serpentwithfeet has shared his new single, “Heart Storm,” featuring UK singer/songwriter, and producer NAO. The single follows “Same Size Shoe” and “Fellowship.” I love a little magical realism. In this song I’m saying that there is so much love and power every time me and my man unite, even the heavens rejoice. Here, we welcome the storm.”

For serpentwithfeet, DEACON is a study rather than a story delving into Black, gay love and the tenderness present in the best companionships, romantic or otherwise. The follow-up to his debut album, soil, DEACON highlights serpent’s growth as a songwriter, embracing straightforward approaches to expression. The album’s title takes its name from the Christian office, a figure who helps maintain order within the church and himself, and proudly follows in the tradition of R&B artists whose gifts were helmed in the Black church.