Sublime fans, it’s time to celebrate! The band just dropped their new single, “Ensenada,” the first song since the best-selling self-titled record that actually stands up next to their most famous material.
All of the elements of a classic Sublime track are here: The reggae-inspired backbeat, the sun-soaked vibes, the hip-hop record scratching. Yet the band also sounds incredibly fresh, with much of the credit going to new frontman Jakob Nowell.
Jakob‘s arrival in Sublime has been heavily discussed, and rightly so. His late father, Bradley, turned the band into a legendary act and many questioned whether the group could ever return to its former of glory with someone else behind the mic.
If 2024’s hit song “Feel Like That” — which featured vocals from Jakob, Stick Figure, and archival recordings of Bradley — was a symbolic passing of the torch, “Ensenada” is the declaration that Sublime is now Jakob‘s band. He was the single’s primary songwriter, blending rich vocal harmonies and vibrant guitar parts with lyrics that echo his father’s wry sense of humor. Speaking of which…
Bradley’s Sublime Spirit Lives on in Jakob
Jakob sounds just like his dad on “Ensenda,” but this isn’t karaoke. Instead, the 30-year-old singer brings his own distinctive charm and charisma to the Sublime equation, giving the group a new energy while still honoring their impressive legacy.
“Ensenada” is the song of the summer — a carefree anthem that will echo at beach parties and backyard barbecues from coast coast. But its impact goes beyond the commercial success that lays before it. Since Bradley Nowell’s death in 1996, Sublime has felt like a band riding on its past. Now, for the first time in decades, it feels like a band with a future.
“Ensenada and the new music we’re working on is inspired by old Sublime material. You can’t match something from that 90s era – it was such a moment in time. This feels like an epilogue, a thank you to all of the fans and everyone who’s supported Sublime. Our goal with “Ensenada” was not to replicate anything, but from my perspective its 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, dove into the old catalog, and the more it felt like fun—throwing it all together and seeing what sticks—the more we knew that was the right move. Creating genuine music that reflects your life and times… people tap into that, and then you look around and realize, wow, look at all the love we’ve found.” – Jakob Nowell
