Jesse Welles, a Folk Musician Who Sings the News, Is Turning the Page
Welles, a singer-songwriter with a shaggy, dirty-blond mane and a sandpapery voice, has risen to recent prominence posting videos to social media of himself alone in the woods near his home in northwest Arkansas, performing wryly funny, politically engaged folk songs. He's managed to turn subjects like the war in Gaza, the rise of the weight-loss drug Ozempic and the rapaciousness of United Healthcare's business model into viral hits on TikTok and Instagram, building an audience of more than 2 million followers on those platforms. But the song he was recording in that basement in East Nashville, 'Simple Gifts,' is a different beast.
As he delicately plucked his acoustic guitar, he sang its earnest opening lines — 'Slouching towards the sky's extent from the edges of a waste / Was something darker than a hope, something brighter still than fate' — sketching out an imagistic tableau untouched by current events. Welles's new album, 'Middle,' due Feb. 21, is similarly minded.
'The only filter placed on it was I wasn't doing topical songs for this project,' he said. 'These are ones that are self-indulgent, or at least I feel like they are at times. I like to do both. They're two different mediums.' Image Jesse Welles's protest songs deftly blend the whimsical with the serious, turning topics like Walmart and the war in Gaza into viral hits on TikTok and Instagram. Credit... Eric Ryan Anderson for The New York Times
The producer, Eddie Spear, rose from behind a mixing board and adjusted the microphone in front of Welles. Most of the songs on 'Middle' are recorded with a full band, but for 'Simple Gifts' and the album's title track, the setup was pared down to a solitary microphone. 'I'm trying to honor what people are enjoying about Jesse,' said Spear, who has also worked with Zach Bryan and Sierra Ferrell. 'We thought getting a really simple capture in this way might tie in where he's come from and honor this particular period of his career.'
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Shelter Cat Born With a 'Fluffy' Nose Finally Meets Her Family After Appeal
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A rescue cat with very quirky features has finally found a loving home, as internet users praise her for giving "Nanny McPhee vibes." Winifred the rescue feline, who is thought to be around 3 years old, was discovered outside by a cat caregiver in Chicago, Illinois. That individual, who works on Trap-Neuter-Return efforts in the local area, fostered Winifred until she could be added to the PAWS Chicago adoption program. Allison Wunder, the senior digital media manager at PAWS Chicago, a no-kill humane organization, told Newsweek that Winifred is "very affectionate and loving." However, the cat certainly has some distinctive features that make her stand out from the crowd. Winifred isn't like other felines, as she has "a fluffy nose" due to a dermoid on that part of her face, and she also has an extra canine tooth right in the middle of her upper gums that protrudes out. They are certainly adorable features and simply add to Winifred's individuality. From left: Winifred the rescue cat rests at PAWS Chicago. From left: Winifred the rescue cat rests at PAWS Chicago. @pawschicago / TikTok Indeed, Winifred bears a strong resemblance to Nanny McPhee, played by actress Emma Thompson in the 2005 children's movie. Wunder said: "She has a benign lump on top of her nose that is growing hair and even a couple of whiskers. This is cosmetic only and doesn't cause her any problems. Similar to her tooth, removing it would put her through unnecessary surgery and recovery. "She will roll around for pets, and her favorite toys are Ping-Pong balls. She is a really sweet, calm companion," Wunder added. The dermoid and the extra tooth don't impact Winifred in any way. She can still eat like normal, and she has a strong sense of smell. A video of the 'Nanny McPheeline' was shared on the PAWS Chicago TikTok account (@pawschicago) and it went viral with over 1.3 million views and more than 219,000 likes at the time of writing. The clip encouraged people to consider rescuing Winifred and to give her a second chance at life. In the days since the video was shared online, Winifred's furry nose and extra tooth have melted plenty of hearts. Internet users have become so obsessed with her, and the appeal has even helped her get adopted. Winifred is now in her forever home, and it is delightful that her quirky features didn't get in the way of her being truly loved. "The response on social was incredible; so many people commented to express their love for Winifred. A lot of people compared her to Nanny McPhee, too," Wunder said. The social-media attention has led to more than 2,100 comments on the viral TikTok post already. One comment reads: "she's giving Nanny McPhee, I'm sobbing." Another TikTok user wrote: "she's perfect & I hope her future family treats her like the queen she is." A third person replied: "extra tooth for extra treats." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
Newsweek
35 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Labrador Retriever Has Been At Shelter Nearly 1500 Days—It's 'Taken A Toll'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A dog is closing in on 1,500 days at an animal shelter and, sadly, it's beginning to show. Lucky the Labrador Retriever's situation first came to light after staff at the Ady Gil World Conservation (AGWC) Rockin' Rescue Animal Adoption Center in California posted a video to TikTok under the handle @agwcrockinrescue earlier this month, highlighting how long he had been there. By that time, Lucky had been waiting 1,482 days to find a forever home to call his own. Now he is just two weeks away from racking up 1,500 days there. The sad reality is that Lucky really hasn't had all that much luck in his life to date. "Lucky came to us on June 29, 2021," Fabienne Origer from AGWC Rockin' Rescue told Newsweek. "He was originally rescued from a neglect situation, and although we don't know every detail about his past, it's clear he didn't receive much love or structure before arriving here." Read more Great Dane realizes owner's ex isn't coming home—His reaction breaks hearts Great Dane realizes owner's ex isn't coming home—His reaction breaks hearts Despite those difficult beginnings, Lucky has emerged as a favorite among staff at AGWC, with Origer describing him as "incredibly intelligent, loyal and eager to please." "Some of Lucky's favorite things include going for walks, playing fetch, and spending time with the people he trusts," Origer said. "He's also a big fan of enrichment toys and mental stimulation—he's the kind of dog who thrives when he has a job to do." Sadly, Lucky has not garnered much in the way of interest from visitors to the shelter. "Lucky has struggled to get adopted mainly because he needs experienced dog owners and a home without small children," Origer said. "He takes a bit of time to trust new people, and that initial hesitation can be challenging in a shelter setting where first impressions are everything." Shelter dogs have the smallest of windows in which to catch the eye of a visitor. One 2014 study published in Applied Animal Behavior Science found that the average shelter visitor interacts with just one dog per visit, and that these interactions last an average of eight minutes. That's not enough time for Lucky. He needs someone with patience. Someone willing to put in the time. It's worth it though. "Once he bonds with someone, he's all in—devoted and affectionate," Origer said. Lucky is closing in on 1500 days in the shelter. Lucky is closing in on 1500 days in the shelter. TikTok/agwcrockinrescue Until that someone comes along though, Lucky has little choice but to watch and wait from the confines of the shelter. It's a situation that has clearly had an impact, with Lucky appearing nervous and withdrawn in the video posted to TikTok by AGWC. "He's starting to lose hope and becoming depressed," a caption accompanying the footage warns. "Spending over 1,400 days without a home has definitely taken a toll on Lucky," Origer said. "While we do everything we can to give him the best life possible at the rescue, nothing compares to the stability, routine, and love that a forever home can provide. He deserves that." Though Lucky may have given up hope of finding that forever home he so desperately needs, the AGWC hasn't and, after four years together, have a clear idea of the kind of home he would be best suited to. "Lucky would do best in a calm, adult-only home with someone who has experience handling larger breeds and is willing to go at his pace," Origer said. "He needs someone who understands that trust takes time—but once it's earned, it's for life."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Travis Kelce posted pictures of him and Taylor Swift to show 'how serious things have become'
Travis Kelce shared a carousel of photos from his off-season to Instagram and included Taylor Swift in seven of them.
