serpentwithfeet explores the sacred spaces within intimacy on new single, "Safe Word"

10 January 2024, 15:00 | Written by Tyler Damara Kelly

(News)

(serpentwithfeet)

Grammy-nominated alternative R&B artist serpentwithfeet has released his new single “Safe Word,” as the second offering from his forthcoming album, GRIP.

Produced by serpent alongside producer collective, I Like That, the track is accompanied by a video directed by serpent and Micaiah Carter, the companion visual captures the space that surrounds these deeply intimate moments with a partner inside and outside of the club and the complex and delightful juxtapositions of physical closeness that are all at the core of GRIP.

The release follows serpent’s explosive debut theatrical run with his critically acclaimed production, Heart of Brick. The dance theatre production chronicles a moving love story within a Black gay club that features a one-of-kind performance by a cast of extraordinary dancers and music from serpent’s GRIP. Heart of Brick was created by serpent, co-written by award winning poet Donte Collins, directed by multimedia artist Wu Tsang, choreographed by dance-theatre artist Raja Feather Kelly and produced by The Joyce Theatre Foundation.

The forthcoming album is set to follow 2021's DEACON, and its 2018 predecessor, soil.

GRIP is set for release on 16 February, and is available to pre-order now.