Apple Watch 7 Stops Audio when wrist is not facing me

My apple watch 7 (cellular version) stops all audio when I turn my wrist away from looking directly at the watch. Such as just walking or running with music or any audio app. Its sometime sputters but mostly stops audio book (Audible) and music app is the same. It pauses the play, not just cuts the audio transmission. Turn the face of the watch back to facing me, it plays until I move my wrist! Been going on for about a month now. A bit frustrating.

I have tired unpairing and repairing 3 times manually- not from a backup. I have tried the turn it off and back in countless times. I have tried turning off raise to wake... the thing still stops audio unless the wrist is turned directly at me.