But it's really helpful for me to start with a set criteria. It doesn't mean that everything I put out is going to fit that criteria. I keep a little document of all the ideas of "Okay, so for this next thing, this is the territory I want to explore." Or, "I want things that are all above 130 BPM." I have to be pragmatic in that way. The same way, with every project I've done, I knew what I wanted to do. But I think there's always an intention for sure, every time I go to the studio. Because it's pretty painful if they don't! And that's one of the last lines of the song, like, "You can walk a mile in my shoes, that's why I trust you."Īs you're recording and working on music, do you have a set process to keep track of your ideas? When you ask someone to walk in your shoes, well, I hope they wear the same size shoe.
Being with someone who has a similar cultural reservoir or cultural experience as me-I was writing about dating and being in love with Black men, and just the ease and the trust that is there. I was just thinking about being with someone that I can trust, being someone who I don't have to explain anything to. Where did the concept for “Same Size Shoe” come from? I think that song is so much about celebrating, celebrating Black love, Black gay love, and I just wanted something that felt jubilant and jocular, and doing a vocal fanfare just seemed really appropriate. I just wanted to do a vocal fanfare moment. And I was uncertain about keeping it because I didn't know if it was too campy, but actually I love the campiness of it now. Possibly my favorite part of the project is the “trumpet” line on "Same Size Shoe." Can you tell me about writing that fanfare but recording it as a vocal? Does this album have space? Does it feel loving? Does it feel gentle? Those are the feelings and the ideas I was in pursuit of for DEACON. I really wanted to feel and hear breath, and when I think breath, I think about space, the space to breathe, and about ventilation. The idea was to make something that felt really airy. But I do think I'm pretty good at knowing what the mood is, and I just knew the mood and the sonic palette for DEACON, so I try to stick within those confines. I said, "This should be its own project." It's funny, because people have asked if this is a concept album, and I've never considered any of my projects concept albums, because that just seems really ambitious. The thing is, I'm always working on music, and I like to organize "Okay, like, this feels like it's part of this particular idea." The Apparition songs definitely didn't fit what I was going for on DEACON. You just released the Apparition EP in April 2020. "I think that that's all I can really wish for, is that people listen to this work, and maybe it will give them some encouragement to be gentle." "I hope that people are encouraged to be soft, and to be gentle as they can be," Wise says in conclusion. “Malik” and “Amir” are composite character sketches of past lovers, while the closing track “Fellowship” celebrates friendship. I think it's such a great city because I get to work and I can do sessions and all of this, but then also the people that I work with are so much fun to be around.” Even with 808s from “ Mo Bamba” and “ Panini” production duo Take A Daytrip, the music hangs in the air like a generous dollop of whipped cream atop a dessert.ĭEACON’s joy is a perfect fit for the beginning of spring, as people tentatively return to gathering together safely.
so much is that people in the industry are so kind. On the phone, Wise raves about his current home: “Part of the reason why I love L.A. The singer enlisted new collaborators like British singers Sampha and NAO (each of whom he had previously opened for in 2016) to attain the album’s bright sound, recorded between Los Angeles and London over the past three years. Released March 26, it celebrates Black gay love with a giddiness to rival pop hits from ‘60s Motown or ‘90s R&B, a pivot from the darker tones of previous serpentwithfeet releases. Midway through “Same Size Shoe” from his new album DEACON, the Baltimore-born singer also known as Josiah Wise introduces a “trumpet” fanfare that’s his own voice layered several times over, heralding a love steeped in understanding and empathy. Serpentwithfeet is happy, and you can hear it even when his voice goes beyond language.