The Bapti$$ Brings Light, Love, and Divine Alignment on Playful New Single “Wear & Tear”

LISTEN IN HERE

Following the emotionally stirring My Father’s Sins, The Bapti$$—the spiritual, genre-blending project of veteran artist Joseph LaPlante—returns with a radiant shift in tone on Wear & Tear. Out now, the single is the fourth preview from his just-announced debut LP, Pop Cult(ure), arriving September 26th. Built around a delicate acoustic guitar, thick 808 bass drums, and a nostalgic whistle melody, Wear & Tear exudes lightness and optimism while still keeping LaPlante’s signature sense of purpose intact.

At its core, the song is a love story wrapped in simplicity, playfulness, and divine recognition. It is a musical departure from the heavier emotions of LaPlante’s earlier releases as The Bapti$$, but it still carries his spiritual throughline with clarity and conviction.

“The melody that came to me had this hopeful, loving vibe, so I ran with it,” says LaPlante. “My wife thinks the song is cute, and that’s all the approval I needed.”

The track’s lighthearted whistling and breezy cadence call back to old American folk traditions, grounding it in a timeless sense of nostalgia while remaining fresh and modern in its 808-driven production. That balance of contrast—between acoustic tenderness and booming low-end, between intimate lyrics and playful whistling—is what makes Wear & Tear both charming and spiritually resonant.

One lyric in particular, “Meet me at the cedar tree,” anchors the track with symbolic weight. For LaPlante, it is more than a poetic turn of phrase—it is a connection to the land and to his faith. In the Pacific Northwest, cedar trees represent strength and spiritual grounding, and here they become a metaphor for love that has been sanctified. “It drives home that my wife and I have a relationship blessed by God,” he shares.

That grounding in both love and divine purpose aligns seamlessly with the broader mission of The Bapti$$. For LaPlante, each song is more than just music; it is part of a larger journey of healing, renewal, and storytelling. Wear & Tear may be playful, but it still carries the weight of intentionality. “The whistling gives it this old American hobo vibe,” LaPlante explains. “Still, it fits with everything else I’ve released so far. It’s in the same spirit.”

The creative process behind the song was raw, immediate, and unfiltered. “I just jumped in the booth and pieced it together on the spot,” LaPlante says. “Nearly the whole project has come together effortlessly.” That organic energy can be felt throughout Wear & Tear, which radiates joy precisely because it was born without overthinking.

For all its optimism, the single continues LaPlante’s spiritual thread. “Just let God take the wheel, man,” he says. “I’ve learned there’s no greater superpower than having God in your life.” This perspective gives Wear & Tear a resonance beyond its catchy whistle and sunny guitar; it becomes a testimony of faith, love, and trust in divine alignment.

As release number four, the single also marks a pivotal point in the rollout of Pop Cult(ure), The Bapti$$’ long-awaited debut album. With just weeks to go until its release, LaPlante is already brimming with anticipation. “I’m super excited to drop it and I’m already itching to cook up the next batch of music,” he shares.

Now based in Haida Gwaii after years in Saskatchewan, LaPlante has carved out a sound that is warm, lush, and rooted in a wide spectrum of influences. His songs stretch from acoustic indie-pop to singer-songwriter R&B, from rootsy folk to spacy electronic textures. Wear & Tear fits into this world seamlessly, a playful outlier that still carries the same spirit of devotion and truth.

Ultimately, The Bapti$$ represents not just music, but a mission. LaPlante’s goal is to uplift, to offer strength to those who need it most, and to stay connected to the youth who may be navigating the same struggles he has witnessed. With Wear & Tear, he offers a moment of levity, a whistle-driven love song that shines with hope and divine joy—proof that even in the lightest melodies, there can be profound meaning.