{"title":"serpentwithfeet","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"deacon-serpentwithfeet","title":"DEACON","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e*All LP \u0026amp; CD orders include special folded poster insert*\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eserpentwithfeet is not only imagining, but exploring a world wherein Black love is paramount. His new album, DEACON, is “a study rather than a story,” delving into Black, gay love and the tenderness present in the best companionships, romantic or otherwise.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“I originally approached this project wanting to make something that felt very sensuous,” serpentwithfeet says. “Something a lot softer, a lot more gentle than my previous work.” While crafting the album, the singer\/songwriter\/producer made the deliberate decision to exclude songs about heartbreak. This was a bold act for R\u0026amp;B, a genre quite literally shaped by the harsh realities that the blues provide.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThough recorded between Los Angeles and London, DEACON was inspired by serpent’s move from New York City to Los Angeles. He pushed to capture the serene and tranquil aspects of his new environment in the music. Fully self-actualized and more devoted than ever to personal fulfilment, DEACON highlights his growth as a songwriter, which he credits to taking a more straightforward approach to expression. Spending time with pop songwriters and observing how they traverse language encouraged serpent to take more risks lyrically, resulting in more purity. “I wanted to make my version of a ‘grown and sexy’ album,” serpent reveals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe album’s title takes its name from the Christian office, a figure who helps maintain order within the church and himself. While DEACON is not quite about being in that role, it is a reflection of the cool and calm energy of the deacon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRaised by religious parents in Baltimore, serpent’s flair for theatrical themes and gospel sensibilities can be traced to the Black church, a place where the artist had his earliest experiences with glamour and the ornate. Well-executed vocal flourishes and the implementation of a quickening vibrato are just a few of the skills he picked up during his time in a Pentecostal choir. He proudly follows in the tradition of R\u0026amp;B artists whose gifts were helmed in the church, and he approached DEACON with an undeniable passion and reverence for the genre.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 2016, serpent’s debut EP, blisters, introduced the world to his sensual, unboxed universe. The emotive collection made fans in fellow big-voiced, unbridled psalmist Björk and serpent’s now-frequent collaborator, Ty Dolla $ign.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwo years later, serpent followed with his debut album soil, a master class in weaving the deeply human with the divine. One of 2018’s most acclaimed albums of the year, soil was announced alongside a FADER cover story and went on to receive year-end praise from the likes of The New York Times, The New Yorker, Billboard, Pitchfork, NPR Music, The Ringer, and more. With his 2020 EP, Apparition, serpent hinted towards a more open and expansive sound, offering insight into the themes and sonic textures he’d eventually come to explore on DEACON.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe songs across DEACON are about new love and the joys of a sustained love interest. Album opener “Hyacinth” is a guitar and piano-backed warm embrace that conjures images of lovers so intertwined that they breathe in sync. It is uniquely serpent, a myth wherein he comes to find that his favorite flower has become his ideal partner.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSongs like “Same Size Shoe” and “Wood Boy” communicate both the tender and passionate sides of romance. On “Same Size Shoe,” serpent discusses how he exclusively dates Black men because they are the only ones who can fully relate to him. Meanwhile, with “Wood Boy,” he delves more into a carnal state. Both are the most gentle reminder that serpentwithfeet is a man unbound.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOn album standout “Heart Storm,” featuring English singer, songwriter, and producer Nao, serpent showcases his ability to arrange complex vocal lines in the spirit of noted influence and gospel giant, Richard Smallwood. Equally important, we hear the power, dexterity and spectacular beauty of serpent’s voice, as he sings through intricate, acrobatic arrangements with the clarity and confidence of a deacon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFans of serpentwithfeet will tell you that his sound is indebted to R\u0026amp;B, as he dotes on singers such as Brandy and Janet Jackson, noting their “ability to practice restraint.” This is especially evident on “Malik” and “Amir,” odes to love in Atlanta and DC, respectively. On “Malik,” a quick tale of meeting a beautiful man at a gay club, serpent references gambling and fitted jeans—both of which are staples in the southern city. “Amir” has an unmistakably ‘90s R\u0026amp;B feel and finds serpent completely enamored with a man who is from Washington D.C., reminding us of the beauty of a Baltimore and D.C. love connection. A nod to Musiq Soulchild’s “Just Friends,” “Amir” is influenced by serpent’s childhood inspirations, Carl Thomas and Bilal. He sought to carry that warm, early aughts energy throughout the song.