "In The Press" section now calls him "one of South Africa’s most buzzed-about talents," with major publications like Times Live, News24, and City Press running features on his return. No one knows the details of his rehabilitation. No audiologists are named. No clinics are mentioned. But we know this: he didn’t wait for perfect hearing. He learned to make music with what he had left.Friends say he started using visual sound software to see waveforms, adjusting tempos by watching his bandmates’ movements. He began recording in quieter spaces, relying on tactile feedback — the vibration of strings against his chest, the thump of drums through the floor. He re-recorded his old songs, slower, simpler, letting silence breathe between notes. "It’s not about how loud you play," he reportedly told a close collaborator. "It’s about how deep you feel it."
Why This Matters More Than Just Music
Prangley’s story isn’t just inspiring — it’s revolutionary in a world that equates musical excellence with perfect pitch and pristine audio. He’s proof that disability doesn’t erase artistry; it can redefine it. In a culture obsessed with flawless performances on TikTok and YouTube, Prangley’s return is a quiet rebellion. He didn’t need to be heard by everyone. He needed to be true to himself.His new music — still unreleased in full — reportedly leans into minimalism. Acoustic guitar. Soft percussion. Whispered lyrics. One insider says his new single, tentatively titled "Still Breathing," opens with a single note held for 12 seconds — a deliberate echo of his old hit, but now layered with the weight of everything he’s lived through.
What’s Next for Vaughn Prangley?
No official tour dates have been announced, but rumors swirl about a surprise performance at the Cape Town Jazz Festival in June 2025. Industry insiders say he’s working with a small team — no major label, no flashy PR. Just his band, his producer, and a handful of engineers who’ve learned to speak his new language of sound.He’s also quietly mentoring other young musicians with hearing impairments. No public statements yet, but two students from the University of the Witwatersrand’s music therapy program told local reporters they’ve met with him privately. "He doesn’t give advice," one said. "He just plays. And you feel it in your bones."
The Unspoken Challenge
What’s rarely discussed in stories like Prangley’s is the financial toll. No figures have been released on medical costs, lost income during his two-year hiatus, or whether he received support from music industry charities. In South Africa, where access to specialized hearing care is uneven, his recovery may have been as much about persistence as it was about resources.And yet — he didn’t wait for permission. He didn’t wait for the perfect solution. He made music with what he had.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Vaughn Prangley adapt to performing with partial hearing loss?
Prangley reportedly shifted to visual and tactile methods of music-making — using sound visualization software to see waveforms, feeling vibrations through floors and instruments, and relying on visual cues from bandmates during live performances. He slowed his tempos and stripped arrangements down to essentials, letting silence and space become part of his sound.
When did the diving accident happen, and how long was he away from music?
The exact date of the accident hasn’t been disclosed, but it occurred sometime after his October 2021 appearance on Expresso Show, when he was 17. He remained out of the public eye for approximately two years, returning to music in early 2024 with private recordings and small, intimate performances before gaining wider attention by 2025.
Has Vaughn Prangley released new music since his comeback?
As of mid-2025, no full album or official single has been publicly released. However, insiders confirm he’s completed new material, including a track tentatively titled "Still Breathing," which mirrors the emotional arc of his original hit but with a more minimalist, emotionally resonant production style.
Why is his comeback significant for musicians with hearing impairments?
Prangley challenges the myth that perfect hearing is essential for musical excellence. His journey proves that adaptation, not perfection, defines artistry. He’s become a quiet symbol for artists with disabilities, showing that music can be felt as deeply as it’s heard — especially when it’s born from real struggle.
Did Vaughn Prangley receive professional medical or industry support during his recovery?
No public records or interviews confirm formal medical or industry support. His recovery appears to have been largely self-directed, with help from trusted collaborators. This makes his achievement even more remarkable in a country where access to specialized auditory rehabilitation for artists remains limited and underfunded.
Where might we see Vaughn Prangley perform next?
Rumors point to a possible surprise appearance at the Cape Town Jazz Festival in June 2025. While nothing is officially confirmed, his growing reputation and the emotional power of his music have made him a sought-after name among festival curators looking for authentic, transformative performances.
