By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – New York, The landscape of contemporary R&B and avant-garde soul has long been anchored by the singular, vibrato-rich voice of Josiah Wise, the artist professionally known as serpentwithfeet. Today, the New York-based singer-songwriter has signaled the beginning of a profound new era with the announcement of his upcoming EP, Sentinel. Scheduled for release on December 4, the project represents more than just a collection of new music; it marks a pivotal transition in Wise’s professional journey, as he joins the roster of One Little Independent Records. This move comes after nearly a decade-long tenure with Secretly Canadian, the label that helped establish him as a formidable force in the independent music scene through landmark releases like soil and DEACON.
The lead-up to Sentinel begins with the release of its title track, a composition that serves as a bridge between Wise’s past and his experimental future. "Sentinel" is described as a reverent love song, but its DNA is far more complex than a standard ballad. Drawing from the unlikely intersection of maritime sea shanties and the artist’s deep-seated gospel roots, the track creates a sonic space that feels both ancient and immediate. In "Sentinel," Wise utilizes the rhythmic, communal spirit of the shanty—traditionally a work song used to coordinate heavy tasks on sailing vessels—to explore themes of labor, commitment, and the weight of devotion. By layering these structures with the melismatic flourishes of the Black church, he continues his career-long project of deconstructing and reassembling the sacred and the secular.
The thematic core of the EP is rooted in a rigorous interrogation of masculinity, power, and the psychological architecture of male relationships. In a detailed statement accompanying the announcement, Wise revealed that the genesis of "Sentinel" involved a deep contemplation of homoeroticism and the specific ways in which men socialize when removed from the broader gaze of society. He pointed toward the concept of isolation as a catalyst for these interactions, suggesting that when men are sequestered—whether literally at sea or figuratively within the structures of patriarchy—the dynamics of power become more visible and more visceral.
Wise’s reflections on the "alpha and beta" tropes provide a window into the intellectual depth of the project. He noted that patriarchy is often sustained by an instinctive understanding of roles, where men recognize their place on a social rung and act accordingly. This realization led him to explore the concept of "genuflection" between men—the act of one man yielding responsibility or autonomy to another who carries more perceived power or privilege. To Wise, this surrender of the self mirrors the experience of religious devotion. By framing these power imbalances as something that can be experienced erotically, he challenges the listener to reconsider the nature of submission and authority within the context of queer desire.
The transition to One Little Independent Records is a notable shift for an artist who has spent the better part of ten years building a brand defined by intimate, often baroque storytelling. One Little Independent, a label known for its eclectic and boundary-pushing roster—most famously serving as the home for Björk—seems a natural fit for an artist of Wise’s caliber. His departure from Secretly Canadian marks the end of a chapter that saw him rise from an underground experimentalist to a critically acclaimed songwriter who has collaborated with the likes of Björk herself, as well as Ty Dolla $ign and Kanye West. This new partnership suggests a desire to lean further into his more avant-garde inclinations, perhaps moving away from the more traditional R&B structures found on his recent full-length efforts.
Sentinel arrives on the heels of Wise’s 2024 album GRIP, a project that was widely praised for its celebration of Black queer nightlife and the physical intimacy of the dance floor. While GRIP was an outward-facing, rhythmic exploration of the body in motion, Sentinel appears to be a more internal, psychological endeavor. Where the former focused on the "grip" of a physical embrace in a crowded club, the latter seems concerned with the "sentinel"—the watcher, the guardian, and the hierarchical structures that define how men protect and perceive one another in private.
The tracklist for the EP further hints at these themes of hierarchy and mentorship. With titles like "Henchmen," "Invocation," "His student," and "Of Course, Daddy," the project leans into the language of power exchange and pedagogical desire. These titles suggest a narrative arc that moves through various stages of devotion and discipline. The inclusion of "Puckish," a collaboration with the Brooklyn-based DJ and producer TYGAPAW, adds another layer of intrigue. TYGAPAW is known for their hard-hitting, techno-inflected sound and their work in carving out spaces for Black queer artists in the electronic music scene. Their presence on the EP suggests that while Sentinel may be rooted in shanties and gospel, it will not shy away from the pulse of the contemporary underground.
Visually and sonically, serpentwithfeet has always been an artist of immense detail. His music often feels like a tapestry, woven from disparate threads of American musical history. His gospel roots, cultivated during his upbringing in Baltimore and his time spent in choral ensembles, provide the technical foundation for his vocal performance. He possesses a rare ability to infuse even the most avant-garde arrangements with a sense of soulful familiarity. On "Sentinel," this skill is put to the test as he navigates the repetitive, droning quality of the sea shanty, transforming a genre often associated with rugged, weathered voices into something delicate and ethereal.
The philosophical questions Wise raises regarding the "rung" of the social ladder and the willingness to become "less autonomous" for the sake of another are particularly resonant in the current cultural moment. By investigating how men yield to one another, he is not just talking about romantic love, but about the very foundations of how masculine society is built. He asks: what does it mean to worship a peer? What happens to the ego when it chooses to serve? These are questions that have haunted religious texts for centuries, and Wise’s brilliance lies in his ability to transplant them into the realm of modern queer identity.
The EP’s structure, featuring seven tracks including a potential reprise or variation of the title song, suggests a concise but potent listening experience. In an era where the "content cycle" often demands long, sprawling albums designed to maximize streaming numbers, Wise’s decision to release a focused EP speaks to his commitment to the art form. Each track appears to be a deliberate piece of a larger puzzle, a "sentinel" guarding a specific aspect of his creative psyche.
As December 4 approaches, the anticipation for Sentinel continues to build among critics and fans alike. The project stands as a testament to serpentwithfeet’s evolution as an intellectual and a musician. He remains one of the few artists capable of discussing the "alpha/beta" dynamic and the mechanics of patriarchy with the same fluidity and grace that he brings to a vocal melody. By shifting labels and refining his thematic focus, Josiah Wise is ensuring that his voice remains not just a beautiful instrument, but a vital tool for deconstructing the complexities of the human heart and the hierarchies that govern it.
With "Sentinel," serpentwithfeet invites his audience to step off the dry land of conventional R&B and into the deep, sometimes turbulent waters of devotion and power. It is a journey that promises to be as challenging as it is beautiful, anchored by the vision of a performer who has spent a decade proving that the most radical thing an artist can do is be completely, unapologetically honest about the nature of their own desire.
