Rising glam-pop star Jake Wesley Rogers has returned with a defiant new single called “Dark Bird.” The soaring track, which combines dramatic pop production with the artist’s love of roiling rock contortions, celebrates being an outsider and forging your own path. It heralds the arrival of a new era for the acclaimed newcomer after releasing his beloved Pluto EP at the end of 2021.
“Dark Bird” is a song of steely defiance, belted over hypnotic drums and throbbing bass. As ever, his lyrics are evocative and introspective—the result of an artist with a clear vision of how he wants to present his innermost thoughts to the world. “Say goodbye to Mona Lisa ‘cause she’s jumping out the frame,” Rogers sings. “I’m killing yesterday like the dark bird.” The song’s self-assuredness is mirrored by the cover art, which captures the 25-year-old’s gender-blurring aesthetic. It’s this union of classic musicality and stunning imagery that has won over a rapidly growing fanbase.
“I wrote ‘Dark Bird’ after seeing a stranger in New Orleans with a raven tattooed on their arm—they told me about this myth of the raven who stole the sun from the eagle and gave the world its light. I truly believe it’s our darkness that frees us—if only we can embrace it,” Rogers explained. “Dark Bird reminds me that’s it’s okay to dance like Stevie Nicks, to get an impulsive tattoo, to burn my life down, and to build it back even better.”
Signed by hit songwriter Justin Tranter in 2020, the multi-talented artist’s ascent began early last year when Apple Music’s Zane Lowe debuted the song “Middle of Love,” calling Rogers “wildly talented.” That opinion was shared by a wide array of tastemakers including People, Billboard, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, and PAPER. His ambitious visual style and bold music also attracted the attention of Vogue who profiled him as part of their Youthquake series, highlighting Gen-Z creators that are radically reimagining the future. Jake was able to showcase his unique style a larger-than-life stage presence with performances on The Late Late Show With James Corden and Late Night With Seth Meyers last year.
Jake has been building a loyal following since the release of “Middle of Love” – admirers include Kate Hudson, Ryan Reynolds, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Smith, Courtney Love, Madonna and Sir Elton John who praised Jake in a recent interview with NPR and said, “I think he’s gonna be huge.” With singles like “Weddings and Funerals” and “Momentary,” as well as his six-track Pluto EP, Rogers is set to bring his unique brand of unfiltered glam-pop to an even wider audience soon. In the meantime, “Dark Bird” reminds listeners how high he can soar.