Josiah Wise, known professionally as serpentwithfeet, is an experimental R&B singer born on July 9, 1988, in Baltimore, Maryland. Raised in a deeply religious family—his father owned a Christian bookstore and his mother was a choir director—Wise developed his musical foundation in church choirs, where he was exposed to gospel and classical music from an early age. He pursued classical vocal training and competed internationally with his high school choir before moving into the neo-soul and experimental music scenes. serpentwithfeet’s work blends R&B, gospel, classical, and electronic elements, creating a unique sound that explores themes of love, spirituality, and Black queer identity. His critically acclaimed releases include the EPs Blisters (2016) and Apparition (2020), as well as the albums soil (2018), Deacon (2021), and Grip (2024). Known for his emotive vocals and poetic lyricism, serpentwithfeet has collaborated with artists like Björk and toured with acts such as Grizzly Bear and Rosalía, establishing himself as a distinctive and influential voice in contemporary music.