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe album closes with the uplifting energy of “Fellowship,” co-written and co-produced by serpent with Sampha and Lil Silva, concisely championing the joy one gets from warm friendships. Throughout, serpent’s compelling voice glides over percussive beats and lithe instrumentation while Sampha and Lil Silva’s vocals join in for a lush chorus: “I’m so thankful for my friends, my friends \/\/ I’m thankful for the love I share with my friends.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn his love for love, serpentwithfeet is offering a look into the soul of a man who articulates his passion in a warmer, gentler way. He’s become wholly confident in his gift and messaging on DEACON, which is to be expected when one gives vent to maturity. Through his music, he allows compassion to be the backbone of his art, as he communes with his most loving self.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"serpentwithfeet","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":44536163926179,"sku":"SC396cd","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP Black Vinyl","offer_id":44536163958947,"sku":"SC396lp","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP limited edition clear vinyl","offer_id":44536163991715,"sku":"SC396lp-C2","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0651\/6703\/2483\/files\/sc396.lp-black.jpg?v=1776690307"},{"product_id":"grip-serpentwithfeet","title":"GRIP","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eserpentwithfeet 'GRIP' released on March 29th on Secretly Canadian. Out digitally on February 16th.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eserpentwithfeet is simply letting the pendulum swing nowadays. The Baltimore, Maryland-born singer-songwriter is taking the natural steps as a versatile talent from chapter to chapter in his career. This versatility comes alive thanks to influences that include Geoffrey Holder, Toni Morrison, Brandy, and Nina Simone; and his love of literature and theater that has resulted in songwriting credits for television shows and movies in addition to musical collaborations with the likes of Daniel Caesar, Bjork, and Ty Dolla $ign. serpent’s third album GRIP is the latest presentation of his wideranging artistic skills. GRIP finds its home on the dance floor of Black gay clubs and the intimate moments that happen there and afterward, no matter the location. For serpent, Black gay nightlife spaces “raised him a second time.” These clubs provided a different sense of welcoming that nurtured him in a new way exhibited on GRIP.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGRIP and the Black gay club share an interesting juxtaposition: the club is public; the dancefloor is obviously a place where people look at and watch one another. At the same time, the Black gay club is a safe community space, it is “for us”, and in that way is very private, very intimate. Throughout the project’s ten songs, which feature Ty Dolla $ign, Yanga YaYa, Mick Jenkins, and Orion Sun, serpentwithfeet wraps himself in midnight and indigo hues. From the project’s start to its end, moments of sweat, indulgence, and tension can be felt through upbeat high-energy records as well as songs that find their home in the steamy bedroom moments. The moments will later come alive on stage as GRIP will also soundtrack of serpent’s upcoming original dance theater production, Heart Of Brick. The work will “explore the loss of queer Black nightlife spaces and the stories that surround them.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOn his third album, serpent explores the intimate forms of physical touch and how they occur. Whether it be a grip around the waist or the face, serpentwithfeet managed to explore all angles thanks to the second lens he looked through:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Going out while working on the album and seeing how people stood at the bar when ordering a drink, Are they on their phone trying to disappear from the scene? Are they flirting with the bartender? Are they writhing slowly to the music? What does it look like when a guy runs into his ex and that ex is with someone new? I’m curious about all of this.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s for this reason that it’s extra fitting that GRIP begins with the lively dance record “Damn Gloves” with Ty Dolla $ign. The record kicks off the album for an unusual jarring yet exciting start to the project, one that goes against his track record of gentle and smooth album intros. It sets the scene for the many scenarios, large and minuscule, direct and indirect, that serpentwithfeet looked to explore with this album, “I wanted to do something completely different than what I’ve done previously,” he cites as his reason for such an effervescent beginning.