Jesse Welles: 2026 Video Session

To grab a line from Jesse Welles' "Won't You Come Out Tonight" from his new album, Masks Off, the moon is shining bright on this Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter. His taut dynamic, slipping between thoughtful, straightforward meditations about his life experience and his viral and searing sociopolitical field recordings, has transformed his career. Soft-spoken and prolific, the Arkansas-based musician wields his songwriting sword with incisive lyricism, speaking truth to power.

Recently nominated for a 2026 Americana Award as "Artist of the Year," Welles released his sixth studio album, Masks Off, in June. The album, recorded swiftly in just three sessions between tour dates with producer Eddie Spear, is a mix of what fans admire about Welles and his knack for sharp wit, gritty candor, and wisdom. Of the title track, he said that it was the "kind of tune that's easier to write than it is to sing."

Welles's 2026 FUV Live session, partly recorded at The Bitter End in November 2025, didn't give FUV a chance to record his set at the Village venue — so recently, to mark the release of Masks Off, Welles dropped by FUV's Studio A for a three-song solo set that our videographers could record. 

Check out dynamic performances of three songs from the new album: "Siddhartha," "Masks Off," and "Won't You Come Out Tonight."

[Recorded: 6/2/26. Engineered by Jim O'Hara. Videographers: Alena Godas, Olivia Iannaccone, Danny Cifelli and Kellie McGuinness.]