R&B
Artist of the Month serpentwithfeet’s DEACON Is a Bountiful Collage of Love and Care: Review
The Lowdown: Serpentwithfeet first gained attention in 2016 with his EP blisters, and then more broadly in 2018, when his debut album, soil , earned praise for its complex and subtle portrayals of love. Born Josiah Wise, he grew up in a religious family and sang in the church choir, and the influences of classical and gospel have long made themselves known in his music. DEACON isn’t quite a departure, but it is a move forward into more expansive territory; the sound serpent has taken on feels like it can accommodate more, and indeed, it does. DEACON is full of songs that wrap around the listener, showing in full resolution serpent’s expertise in using his music not only to portray love, but to extend it. [embedded content] The Good: The influence of religion feels present again here; along...
serpentwithfeet Releases Sophomore Album DEACON: Stream
Our March Artist of the Month, serpentwithfeet has today unleashed his stellar sophomore album, DEACON. Stream the 11-track effort below via Apple Music and Spotify, and read our review here. Serving as the direct follow-up to 2020’s Apparition EP, DEACON marks serpentwithfeet’s first full-length since 2018’s soil. The R&B artist has taken a more pop-forward approach for this release, as demonstrated on early singles like “Fellowship”, “Same Size Shoe”, and “Heart Storm”. Regardless of the shift in sonics, however, serpent is still writing about many of the same vulnerable themes, particularly Black gay love. As he told Consequence of Sound in our recent AOTM interview, “I see myself writing about gay love and Black gay love specifically for a long time. That’s what I’ve been writing a...
Artist of the Month serpentwithfeet on Black Gay Love, Relationship Advice, and Creative Honesty
Artist of the Month is an accolade we award to an up-and-coming artist who we believe is about to break out. We turn our attention in March to serpentwithfeet, an R&B singer-songwriter presently creating out of Los Angeles. When asked about any especially impactful messages from fans about his music, serpentwithfeet immediately recalls a tweet, regarding his Apparition EP, released last year. He quotes, “This project sounds like what happens in a dollhouse when the humans aren’t looking,” which he follows up with a hearty chuckle. “That is such a great appraisal. And I thought it was a great compliment,” he says. It’s also a more-than-accurate assessment, one that couldn’t be placed on just any artist’s work. Originally hailing from Baltimore — before moving to New York City and now, L...
Earth, Wind & Fire and The Isley Brothers to Battle on Next Verzuz Episode
Earth, Wind & Fire (photo by Ben Kaye) and The Isley Brothers (photo courtesy of artist) One of the true success stories of the pandemic era, Verzuz was recently acquired by Triller after a short-term deal with Apple Music. Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s music “battle” series will return to the Verzuz TV website and the Triller app with an Easter Sunday meeting of true classics, as The Isley Brothers face off against Earth, Wind & Fire. The legendary R&B and soul bands will meet on April 4th, no doubt to bring some funk to the resurrection of Christ. Verzuz has featured some legacy battles before, like when Teddy Riley took on Babyface in Season 1, or Gladys Knight and Pattie LaBelle squared off during their Master Class live special back in September. However, never before have t...
Kali Uchis Walks the Streets of Colombia in Self-Directed Video for “telepatía” : Watch
Fresh off a Grammy win for her work on Kaytranada’s “10%”, Kali Uchis is showing off her hometown of Pereira, Colombia in her self-directed new video for “telepatía”. The song appeared on Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios), Uchis’ first Spanish-language album. While her embrace of new sounds and rhythms might have seemed risky, the onetime blog-darling has grown into a bona fide star on the strength of the viral hit “telepatía”. The track became a TikTok sensation, earning Uchis the top spot on the Billboard Latin Pop chart, and it’s lingered near the peak of Apple’s Latin and Spotify’s Global charts. This tale of long-distance longing focuses on a steamy mental connection. “Quién lo diría que se podría hacer el amor por telepatía?” she sings, which roughly translate...
Rhye’s Michael Milosh Denies Accusations of Grooming and Sexual Abuse
Warning: The following article contains potentially triggering material relating to sexual assault and violence. If you are a victim of sexual assault, you can access helpful resources by calling RAINN at 1-800-656-4673. Michael Milosh of Rhye has issued a statement denying accusations of grooming and sexual abuse leveled at him by his ex-wife Alexa Nikolas. Nikolas detailed the allegations in an open letter titled “Groomed by the Groom” earlier this week, and she has now posted a new postscript in which she says that multiple women have reached out to her with similar stories. According to Nikolas, Milosh began flirting with her while she was 16 years old, asking her to undress for him over Skype while she was still a minor. She also alleges that their first sexual enc...
