With the release of his third album, GRIP, serpentwithfeet —35-year-old Baltimore-born, LA-based Josiah Wise— joins Anthony Carew on The International Pop Underground to talk about the record.

Following on from serpentwithfeet's first two LP, 2018's Soil and 2021's Deacon, GRIP is a work exploring ideas of "closeness, physical touch, intimacy in public spaces and intimacy in private spaces".

The exploration of 'intimacy in public spaces' often plays out in the club; with Wise evoking the emotional complexities and micro dramas that take place in club spaces but are rarely addressed in song.

"When people think of the club, they think of the big dancefloor moments, the loud moments," he explains. "But there are [also] moments that feel slight, that are gentle and fragile as gossamer."

Feature image: Denzel Golatt