Jakob James Nowell

Jakob James Markus Nowell (born June 25, 1995) 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. LAW's debut EP was released on Skunk Records. 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. Nowell had a falling out with the other members of LAW in 2021, and they subsequently broke up. Nowell can be seen in the music video for their 2022 single, "Last Exit".

Jakobs Castle Nowell went on to form Jakobs Castle with producer Jon Joseph. In 2023, the project made their label debut with Epitaph Records. Their debut album Enter: The Castle was released in April 2024. It features songs co-written by Tim Armstrong. They also performed at Coachella in 2024. Nowell has gone on to become the band's permanent lead singer. 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, was released on June 12, 2026.

Personal life Nowell was born on June 25, 1995, at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, California.

Nowell began drinking at the age of twelve which developed into alcoholism.

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. 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.

In 2021, he married Ashlyn Zeda. They divorced after only a few months of marriage. Nowell has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.