“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain,” and this lyric rings true about the collaborative EP from Jon Dela and Medisun called “Antidote.”
“Antidote” is a smooth, soulful, and impactful project that delivers a wholesome message of substance over serene instruments. In my experience, the EP complements the rising of the sun. “The first track, ‘Sacrifice,’ has been running around my head since the year started,” Dela explained while discussing the EP’s creation. “It’s the word of God himself: ‘If you want good in life, you’ll have to sacrifice.'”
This becomes a continuous theme throughout the “Antidote” EP. Even the second track, “Run,” begins with the lyrics “Things get easier, just have to take some time.” The message of journeying slowly and intentionally resonates throughout, making the project therapeutic—or “MediSunal,” as Dela describes it. Medisun calls it “a detox for your ears.”
Discussing the project’s origin, Medisun shared, “Antidote was created in 3 days. The synergy brought about by Black Revelationz music connecting Dela and me gave rise to an 11-minute journey of motivational, spiritual, and self-healing mantras.” While Dela and Medisun were the primary contributors, the project also featured meaningful contributions from artists like Sobah, Cres, and Sabrina Anastasia.
The musical connection between Medisun and Jon Dela is remarkable. Pairing a young, talented singer-songwriter and producer with an experienced, Grammy Award-winning songwriter, musician, and composer could only produce exceptional quality. Their collaboration mostly occurred via technology, with Medisun based overseas and Dela working on the project on-island. Yet, the music exists everywhere at once.
“These are my brothers. When souls align, with the awareness that we are all just vessels, the works are bigger than any individual involved,” Medisun reflected. “Energy and chemistry, a little bit of physics as well,” Dela responded.
The Antidote Tracklisting:
- Sacrifice
- Run
- Nyahbinghi
- Indigo Child
Medisun revealed the deeply personal inspiration behind “Indigo Child”: “It’s a love letter to my daughter. She inspires me in so many ways. I want to leave her with reminders of how she should hold herself when work requires me to be away in the physical.” This explains the intentionality behind every track and lyric of “Antidote,” which continues to resonate deeply since its release on December 7, 2024.
Good music was the foundation of “The Antidote.” With a theme of healing, there was no intention of chasing numbers or status. The EP could easily serve as a daily affirmation, providing calmness and injecting the strength to carry on.
