DuPont

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning "DuPont" by Jesse Welles from his album Hells Welles, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it. This track, released on May 20, 2024, is a biting folk protest song that takes aim at the DuPont corporation’s legacy of environmental harm. Its lyrics, like “Downstream from deceit / Downwind from lies,” call out the company’s role in producing “forever chemicals” such as PFOS and C-8, which have been linked to health issues like birth defects. According to Genius, the song’s raw, sarcastic tone and vivid imagery, including lines about “chemical sludge” and “lies fly by on the side of a blimp,” make it a standout for its unapologetic critique of corporate greed. Welles has shared on Instagram that he wrote "DuPont" after diving into research about industrial pollution, inspired by his frustration with unchecked corporate power. Fans on Reddit’s FolkPunk community have praised the song’s sharp wit, with one user calling it “a modern Woody Guthrie jab” for its ability to blend humor with heavy truths.

Another layer to "DuPont" comes from Welles’ performances, which he often films in the woods near his Arkansas home, as noted in a New York Times profile. These raw, acoustic videos, posted across TikTok and YouTube, amplify the song’s back-to-the-land vibe, resonating with the Zoo Freaks’ love for authentic, rebellious sounds. In a Saving Country Music interview, Welles explained that the song’s stripped-down production was intentional, meant to let the lyrics hit like “a brick through a window.” He’s also hinted on X that “DuPont” was partly inspired by his father’s health struggles, tying personal stakes to its broader social commentary. The track’s inclusion on Hells Welles, an album lauded by Maximum Volume Music for its “laser-guided” attacks on modern issues, has made it a fan favorite at live shows, where crowds chant along to its infectious refrains.

Jesse Welles, born Jesse Wells around 1994 or 1995 in Ozark, Arkansas, kicked off his musical journey at age 11 when he picked up a guitar. Growing up in a small town with a turkey plant and a couple of gas stations, as described in a Glide Magazine review, he was steeped in folk, country, classic rock, and Motown, drawing inspiration from icons like Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and Nirvana. As a teenager, he burned his own songs onto CDs to sell locally, showcasing his DIY spirit. Under the alias Jeh Sea Wells, he started posting homemade recordings on SoundCloud and Bandcamp around 2012, as noted on Wikipedia. That same year, he formed the band Dead Indian with Dirk Porter and Simon Martin, releasing two albums and singles like “Summer” and “Xmas 97.” In 2015, Welles moved to Nashville to work with producer Dave Cobb, a turning point that led to his debut album Red Trees and White Trashes in 2018, released under the mononym Welles.

Before his folk protest era, Welles fronted another band, Cosmic American, with Simon Martin, Skyler Greene, and Blake Foster, performing on Fayetteville Public Television in 2016, though the group disbanded before finishing their album. His early career included opening for bands like Greta Van Fleet and Royal Blood, and headlining at Chicago’s Schubas in 2019, as covered by the Chicago Tribune. After being dropped by his label during the pandemic, Welles reinvented himself, rebranding as Jesse Welles and leaning into folk with viral social media posts. His 2023 TikTok covers and 2024 protest songs like “DuPont” skyrocketed his following to over a million across platforms, earning praise from The New York Times and Vulture for his “everyman” voice and clever lyrics. Fans can connect with him on his official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X.

For Zoo Freaks looking to dive deeper, the Official Jesse Welles Store offers vinyls, t-shirts, and more, reflecting his growing cult status. Fan communities are thriving, particularly on Reddit’s r/FolkPunk, where users share live show stories, like one who drove four hours to see Welles at Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta, calling his guitar picking “awesome” and lyrics “piercing.” There’s also a Jesse Welles Fans Facebook group, where supporters discuss his music and post covers of songs like “DuPont.” These spaces capture the grassroots energy of Welles’ fanbase, echoing the Zoo Crew’s vibe of keeping it real and spinning records that speak truth to power.