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom start to finish, GRIP sonically lives the highs and lows of not only a night out at the club but of romance as well. “Damn Gloves” captures the adrenaline rush of a night’s peak with a thumping bass entwined in dance production that mimics the heartbeat’s speed as intimacy runs high between two lovers. “Spades” employs a sweet guitar-driven melody to create a tender moment as a slow-dance would. “Hummin’” is carried by an ear-pleasing chant and a marching drum pattern that works toward a climax of intimacy as bodies are drawn on each other on the dance floor. “Lucky Me” is sweet and honest, void of anything that distracts from the moment at hand as serpent’s voice, a twinkling guitar melody, and enchanting synths serve as the driving force to champion a new romance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf it’s not ensnared by the rhythm from the club speakers, serpentwithfeet uses GRIP to explore the areas of love that only the hands can as the project continues. “Safe Word” squeezes itself into the tightly interlocked relationship of partners who know each other very well. A self-defined “romantic,” serpentwithfeet looks to discover the “soft moments” that go on to exist when they’re not supposed to, i.e. with the one-night stand you met at the club as discussed on “Deep End.” There, the question “What about when you both really enjoy the moment and don’t want it to end?” is posed. Then there’s “Spades” which places monumental value on a loved one’s desire and patience to teach them how to play the card game that is so tethered to the Black community.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a moment of growth for serpentwithfeet, and it’s one that’s not surprising for someone seven years into their career, but it’s even noticeable through his last two projects. DEACON is a study of self and a look inward, and following that exploration, serpentwithfeet switched his focus to the world that lay in front of his eyes. Specifically, he set his attention on the world that he called home in the important adolescent and adult years of his life, and with this, we see a study of community on GRIP. This community had a huge impact on the LA-based singer, and through ten songs, he gives it its flowers with a body of work that highlights the moments that are most close to the heart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"serpentwithfeet","offers":[{"title":"LP Brown Vinyl LP","offer_id":44536174313635,"sku":"SC466lp-C2","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":44536174346403,"sku":"SC466cd","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP Black Vinyl LP","offer_id":44536174379171,"sku":"SC466lp","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0651\/6703\/2483\/files\/sc466.swf.grip.mockup.lp-c2-_1_-bff4e5d5819b3617470649bceb4d9bd9.jpg?v=1776690067"},{"product_id":"soil-serpentwithfeet","title":"soil","description":"\u003cp\u003eserpentwithfeet is an avant-garde vocalist and performance artist whose growing body of work is rooted in dueling obsessions with the ephemeral and the everlasting – key components of his artistic journey from a childhood stint as a choirboy in Baltimore through his time at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he studied vocal performance before relocating to New York City. His forthcoming debut full-length album soil is a return to the sensibilities and wide-eyed curiosity of his musical youth before symmetry and sterile soundscapes ruled the roost. With the release of soil the chameleonic serpentwithfeet (born Josiah Wise) rediscovers and ultimately returns to the unhinged version of himself he was sure he had outgrown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“soil is about me returning home then realizing that i carry home with me daily.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"serpentwithfeet","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":44673922072739,"sku":"SC366cd","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP Opaque Yellow Vinyl","offer_id":44673922105507,"sku":"SC366lp-C1","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP Black Vinyl","offer_id":44673922138275,"sku":"SC366lp","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP Opaque Blue","offer_id":44673922203811,"sku":"SC366lp-C3","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0651\/6703\/2483\/files\/sc366-cd_ssthumb.jpg?v=1776688866"},{"product_id":"deacon-t-shirt","title":"DEACON T-Shirt","description":"\u003cp\u003eserpentwithfeet's 'DEACON' T-Shirt\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"serpentwithfeet","offers":[{"title":"T-Shirt SM Shirt","offer_id":46219377639587,"sku":"SC396-T01-USM","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"T-Shirt MD Shirt","offer_id":46219377672355,"sku":"SC396-T01-UMD","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"T-Shirt LG Shirt","offer_id":46219377705123,"sku":"SC396-T01-ULG","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"T-Shirt XL Shirt","offer_id":46219377737891,"sku":"SC396-T01-UXL","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0651\/6703\/2483\/files\/sc396.tee_c8b417bd-5d41-4050-af5a-46462dd9ab4e.jpg?v=1776688447"}],"url":"https:\/\/secretlystore.com\/collections\/serpentwithfeet.oembed","provider":"Secretly Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}