The Weeknd Reissuing Debut Mixtape House of Balloons for 10th Anniversary
Although The Weeknd is now a superstar, the Toronto singer’s 2011 debut mixtape, House of Balloons, emerged in a shroud of mystery. To celebrate its 10th anniversary on March 21st, he is bringing the project to all streaming platforms in its original incarnation for the first time. The reissue will coincide with an exclusive merch drop including 1,000 limited-edition vinyl. When House of Balloons was first released, The Weeknd was thought to be a group consisting of Abel Tesfaye and producers Doc McKinney and Illangelo, rather than being Tesfaye’s moniker as a solo artist. The mixtape stood out for its eclectic samples from artists like Beach House, Aaliyah, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Cocteau Twins. Unlike many other mixtape reissues from the same era, The Weeknd was able to ...
Michael Milosh of Rhye Accused of Grooming and Sexual Abuse
Warning: The following article contains potentially triggering material relating to sexual assault and violence. If you are a victim of sexual assault, call RAINN at 1-800-656-4673. Michael Milosh, the Canadian songwriter best known for his R&B project Rhye, has been accused by his ex-wife, actress Alexa Nikolas, of sexual assault. In an open letter on Instagram titled “Groomed by the Groom”, Nikolas also detailed alleged physical abuse and financial manipulation, and accused Milosh of grooming her starting at the age of 16. According to Nikolas, she initiated contact with Milosh in 2008 after taking LSD in an Iowa cornfield while working as a child actress on the TV movie Children of the Corn. “After my acid trip, or actually during it, I looked Milosh up and decided to send him a mes...
Song of the Week: Lucy Dacus Delivers a Wrenching Ballad with “Thumbs”
Song of the Week breaks down and talks about the song we just can’t get out of our head each week. Find these songs and more on our Spotify Top Songs playlist. For our favorite new songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify New Sounds playlist. This week, Lucy Dacus delivered a wrenching ballad that left all of us speechless. Some songs end and sit in the pit of your stomach for the rest of the day, so visceral and affecting that they can’t be shaken. Lucy Dacus’ raw, devastating new release, “Thumbs”, is such a song, offering a gothic revenge fantasy that lingers long after the four and a half minutes have passed. Extremely minimal in production, “Thumbs” is also nearly formless, unfolding more like a whispered secret, twilight confession, or piece of local mythos than traditional...
Thundercat Teams with Ace Hashimoto on New Song “VAPORWAVES”: Stream
Chicago-born producer and singer Ace Hashimoto has recruited fellow multi-hyphenate Thundercat for his new song “VAPORWAVES”. Stream it below. The breezy track has a funky bassline and features Hashimoto and Thundercat contemplating the meaning of life. “After the end of the world, when it’s all said and done,” Hashimoto sings. “There’s no sign of life, but somehow life will still carry on / Could it mean our existence not grand as we thought?” Hashimoto originally released “VAPORWAVES” earlier this week as an exclusive on his Patreon page, and warned fans it would only be available on YouTube “for a limited time only.” In a lengthy update, the musician shared his inspiration for the song. “This song is about existential crisis and I believe it was that concept that led me to feeling free ...
The Weeknd to Boycott the Grammys Going Forward Due to 2021 Nominations Snub
The Weeknd outdid himself when he released After Hours last year. Not only was it one of the best albums of 2020, it also included the single “Blinding Lights”, which recently became the first song in history to remain in the Billboard Top 10 for an entire year. Despite such immense success, The Weeknd received zero nominations for the 2021 Grammys. Now, in response to the snub, he’s decided to boycott the awards show moving forward as both a participant and an attendee. In a statement to The New York Times, the Canadian crooner revealed that he will refuse to attend, perform at, or put his work forward for consideration at the Grammys from here on out. “Because of the secret committees, I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys,” he explained. When news first ...
Black Pumas to Perform Verizon Up Livestream Concert
Though going to concerts still isn’t a thing, you can take heart that your favorite musicians are finding new ways to bring the live shows to you. Over the last few months, Verizon has brought some of the world’s biggest artists to fans’ homes via their Verizon Up livestream series. Later this month, the program will continue with a members-only performance from Black Pumas. Set to take place on March 13th, Verizon will broadcast a special concert from the Austin psychedelic soul duo exclusively for members of the Verizon Up loyalty program. Verizon Up offers monthly, weekly, and daily reward choices to its loyal customers at no additional cost. While the goodies can range from discounts at your favorite stores and restaurants to tech swag, members can also get access to exclusive livestre...
