Jesse Welles is an independent folk singer performing mostly protest/topical songs. He hails from Ozark, Arkansas and describes himself as having a life-long love of music. Welles had a full career in the music business long before his online stardom, playing a part in 15 albums, 8 EPs, and 7 singles -not released under the name Jesse Welles; as the front-man of two bands, Dead Indian and Cosmic-American, and releasing music solo, under the names "Jeh Sea Wells" and "Welles". Most of said work was more rock-and-roll than the folk tunes he snaps out now. Welles was signed to 300 Entertainment in 2012 and was dropped from the label during the covid pandemic.

After being booted from 300 Entertainment he described himself as dejected, "I was going to stop playing music and I was just going to... I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but I was gonna quit playing music because I was kind of burnt out on it. I wasn't really honing anything, but just running and reading a lot, and I think holding it down for about two years," Jesse Welles said for an interview on wyep.org.

Ultimately unable to rectify that "life without playing music", Welles started a TikTok page in 2023 playing cover songs. Over the next year, after his father survived a heart attack, Jesse Welles once again became a song writing machine. His videos, filmed mostly in the woods, consist of Welles himself, a guitar, sometimes a harmonica, and either politically topical or heavily emotional lyrics.

"Singing the News" jumpstarted fame and cult-like following. Called "The Voice of America's Guilty Conscience" by "Saving Country Music", the satirical harsh language of Welles' protest songs enraptured the minds of thousands young and old. His most popular songs can touch on topics from Palestine and America's aggressive foreign policy to obesity and over-prescribed medications.

Welles seized the opportunity, releasing dozens of songs and touring consistently. During his "Fear is the Mind Killer Tour" he has performed at well known venues such as The Troubadour and Bowery Ballroom, but doesn't shy away from busking on street corners. Being seen as an angel's voice in turbulent times was never expected for Welles, commenting "I've been failing at this my whole life," in a New York Times interview. But as the people see it, he is something that has been sorely needed.

Welles has been compared to many folk icons; such as Bob Dylan, John Prine, Woody Guthrie, or Phil Ochs. Very aware of the pressing Dylan comparisons, he has preformed multiple cover songs, but it is his original writing which draws the most enthusiasm from crowds.

After each mind numbing event hits the news recently, within a few days or even hours, you can usually find Jesse Welles quipping sardonically over his little yellow guitar about it.
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