NYC-based artist serpentwithfeet (aka Josiah Wise) is likely a man, but he delievers vocal lines with the intensity of something that lives outside the bounds of this dimension. This month he dropped his latest single "four ethers," a track that showcases both his almighty R&B vocal prowess, and his classically trained singing background. Wise’s effortlessly florid singing would be remarkable on its own, but what’s even more gripping is the music he pairs his vocals with. The instrumentals on "four ethers" charge forward with the gravitas of a requiem piece, slowly building in suspense only to torturously cut to a muted bass drum the moment you’d expect a big auditory payout. There is something solemn, something ethereal, perhaps supernal released in serpentwithfeet’s music. Check out "four ethers" streaming below off of the newly released blisters EP, and be sure to catch him opening at Le Poisson Rouge on 9/30 for Jenny Hval.-Olivia Sisinni
