Following the emotionally stirring “My Father’s Sins,” The Bapti$$—the spiritual, genre-blending project of veteran artist Joseph LaPlante—returns with “Wear & Tear,” a light-hearted, whistled love song that radiates hope, joy, and divine alignment. The single is the fourth release from his just-announced debut LP, Pop Cult(ure), out September 26th.

Built around a delicate acoustic guitar, thick 808 bass drums, and a nostalgic whistle melody, “Wear & Tear” is a unique blend of contrast and cohesion. It’s both old and new, playful yet grounded, modern yet timeless.

“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.”

Meet me at the cedar tree

This lyric anchors the track with a subtle but powerful nod to LaPlante’s spiritual ethos. In the Pacific Northwest, cedar trees represent spiritual strength, and here, they become a symbol for love that’s been anointed. “It drives home that my wife and I have a relationship blessed by God,” he shares.

“Wear & Tear” continues The Bapti$$’ thread of intentional, heartfelt storytelling, even as the tone shifts to something more playful. “The whistling gives it this old American hobo vibe,” says LaPlante. “Still, it fits with everything else I’ve released so far. It’s in the same spirit.”

As with the other songs from The Bapti$$, the creative process was raw and intuitive. “I just jumped in the booth and pieced it together on the spot. Nearly the whole project has come together effortlessly.”

“Wear & Tear” is spiritual pop-country with a smile—a warm beam of light in The Bapti$$’ growing body of work. Despite its cheerful exterior, the track remains deeply aligned with his core mission: following divine direction in both music and life.

“Just let God take the wheel, man,” LaPlante says. “I’ve learned there’s no greater superpower than having God in your life.”

With this being release number four, The Bapti$$ is preparing for the unveiling of his long-awaited debut LP, Pop Cult(ure), dropping September 26th. “I’m super excited to drop it and I’m already itching to cook up the next batch of music,” he adds.