"The set-up for a typical Jesse Welles video is simple: the 32-year-old stands in an open field under a string of powerlines, clutching an acoustic guitar. From behind a tousled, curly mop of hair, he stares straight into the camera and starts singing. "Join ICE" is just one of the dozens of songs Welles routinely shares on social media. They're often short and satirical tunes, riding on his coarse voice and fingerpicked guitar strings, that respond to the major headlines of the week."
"They challenge the narratives presented to Americans by governments and corporations; they draw historical parallels and unearth underlying tensions that lead people to blame one another for institutional injustices. "We've never been this informed," Welles tells NPR about Americans today. "Pair being informed with being disempowered - being that aware and having so little hard influence on the aspects of your life that you're so awake to. I think that explains a lot of people's frustration.""
Jesse Welles, Jensen McRae and Mon Rovía create plainspoken protest songs that have found audiences online. Welles often films himself in open fields playing short, satirical acoustic tunes responding to current headlines. His songs challenge narratives advanced by governments and corporations, draw historical parallels and expose tensions that push people to blame each other for systemic injustices. Welles frames his work as pro-working-class and anti-violence and emphasizes radical nonviolence as a guiding principle. Social media reactions to his appearances and songs have been mixed, with some questioning his associations while others praise his willingness to avoid partisan labels.
Read at Kqed
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