serpentwithfeet 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.

“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&B, a genre quite literally shaped by the harsh realities that the blues provide.