{{Short description|American musician (born 1995)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jakob Nowell | image = Jakob Nowell With Sublime (cropped).jpg | caption = Nowell performing with Sublime at Coachella in April 2024 | background = | birth_name = Jakob James Markus Nowell | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|06|25}} | birth_place = Long Beach, California, U.S. | instrument = {{flatlist| * Vocals * guitar }} | genre = {{flatlist| * Ska * punk rock * reggae * alternative rock * pop rock }} | occupation = | years_active = 2013–present | label = {{flatlist| * Skunk * Epitaph }} | current_member_of = {{hlist|Sublime|Jakobs Castle}} | past_member_of = {{hlist|LAW|Death of the Author}} | website = }} '''Jakob James Markus Nowell'''<ref name=lat>{{cite news |last1=Crowe |first1=Jerry |title=Heroin's Toll Is Nothing Sublime |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-23-ca-26969-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=23 July 1996}}</ref> (born June 25, 1995)<ref name="lb1">{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Brandon |title=With his own sound, Jakob Nowell hopes to live up to the Sublime legacy of his father |url=https://lbpost.com/hi-lo/with-his-own-sound-jakob-nowell-hopes-to-live-up-to-the-sublime-legacy-of-his-father/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |work=the Hi-lo |publisher=The Long Beach Post |date=19 November 2023}}</ref> 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 who died in 1996.
==Career== ===LAW=== 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Nate |title=Brad Nowell's Son Just Turned 18. He Talks About Playing His Very First Gig |url=http://www.ocweekly.com/music/brad-nowells-son-just-turned-18-he-talks-about-playing-his-very-first-gig-6603607 |access-date=21 January 2024 |work=OC Weekly |date=3 July 2013}}</ref> LAW's debut EP was released on Skunk Records.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Milligan |first1=Kaitlin |title=Late Sublime Frontman's Son Jakob Nowell Brings His Band LAW to Long Beach |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Late-Sublime-Frontmans-Son-Jakob-Nowell-Brings-His-Band-LAW-to-Long-Beach-20181030 |access-date=20 January 2024 |work=BroadwayWorld |date=30 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name=billboard>{{cite magazine |last1=Reesman |first1=Bryan |title=LAW's Jakob Nowell Discusses New Music, Overcoming Addiction and Father Bradley's Legacy |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/jakob-nowell-interview-new-music-overcoming-addiction-8491125/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |magazine=Billboard |date=20 December 2018}}</ref> Nowell had a falling out with the other members of LAW in 2021, and they subsequently broke up.<ref name="lb1"/>
===Jakobs Castle=== Nowell went on to form Jakobs Castle with producer Jon Joseph.<ref name=p1>{{cite news |last1=Oxwelling |first1=Mike |title=The Nowell Family Might Just Re-define SoCal Music Once Again |url=https://thepier.org/jakob-nowell-son-of-sublimes-bradley-nowell-steps-out-with-new-project-jakobs-castle/ |access-date=21 January 2024 |work=The Pier Magazine |date=15 August 2023}}</ref> In 2023, the project made their label debut with Epitaph Records.<ref name=berk>{{cite news |last1=Faulkner |first1=Clara |title=Exclusive: The "beach meets internet" fusion of Jakobs Castle |url=https://berkeleybeacon.com/exclusive-jakobs-castles-fusion-of-beach-meets-internet/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |work=The Berkeley Beacon |date=16 October 2023}}</ref> Their debut album ''Enter: The Castle'' was released in April 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=River |first1=Julie |title=News: Jakobs Castle Announce New Album 'Enter: The Castle' and Release New Single |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/news-jakobs-castle-announce-new-album-enter-the-castle-and-release-new-single/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |work=New Noise Magazine |date=18 January 2024}}</ref> It features songs co-written by Tim Armstrong.<ref name=p1/>
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.<ref>{{cite video |title=Death of the Author, "Last Exit" |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@dota_marco/video/7380826864731933994 |access-date=13 December 2024|quote=This is one of the singles we released with Jakob Nowell (Sublime) as our singer. While our run with him was shortly lived, I’m glad we were able to crank out bangers like this one 😎 |publisher=TikTok}}</ref> Nowell can be seen in the music video for their single, "Last Exit".<ref>{{cite video |title=Death of the Author - "Last Exit" (Official Music Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ev8qQy6h9U |access-date=5 August 2024 |publisher=YouTube |date=28 July 2022}}</ref>
