Jake Wesley Rogers

Jake Wesley Rogers pairs classic pop melodicism with a modern perspective, delivering tightly crafted songs that are poignant, inclusive, and frequently catchy. With nods to forebears like Elton John and Florence + the Machine, the Missouri native appeared in the late 2010s bearing a splashy visual aesthetic and honest, heartfelt stories told through a queer lens. Self-released songs like 2019′s “Little Queen” and “Jacob from the Bible” earned him a contract with Warner-affiliated Facet Records, which helped introduce Rogers to the mainstream with EPs like Pluto (2021) and Love (2022).
Growing up in rural Ozark, Missouri, Rogers was captivated by music from a young age, learning to sing and play the piano and guitar. He showed plenty of promise and in 2012 made it to the quarter-finals on the seventh Season of NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Still a teenager at the time, he earned some professional experience and early publicity, setting him on the path toward releasing his own music several years later.
Early releases like 2017′s Evergreen EP revealed a strong, emotive singer with a solid clutch of songs, but Rogers really came into his own on tracks like 2019′s “Spiritual” and “Jacob from the Bible.” His personality and confidence shone through when he began to explore his own stories growing up queer in the conservative, religious Midwest. These songs caught the attention of hit songwriter Justin Tranter who signed Rogers to his Warner-distributed Facet Records imprint in 2020. Rogers’ first outing for the label was “Middle of Love,” a soaring midtempo rocker with old-school pop appeal and a strong affirmative message. Along with additional singles like “Weddings and Funerals” and “Momentary,” it appeared on his 2021 EP Pluto. 2022′s Love EP included the streaming hits “Lavender Forever” and “Hindsight.” ~ Timothy Monger