Jesse Welles

Active on the American independent scene since the mid-2010s, Jesse Welles is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Arkansas, United States, who, under the names Jesse Welles and Welles, crafts a rock sound that blends grunge energy, classic-rock heritage, and psychedelic touches. After several self-released records under various iterations of his name, Jesse Welles drew attention with songs built on overdriven guitars and melancholy melodies, with his slightly husky voice remaining at the center of his writing. His first full-length album, "Red Trees and White Trashes," released in 2018 under the Welles moniker, distills this aesthetic across slow ballads, heavy riffs, and more pop-leaning choruses, in a vein akin to 1990s indie rock. Regularly touring clubs and small venues across the United States, Welles/Jesse Welles has built his path around a tight, band-centered format, favoring a direct approach to both stage and studio, with a repertoire that oscillates between introspective songs and more abrasive cuts.