===Sublime=== 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, for a benefit show for Bad Brains vocalist H.R. at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Brooks |first1=Dave |title=Rome Ramirez to Exit Sublime While Original Members Explore Venture With Bradley Nowell's Son |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/sublime-rome-ramirez-exit-band-bradley-nowell-son-joins-1235561516/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |magazine=Billboard |date=19 December 2023}}</ref> They also performed at Coachella in 2024.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Mier |first1=Tomás |title=Sublime to Reunite With Bradley Nowell's Son for Coachella 2024 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sublime-coachella-reunion-bradley-nowell-son-jakob-1234948016/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=17 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=2024-04-14 |title=Sublime Rocks Coachella as Jakob Nowell Plays Late Father Bradley's Guitar |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/sublime-coachella-jakob-nowell-setlist-1235966774/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Nowell has gone on to become the band's permanent lead singer.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bradley-nowells-son-sublime-singer-rome-coachella-1234975303/|title=Bradley Nowell's Son is Sublime's New Singer. His Path Hasn't Been Easy|first=Brian|last=Hiatt|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=February 25, 2024}}</ref> Sublime began working on a new album with Nowell, the first for the band since 1996, and released the single "Ensenada" in July 2025. The album, ''Until the Sun Explodes'', is scheduled to be released on June 12, 2026.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/sublime-new-album-until-the-sun-explodes-interview-1235537242/|title=Inside Sublime's 'Until the Sun Explodes,' Their First New Album Since 1996|work=Rolling Stone|first=Brian|last=Hiatt|date=March 25, 2026|access-date=March 25, 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== Nowell was born on June 25, 1995, at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, California.<ref name="lb1"/> He is the only child 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.<ref name=lat/> Nowell became interested in music at a young age, and taught himself how to sing and play guitar on his own.<ref name=db>{{cite news |last1=Hixon |first1=Michael |title=Jakob Nowell, son of deceased Sublime frontman, moves from ska punk to hard rock |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2018/08/14/jakob-nowell-son-of-deceased-sublime-frontman-moves-from-ska-punk-to-hard-rock/ |access-date=21 January 2024 |work=Daily Breeze |date=14 August 2018}}</ref>
Nowell began drinking at the age of twelve which developed into alcoholism.<ref name=billboard/> Drug use was normalized in his household.<ref name="lb1"/> Nowell explained that his drug and alcohol exploration stemmed from a "subconscious desire to kind of understand what my dad's experiences were".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Sublime Doc Details Addiction Battles After Bradley Nowell's Death |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sublime-doc-details-how-addiction-ravaged-band-after-bradley-nowells-death-197228/ |access-date=21 January 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=19 September 2017}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brazil |first1=Ben |title=Laguna filmmaker documents the fall and rise of life as a drug addict |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-wknd-et-zman-20171102-story.html |access-date=21 January 2024 |work=Daily Pilot |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=2 November 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Family of Sublime Frontman Opened Bradley's House in December |url=https://thepier.org/family-of-sublime-frontman-opened-bradleys-house-in-december/ |access-date=21 January 2024 |work=The Pier Magazine |date=19 December 2023}}</ref>
In 2021, he married Ashlyn Zeda.<ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=sublime|postid=CWZVvkIv2so|title=Congrats to @jakobnowell and @ashlyn.zeda Welcome to the Sublime Fam!! ❤️💍🌹 |date=17 November 2021}}</ref> They divorced after only a few months of marriage.<ref name="lb1"/>
Nowell has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.<ref>{{cite AV media |work=The SDR Show |interviewer-last1=Sutton |interviewer-first1=Ralph |interviewer-last2=Mattern |interviewer-first2=James |date=6 June 2024 |title=Sublime's lead singer was prescribed meth for ADHD |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bUoMHEJbvQ |format=YouTube video |type= |language= |location= |publisher= |access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} {{Sublime}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nowell, Jakob}} Category:1995 births Category:21st-century American guitarists Category:21st-century American male singers Category:American alternative rock musicians Category:American lead guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:American musicians with disabilities Category:Guitarists from California Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Long Beach, California Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Category:Reggae rock musicians Category:Singers from California Category:Singers with disabilities Category:Sublime (band) members