Jesse Welles Announces New Highly Anticipated Studio Album “Middle”

photo: Hannah Gray Hall


The Bob Dylan of this generation? John Prine on steroids? Jason Isbell without all the judgy baggage? Whatever you want to call Jesse Welles, he’s become a musical phenomenon. Saving Country Music called him the 2024 Songwriter of the Year, knowing that what he did in 2024 was unprecedented, but what he might do in 2025 could be even more important as the world slowly wakes up to what it has in its midst.

All the viral videos and the commentary were great, and they continue to resonate as Welles continues to churn them out at an inhuman pace. But the question Welles left us with at the end of 2024 was, “Where does this go from here?” The answer very well might be coming on February 21st when he releases his new album called Middle. Produced by Eddie Spear of Sierra Ferrell and Zach Bryan fame, this won’t just be a compilation of his viral video acoustic recordings or a dump of previously-recorded material. This will be a full studio release.

Jesse Welles is no newcomer. He’s been playing music and touring for the past decade under various band names and pseudonyms. He’s been signed to record labels. He was dropped during the pandemic, and almost gave up on music for good. Having performed in and around Arkansas ever since he was 12, it was sitting by his father’s bedside after he’d suffered a heart attack in February that Welles found the inspiration to transform himself as an artist, and be the most authentic version of himself possible, and under his real name.

Now that blazing honesty and his incisive writing has made him one of the hottest commodities in all of music. His previously-announced 2025 tour starting February 15th has sold out every single show. The festivals are starting to figure it out, and are booking him as well. But a proper studio album might be the perfect thing to put Jesse Welles over the top.

Ahead of the new album, Welles has released the song “Horses” (listen below). It’s a smart combination of his brilliant lyricism, but with a full band sound behind him to make it accessible.

Timing is so imperative to when or how an artist rises and falls. Jesse Welles is one of those artists that is perfect for this time and place, offering heterodox criticisms for universal problems in a way that’s riveting, while the sheer volume of his output is incredible, if not overwhelming.

Middle is now available for pre-save.

Track List:

1. Horses
2. Certain
3. I’m Sorry
4. Fear Is The Mind Killer
5. Wheel
6. Anything But Me
7. Every Grain of Sand
8. Simple Gifts
9. Why Don’t You Love Me
10. Rocket Man
11. War Is a God
12. Middle





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