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Jakob Nowell

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Jakob Nowell
Nowell performing with Sublime at Coachella in April 2024
Nowell performing with Sublime at Coachella in April 2024
Background information
Birth nameJakob James Markus Nowell
Born (1995-06-25) June 25, 1995 (age 29)
St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, California
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2013–present
Labels

Jakob James Markus Nowell[1] (born June 25, 1995)[2] is an American musician based in Southern California. He was a founding member of the band LAW, and was their vocalist until his departure in 2021. Nowell went on to form the band Jakobs Castle. In 2023, Nowell was brought on as the frontman of Sublime, a role previously held by his father Bradley Nowell.

Career

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LAW (2013–2021)

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Nowell was the vocalist of ska-punk band LAW, a trio that was established in Long Beach in 2013. Their first show was supported by Miguel Happoldt.[3] LAW's debut EP was released on Skunk Records.[4] LAW released their only full-length album, There and Back Again, in 2018. It was a departure from their original ska and reggae based influence.[5] Nowell had a falling out with the other members of LAW in 2021, and they subsequently broke up.[2]

Jakob's Castle (2021–present)

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Nowell went on to form Jakobs Castle with producer Jon Joseph.[6] In 2023, the project made their label debut with Epitaph Records.[7] Their debut album Enter: The Castle was released in April 2024.[8] It features songs co-written by Tim Armstrong.[6]

In addition to his work with Jakobs Castle, Nowell briefly joined the progressive metal band Death of the Author. He contributed writing and vocals to several tracks. Nowell can be seen in the music video for their single, "Last Exit".[9]

Frontman for Sublime

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In December 2023, it was announced that Rome Ramirez was departing Sublime with Rome at the end of 2024. It was later revealed that Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh had agreed to revive Sublime, with Jakob Nowell as a member of the band. Their first show as a trio was that month.[10] They also performed at Coachella in 2024.[11][12] Nowell is the band's lead singer.[13]

Personal life

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Nowell was born on June 25, 1995, at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, California.[2] He is the son of Bradley Nowell, the founding guitarist and vocalist of Sublime, and Troy denDekker. Jakob was 11 months old when his father died of a heroin overdose in 1996.[1] Nowell became interested in music at a young age, and taught himself how to sing and play guitar on his own.[14]

Nowell began drinking at the age of twelve and started to battle with alcoholism.[5] Drug use was normalized in his household.[2] Nowell explained that his drug and alcohol exploration stemmed from a "subconscious desire to kind of understand what my dad's experiences were".[15]

Nowell became sober in 2017. His sobriety was documented in the 2017 film The Long Way Back: The Story of Todd Z-Man Zalkins. The documentary explores the story of Todd Zalkins, a drug interventionist, former opioid addict, and childhood friend of Nowell's father. In the film, Zalkins succeeds in his quest to get Nowell clean.[16] Nowell, along with his grandfather and aunt, helped start the Nowell Family Foundation, a non-profit that provides addiction recovery services and support for musicians.[17]

In 2021, he married Ashlyn Zeda.[18] They divorced after only a few months of marriage.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Crowe, Jerry (23 July 1996). "Heroin's Toll Is Nothing Sublime". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ a b c d e Richardson, Brandon (19 November 2023). "With his own sound, Jakob Nowell hopes to live up to the Sublime legacy of his father". the Hi-lo. The Long Beach Post. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  3. ^ Jackson, Nate (3 July 2013). "Brad Nowell's Son Just Turned 18. He Talks About Playing His Very First Gig". OC Weekly. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  4. ^ Milligan, Kaitlin (30 October 2018). "Late Sublime Frontman's Son Jakob Nowell Brings His Band LAW to Long Beach". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b Reesman, Bryan (20 December 2018). "LAW's Jakob Nowell Discusses New Music, Overcoming Addiction and Father Bradley's Legacy". Billboard. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b Oxwelling, Mike (15 August 2023). "The Nowell Family Might Just Re-define SoCal Music Once Again". The Pier Magazine. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  7. ^ Faulkner, Clara (16 October 2023). "Exclusive: The "beach meets internet" fusion of Jakobs Castle". The Berkeley Beacon. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  8. ^ River, Julie (18 January 2024). "News: Jakobs Castle Announce New Album 'Enter: The Castle' and Release New Single". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  9. ^ Death of the Author - "Last Exit" (Official Music Video). YouTube. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  10. ^ Brooks, Dave (19 December 2023). "Rome Ramirez to Exit Sublime While Original Members Explore Venture With Bradley Nowell's Son". Billboard. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  11. ^ Mier, Tomás (17 January 2024). "Sublime to Reunite With Bradley Nowell's Son for Coachella 2024". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  12. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (2024-04-14). "Sublime Rocks Coachella as Jakob Nowell Plays Late Father Bradley's Guitar". Variety. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  13. ^ Hiatt, Brian (February 25, 2024). "Bradley Nowell's Son is Sublime's New Singer. His Path Hasn't Been Easy". Rolling Stone.
  14. ^ Hixon, Michael (14 August 2018). "Jakob Nowell, son of deceased Sublime frontman, moves from ska punk to hard rock". Daily Breeze. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Sublime Doc Details Addiction Battles After Bradley Nowell's Death". Rolling Stone. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  16. ^ Brazil, Ben (2 November 2017). "Laguna filmmaker documents the fall and rise of life as a drug addict". Daily Pilot. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Family of Sublime Frontman Opened Bradley's House in December". The Pier Magazine. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  18. ^ @sublime (17 November 2021). "Congrats to @jakobnowell and @ashlyn.zeda Welcome to the Sublime Fam!! ❤️💍🌹" – via Instagram.
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