The US reggae-punk/alternative rock trio Sublime have released a new single today entitled ‘Ensenada’, Marking a significant milestone for the band, it is the first song written by the trio together since Jakob Nowell - son of founding frontman Bradley Nowell - stepped into the role of lead vocalist and guitarist in late 2023, joining his uncles and band co-founders Bud Gaugh (drums) and Eric Wilson (bass).
Encapsulating the signature Sublime sound and vibe with lyrics that match the wit and craziness of the band’s earlier material, ‘Ensenada’ is also melancholic, reflecting on personal experience
of loving relationships and exploring emotions. Nowell describes the use of absurdism in his lyrics as a defence mechanism to escape the intense, challenging feelings that arise when a
relationship goes south.
‘Ensenada’ is produced by Jon Joseph (BØRNS) and is the first single to be issued from a highly anticipated new album by the band.
“'Ensenada’ and other new music we’re working on is inspired by old Sublime material,” states Nowell. “You can’t match something from that ‘90s era, as it was such a moment in time. This feels like an epilogue, a thank you to all our fans and everyone who’s supported us. Our goal with this single was not to replicate anything, but from my perspective it’s more like a tribute to my uncles Bud and Eric and the inspiration they give me. It’s organic and we have a good time. We did a bunch of jams, dived into the back catalogue, and the more it felt like fun - throwing it all together and seeing what sticks - the more we knew it was the right move. Creating genuine music that reflects your life and times...people tap into that, and then you look around and realise, wow, look at all the love we’ve found.”
Having made his live debut with Sublime at Coachella 2024, Nowell, Gaugh and Wilson performed at another 20 festivals and shows across North America by the end of the year. They also made their late-night television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, played a four song set on the Howard Stern Show and enjoyed their first Top 10 hit since 1997 on alternative radio with ‘Feel Like That’, a single that featured the vocals of both Jakob and his father.
SUBLIME | biography
The Long Beach, CA reggae-punk/alternative rock trio Sublime was founded in 1988 by Eric Wilson, Bud
Gaugh and Bradley Nowell, releasing a self-produced debut album, ‘40oz. to Freedom’, in 1992 via Skunk Records. Heavy radio exposure on KROQ some time after its initial release landed the band a
deal with Gasoline Alley Records (a division of MCA).
Its 1994 follow-up, ‘Robbin’ the Hood’, revealed an experimental ethic more in keeping with cut-and-paste dub than the well-tuned rage of the California punk revival. It performed well at college
radio and set the stage for the breakout success of their self-titled third album. However, Nowell tragically passed away on 25th May 1996 and the band collapsed, but Universal pressed ahead with
the release of the eponymous set that July.
On the strength of the chart-topping alternative radio hit ‘What I Got’, the album was certified gold by the end of 1996. The radio hits ‘Santeria’ and ‘Wrong Way’ followed, resulting in the
album selling more than 9 million copies, all without any live shows to promote it. This success spread to the earlier records, leading ‘40oz. to Freedom’ to double-platinum status and ‘Robbin’
the Hood’ to gold. In all, Sublime has gone on to sell over 18 million albums in the US alone, with their genre-defining contributions to music and cultural influence stronger now than ever
before.
December 2023 saw Nowell’s son Jakob join original Sublime members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson on stage for the first time to perform at a benefit concert for H.R. of Bad Brains. With an undeniable
musical synergy between the three, plus overwhelming support from their global fanbase, they decided to move forward and add to their legacy. Within a few months, the revised line-up debuted on
the main stage at Coachella, garnering rave reviews and positive fan reactions.
Their appearance coincided with the band issuing their first new song in almost 28 years, with ‘Feel Like That’ peaking at no. 5 on the alternative airplay chart. They also made their late-night
television debut on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and appeared on the Howard Stern Show.
Sublime are currently managed by Regime Music Group co-founder Kevin Zinger and music industry vet/Vandals bassist Joe Escalante.
