ROSWELL ROAD RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM ‘REBEL JOY’
Rebel Joy is the highly anticipated debut album from Americana duo Roswell Road, due for release on March 13th, 2026. The band celebrates with a UK tour, kicking things off at The Water Rats in London on March 15th. UK Tour Dates HERE
Jasmine Watkiss and Zoë Wren formed Roswell Road after a chance meeting in a bustling market square in Cambridgeshire. Their musical chemistry was instantaneous, and they have been performing and writing songs together ever since. The London-based multi-instrumentalists combine close harmonies with candid storytelling, resulting in a compelling blend of vibrant pop-infused Americana.
Produced by acclaimed songwriters and producers The Dunwells and recorded between London, Leeds and Switzerland, Rebel Joy is the culmination of five years of writing and recording, spanning multiple chapters in the duo’s lives. From small, everyday moments to sticking it to the man, the songs in Roswell Road’s debut album capture the glorious joy and struggle of being alive, exploring important themes of friendship, vulnerability, inclusivity, anxiety, love, activism, and self-acceptance.
“It’s hard to put into words how important this album is to me. It has accompanied me from my late 20s into my early 30s, and many small and big changes along the way. It’s also turned me into a songwriter. Who I was when we started writing it and who I am now are different women, and looking back down the road, I’m surprised to realise I’ve discovered myself through our music.” Jasmine Watkiss
“I’m glad it took us as long as it did to make Rebel Joy, because we’ve both grown so much as people and songwriters, and there are songs on this album that we would never have been able to write even just a few years ago. I’ve learned so much from collaborating with a friend and musician whom I admire endlessly, and I have come out of this process feeling more grounded and sure of my own voice. There are so many things in the world today that make us angry, but also so many that fill us with gratitude, and writing about them is the only kind of catharsis I know.” Zoë Wren
The first song on the album, “Holy Mountain,” is an uptempo track inspired by Zoë’s parents' adventurous travels through Asia, which celebrates the freedom of living an unconventional life. “Weirdo At The Party” and “Out Of The Dark”, explore anxiety, self-acceptance, and the complexity of our inner emotional worlds, whilst “Can’t Take My Soul” is a powerful stand-up track about the struggles women face within the music industry and wider world, and the importance of finding your voice and making it heard. Other notable tracks include Bolder, a sea shanty about Jasmine’s ocean activism on a Greenpeace ship, and Let Myself Be Still, a song written on tour about friendship, gratitude and the need to rest after a long year.
Roswell Road’s sound, which draws comparisons to artists like First Aid Kit and Fleetwood Mac, has earned them recognition far and wide. After winning the Purbeck Rising competition in their first year as a band, their debut EP was awarded Fatea EP of the Year, and they also won the Celtic Connections Danny Kyle Competition. With sold-out performances across the UK and appearances at festivals including Cambridge Folk Festival, Shrewsbury Folk Festival and Costa Festival Ibiza, Roswell Road is grabbing attention wherever they go. The duo performed at Your Roots Are Showing in Ireland in 2025 and has a forthcoming official showcase at Folk Alliance International in New Orleans this January. They have toured Germany and Canada, and shared the stage with artists such as Catherine McGrath, John Smith, and Dea Matrona.
Roswell Road is bringing Rebel Joy to life with the help of their fans through a Kickstarter campaign. Surpassing their funding goal in just 16 hours, they have now set their sights higher, aiming to create even more magic with a full-band launch show and a brand new music video.
Rebel Joy is a testament to Roswell Road's evolution as a band. The album’s beautiful melodies, impressive instrumentation and honest lyrics are sure to secure their place in the Roots music community.