Franklin Jonas' 'Sewer Rat' Is a Debut He Wasn't Sure Would Ever Come
Photo: Henry Kornaros
A true coming of age, Franklin Jonas is discovering himself beneath the eclipse of his famous last name, internet persona, and outgrown identities in his debut EP, Sewer Rat.
Referring to the project as a “labor of love” years in the making, Jonas shares, “I wrestled with if I’d ever release anything. It is these songs that have pushed me to grow and put myself and my art into the world.” It’s easy to understand the apprehension behind setting this work free, as he now no longer has anywhere to hide. He’s given the world a chance to witness the bearings of his heart and there’s no turning back.
From addiction to a shaky sense of self-worth, songs like “Hoboken” give us an opportunity to peer into Jonas’ survival with mental health, sharing, "From a very young age, I struggled with drinking and drugging as an escape because I hated life and I didn't want to be here.” Moving through every shade of emotion in Sewer Rat, he’s surprisingly vulnerable for someone who hid so much under a watchful eye. You would think that being so seen is precisely what he’s trying to evade, but the project even more deeply humanizes the burgeoning artist, reeling you closer into the mechanics of his being. Both melancholic and hopeful, he’s found a way to integrate his shadow and find peace within his shame.
Sampling a line from his brothers’ infamous movie Camp Rock in the pop-indie track “Cherub,” Jonas leans into the joke, a genius reclamation of power. The song is lighthearted and euphoric, similar to its successor “New Girl” which romanticizes rage.
From shoegaze to doo-wop to indie pop, Franklin Jonas has doused this EP in every flavor true to him, taking the project on tour as he supports Hobo Johnson on his North American summer run.
Listen to Sewer Rat below:
