On September 27th, I ran across a TikTok on my for you page of Jake Wesley Rogers promoting his newest EP, Pluto. Previous to this, I had briefly heard his name from attending music festivals and mentions on social media, but that was all I really knew of Jake Wesley Rogers. It wasn’t until I heard a snippet of the title track, “Pluto”, that I knew I was hooked. It was like the EP’s release date of October 1st couldn’t come soon enough. I was telling friends, my partner, and the random strangers who follow me on the Internet that I knew this release would be a game-changer.
And it is.
One TikTok user described Jake Wesley Rogers as an “elongated (and somehow gayer)” version of Elton John, which Elton John acknowledged himself on his Apple Music radio show, “Rocket Hour”. The Pluto EP consists of “Weddings and Funerals”, “Middle of Love”, “Pluto”, “Under the Sun”, “Cause of a Scene” and finally, “Momentary”.
At the EP’s release, Rogers commented on Instagram that Pluto “sounds like music but it’s actually my soul”. The amount of emotion, story-telling, and detail that went into this collection of songs is so prominent and absolutely engulfs you in it. Rogers’ ability to hold long-standing high notes is emotional enough and every single one is perfectly placed.
The title track, “Pluto” was my favorite song off this EP from the moment I heard Rogers’ preview on TikTok, however, the very 70s, up anthem of “Middle of Love”, is also right up there. The entire EP really showcases the contrasting powers of love versus heartbreak.
Jake Wesley Rogers holds absolutely nothing back with this debut. Pluto brings to light the process of coming out as LGBT+, the death and dying of a lover, the fear of causing a scene and choosing to stay hidden to do so, and so much more. In its short twenty-one minutes, this EP covers more ‘taboo’ topics that we still don’t talk about enough, even in 2021.
Jake Wesley Rogers is a superstar in the making and I am so excited to be following him and his music. He is talented, he is theatrical, and he is destined for many great things.
Jake Wesley Rogers
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Cover art by Se Oh
