Diving Into the Feral and Focused World of serpentwithfeet: Why His New Single “Sentinel” Is a Masterclass in Modern Alt-Pop

If you’ve been tracking the trajectory of Josiah Wise—better known to the music world as serpentwithfeet—you already know he doesn’t do things halfway. Over the years, through breathtaking records like soil, DEACON, and his 2024–2025 GRIP projects, he’s established himself as one of the most vital, distinct voices in alternative R&B and experimental pop. He writes about queer love, community, and domestic intimacy with a tender precision that feels less like standard pop songwriting and more like modern poetry.

So when he returns with a brand-new single, it’s always an event. But his latest drop, “Sentinel,” feels different. It’s sharper, a bit more untamed, and signals a massive shift in how he approaches storytelling. Along with the single, serpentwithfeet announced a brand-new seven-track EP, also titled Sentinel, which is slated to land on December 4. Even better? This release kicks off a brand-new chapter for the artist, marking his official signing to London-based label One Little Independent Records after nearly a decade with Secretly Canadian.

Let’s unpack everything going on with the new track, why this era matters for fans of alt-pop, and what we can expect when the full EP drops this winter.

Inside the Sound and Concept of “Sentinel”

Musically, “Sentinel” pulls you in with an effortless, hypnotic bassline and warm production that lets Wise’s stunning, operatic vocal delivery take center stage. Lyrics like “He takes his time / Moves no quicker than this bass line” set a patient, meditative mood. There is a palpable sense of devotion woven into every bar—he sings about being shaped by love, shedding old skin, and finding a partner who feels like a sanctuary.

However, beneath the lush, romantic exterior lies a heavy, probing intellectual curiosity. When discussing the thematic DNA of the Sentinel project, serpentwithfeet opened up about exploring complex, often uncomfortable dynamics. Specifically, he’s looking at power structures, male socialization, and the subtle ways men behave when isolated under the weight of patriarchy:

“I was thinking about homoeroticism and the ways that men socialize when they’re isolated. Then I started thinking about patriarchy… Another grown man is willing to genuflect, to yield responsibility or become a little less autonomous because somebody else carries more power or privilege. For me, that feels like religion. It made me wonder what happens when we experience that erotically.”

 

That friction—between total, spellbound devotion and the complicated power dynamics of masculinity—gives the track its teeth. As Wise himself noted in interviews surrounding the rollout, he wanted the character at the heart of this music to feel deeply passionate, but also “feral” and wild.

A Fresh Label Home and a Striking Visual Rollout

This single also marks a fresh professional baseline for serpentwithfeet. Moving to One Little Independent Records puts him on an eclectic indie roster that historically champions visionary, uncompromising artists. It feels like a natural evolution for an artist who has consistently refused to color inside the lines of commercial radio, even as his hooks have gotten catchier and his production more refined.

To celebrate the era’s launch, the rollout came paired with a striking live performance video. Stripping away the typical gloss of urban music videos, serpentwithfeet headed deep into the woods, anchoring the performance in movement and raw choreography. This woodsy, organic visual served as the very first episode for FERN, a newly launched nature-based music performance platform. Seeing him belt out these intricate melodies surrounded by trees and natural earth underscores the organic, grounded shift of this new music.

What to Expect from the Sentinel EP on December 4

With the full seven-track EP arriving on December 4, fans have plenty to look forward to. Following up on the narrative scope of GRIP—which brilliantly mapped out a love story inside Black gay nightlife—this new project looks like an internal journey. It’s a meditation on rituals, desire, and the invisible architecture of how we love and submit to one another.

Why “Sentinel” Belongs on Your Playlist Right Now:

• Lyrical Depth: It manages to combine domestic sweetness (“Sings to his flower as he showers“) with heavy critiques of male socialization.

• Vocal Masterclass: serpentwithfeet’s voice has never sounded richer, floating effortlessly over intricate alternative R&B production.

• A New Era: As his debut release on One Little Independent, it sets a high bar for what’s to come this December.

If “Sentinel” is any indication of where serpentwithfeet’s head and heart are at, his upcoming winter release is going to be one of the most compelling artistic statements of the year. Make sure to stream the single on your platform of choice, watch the live woodland performance, and get your pre-orders in for the 12-inch vinyl before December hits.