You may say that Jake Wesley Rogers is the love baby of Elton John and David Bowie, however that might be too simple. The Nashville-based glam-pop star might sport an angelic, puff-sleeved jumpsuit onstage with daring eyeshadow or glitter-encrusted sun shades, however he’s closely influenced by artists like Joni Mitchell and Brandi Carlile. The mixture is what’s made Rogers, 25, an knowledgeable at making each propulsive, arena-sized anthems and soul-baring energy ballads. Ultimately, what he desires his followers to get out of his music is “the feeling that they’re not alone,” he explains in a convention room at Hotel Fraye by Hilton in Nashville.
Read extra: Spotify Wrapped has arrived — right here’s the way to entry it
Over the previous six years, Rogers has gone from nascent indie-pop star to signing a document cope with Facet Records — the label helmed by songwriter Justin Tranter — in partnership with Warner Records. His profession has been steadily gaining traction ever since. This yr, he had a gap slot on tour with Panic! At The Disco and MARINA, landed a track in the long run credit of Billy Eichner’s film Bros and launched his newest EP LOVE in late October.
Ahead of his present in Nashville, Rogers spoke to AP about life on tour, his affinity for vogue and his dream collaboration.
You’ve been dubbed Gen Z’s Elton John, and you have been interviewed by him. What has it been wish to be related to such an iconic artist?
Well, it first made me notice that I need to not suck fully. If Elton likes what you are doing, then you definitely should be doing one thing proper as a result of he is the GOAT. But I believe it is essential to acknowledge the lineage of every part, and that we do not create in a vacuum. What we’re making now’s due to individuals who have paved the best way, and that is how I view it. People love Elton as a result of he makes them really feel extra magical. When you take heed to Elton and see him, you are feeling such as you might be who you’re, and that is one thing that I desperately am making an attempt to do in my music by being who I’m. Toni Morrison says, “The function of freedom is to free someone else,” and I imagine that, and I believe that is why we love Elton. I believe that is why we love larger-than-life characters — as a result of it does that.
Tell me the story behind your newest single “Hindsight.”
I had written it with Justin Tranter, who signed me to my label deal at Warner. I write so many songs, and most of them nobody will ever hear for excellent causes, and that was one the place I used to be like, “Oh, that’s a really fun song.” Then, Billy Eichner had texted Justin as a result of they had been ending his new film Bros. and so they wanted an finish credit score track, and he simply requested if he knew any younger LGBTQ+ artists. [Justin] was like, “Well, we wrote the song literally two days ago, and [Billy] was like, “This is totally good. This is strictly what we wanted.” So it’s one of those amazing timing things. It’s the end credits in the movie Bros. We start the set with it on this tour, and it gives a glimpse of who I am, which is [someone who is] very emotional, but upbeat and hopeful.
What’s the best piece of advice Justin has passed on to you?
More than anything, it’s important to have people who believe in you. From the moment I met him, he instilled a feeling of “that is going to work. Your story must be advised.” I don’t really know if that’s advice, but it’s essential as a young creator to have that feeling of “I’m supposed to do that,” and “I can do that.”
One of the things that makes you a really exciting artist is your style. How have you been able to experiment with different looks on tour?
Stage costumes are my favorite thing to create. I have three costumes on this tour, and they’re all very different. One’s this angelic costume; the other one’s very devilish and red. It changes the energy of the performance. What you wear changes how you feel. This is why I love dressing up because it can bring more confidence, and it can bring whimsy to the day. I love wearing a lot of colors—just making people smile, too, is fun. A lot of times I look like an art teacher retired in Florida, yet I’m a 25-year-old man.
You’ve partnered with Hilton and have been able to stay at their hotels on tour. How has that made a difference for an emerging artist like you?
Touring is a huge expense, and to have a partnership like this right now is helping all of us, the band. It’s helping us to know that we can be comfortable on the road because we’re not on a tour bus yet. So we’re in the van all day, and our backs hurt a lot. The beds are comfortable.
[Photo by Alex Stoddard]
You went to school at Belmont, how have you been able to experience Nashville differently by staying at a hotel and visiting rather than living here?
It is weird staying in a hotel here because I lived here for five years, and when I’m here I’d stay with a friend. But Nashville is kind of like an ex that I have to run into a lot. And I’m not really mad about it, because I’m always interested to see how they’re doing, and I think they’re just a deceive me too. I’m just gonna keep this metaphor going. I could have loved you [Nashville] forever. But I think it’s we’re better off as friends.
Which artists or authors inspire your work?
I feel more influenced by authors. Walt Whitman electrifies me on a very deep, artistic level. Maya Angelou does, reading her memoirs around the time I started writing my story was really important. Joni Mitchell for the same reason—her truth-telling—and Brandi Carlile, as well, for that reason. When I heard her album By the Way, I Forgive You for the first time is around the same time I started really writing autobiographically and I don’t think I would have done it had I not heard that record
Following your tour with Panic! At The Disco, do you have plans to release a full-length record?
I’m absolutely working on the first full length. I don’t know when it will come out, but it’s being worked on. I would hope in the next year, for sure, and we’re working on my first headlining tour.
Who is your dream collaboration?
Stevie Nicks. We’re manifesting that proper now.
Discussion about this post