Bleep

serpentwithfeet's mission to examine and romanticise Black queer culture and sexuality has taken him through many sounds and spaces as his career has unfolded. From his days in the choirs of Baltimore to his gospel experimentalism on Tri Angle, he crystallises a long musical history with his R&B focussed work on Secretly Canadian. Whereas the previous DEACON was an exploration of love and companionship in “the blessing of his thirties”, his latest album GRIP takes his well studied themes of intimacy and Black gay love deeper into the heart of the club.

GRIP is a simultaneously outgoing and internal affair, describing the exuberant energy of Black gay clubs as well as the safety of their communities. This duality is highlighted as the album flips between active, bouncing tracks that show off serpent’s singular melismatic vocal edits, and acoustic moments of privacy scored by devotional falsettos. Not only growing as a vocalist, but as a songwriter veering into pop hooks, serpent provides his unique lyrical perspectives on love, lust, and everything in between.

‘Damn Gloves’ flings the doors to the dancefloor wide open with an instantly propulsive beat, translating velveted close harmonies into a slinky club setting. Its intoxicating flavours melt into the more tropical ‘Safe Word’, a sweet and sensual number where serpent urges his man to open up to his sultrier side as sunset coloured guitars fade into the night. Trap rhythms frame smoky, emotive vocals on ‘Spades’, while ‘Deep End’ luxuriates on the softer, honeyed side of the UK bass spectrum with two step indebted beats.

serpentwithfeet has a deep understanding of affection, community, and physicality, and all that shines through with his third album GRIP.