Rock N Roll

The song "Rock N Roll" by Welles from the album Red Trees and White Trashes is a raw, gritty anthem that captures the rebellious spirit of rock music. In an interview with Broadway World, Jesse Wells, the creative force behind Welles, described the track as "an apathetic sigh—a realization that the system's broke, the dream's a nightmare." He explained that the song reflects a post-war sentiment where culture becomes the only thing left to hold onto, with lyrics like "cover me in blood" pointing to the violence and corruption he sees in politics. This perspective gives the song a biting edge, blending disillusionment with a defiant celebration of rock's enduring power.

Another layer of the song's story comes from its production. In a conversation with Pancakes & Whiskey, Wells shared that Red Trees and White Trashes was recorded with studio musicians he had never met before, handpicked for their skill. The track "Rock N Roll" was produced by Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb, whose influence helped amplify its raw energy. Wells noted that the song's creation was spontaneous, built from his demos recorded in an art commune in Fayetteville, Arkansas, called "Space Mountain." This communal, experimental environment shaped the song's unpolished, authentic vibe, making it a standout on the album.

Jesse Wells, known professionally as Welles, was born on November 22, 1994, in Ozark, Arkansas, and grew up in Northwest Arkansas. According to his Wikipedia page, he started playing guitar at age 11, quickly developing a passion for music. As a teenager, he recorded songs and sold them on burned CDs, a hustle that showed his early drive. His musical influences were eclectic, spanning folk, country, classic rock, Motown, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Nirvana. Before adopting the Welles moniker, he performed under his birth name, Jeh Sea Wells, and fronted bands like Dead Indian (formed in 2012) and Cosmic-American (formed in 2015). His move to Nashville marked a turning point, where he found bandmates who shared his vision for gritty, unpolished rock, as detailed in a Guitar World interview.

Wells' career took off with the release of his debut EP Codeine in 2017, followed by Red Trees and White Trashes in 2018. The album, praised by NPR for its "heft and complexity," showcased his ability to blend psychedelia, grunge, and Southern rock. In 2023, under the name Jesse Welles, he began posting cover songs on TikTok, and after his father survived a heart attack in 2024, he shifted to writing folk protest songs about issues like capitalism and the fentanyl crisis. These tracks, including "The Poor" and "War Isn't Murder," gained traction on social media, with Vulture describing his work as "old-fashioned folkie signifiers and trending-topic populism."

Fans can connect with Welles through his official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where he shares updates on his music and tours. While there are no prominent fan-run websites dedicated to Welles, fans actively engage on platforms like Welles Music Fan Group on Facebook, where they discuss his albums, share concert experiences, and celebrate his raw rock sound. These spaces reflect the dedicated following Welles has built, from his Arkansas roots to his global reach.