Artwork by me: Enrique Seemann
"It Takes Time to Be a Man," the closing song of The Rapture's latest album "In the Grace of Your Love" (2011), has a moving message about the process of maturing. The lyrics "Well, we're all getting bigger, but it takes time to be a man" capture the idea that maturity does’t happen overnight, but develops patiently over time. “And it's more than you figure, well take it slow and take my hand.” It's as if Luke Jenner (the band's lead singer) takes you by the hand during difficult times, guides you along, and makes you feel that everything will be fine, that you must live through the process, and that everything will make sense in the end. The tone of this song is comforting and different from The Rapture's previous style, showcasing Luke’s personal growth.
Jenner has navigated a path filled with challenges since he was a child in a dysfunctional family in San Diego. Born in 1975, he was the son of a brilliant but absent father and a mother who struggled with her mental health. “She was almost dying all the time. Like, we’d be on the freeway, and she’d be having a panic attack, and she’d be like, ‘you just need to talk to me. It doesn’t matter what you say. If you don’t, we are going to die.’.. I would just talk her through it.” Luke Jenner to Billboard (2023) Interviewer: Katie Bain Throughout his youth, Jenner suffered sexual abuse and other traumas that influenced his life and his music.
In 1998, Jenner founded The Rapture alongside Vito Roccoforte. Over time, the band became one of the pillars of New York's dance-punk scene. Their debut album, 'Echoes' (2003), co-produced by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, stood out for its aggressive and raw energy, particularly with the track “House of Jealous Lovers.’”
The album was a success and was named number one of the year by Pitchfork. However, Jenner describes this sound as a manifestation of his internal pain. “You listen to "Echoes," the first record that I made, it sounds like you’re just chewing on glass. The sound is like, I’m in so much pain.” Luke Jenner to Indie Rocks December (2014).
After “Echoes”, the band switched record labels to Mercury Records, part of Universal, and released “Pieces of the People We Love” in 2006.
“We had really mixed feelings about being on Universal. They invested millions of dollars in our band, which is great. On a business level, it was really a windfall for us. But on a personal level, it was torture. If you have to go into these weird corporate environments, it's like trying to explain classic dance music to somebody who knows nothing about the history of music.” Luke Jenner to Pitchfork (2011) Interviewer: Tom Breihan
Despite commercial success, Jenner was going through a series of personal challenges: it was the year he became sober, his son was born, and his mother died by suicide during a band tour.
“My mom died while I was on tour and I wasn't able to process a lot of that. It hit me in the face pretty full-on when we came back. When I got home [in 2008], I started having to be a father again and have a relationship with my wife in a real way. The Band-Aid was ripped off, and I couldn’t really run away from it anymore.” Luke Jenner to Pitchfork 2011 Interviewer: Tom Breihan
While Luke was dealing with all his personal issues, Matt Safer (the band’s bassist at the time) had taken on a much larger role, and there was a dispute over the band's direction. “When I started the band with Vito back in the day, I really wanted to sing and write songs. When Matty joined for Echoes, I was still doing that. But, at some point during the last record, Matty proved himself and wanted to sing more and be more of a songwriter, and I just found myself not being able to do what I wanted to do in the band.” Luke Jenner to Pitchfork 2011 Interviewer: Tom Breihan
These events led him to question his direction and temporarily step away from the band. He started playing softball.
“As a kid, I didn't get a lot of attention from my parents. And the thing that really kept me alive was baseball; I loved it and was really good at it. I got a lot of love in my life from baseball coaches… So, [after I quit the band], I started playing pickup softball at the park five days a week. I was super into it-- I got cleats and baseball pants and matching socks and belts.
One day, I was in [Brooklyn's] Prospect Park playing this pickup game, and it was next to the Prospect Park Bandshell. I was sitting there in the heat, hearing this band soundcheck, and this weird feeling came over me: "What the hell am I doing playing softball?" That was the first real crack-in-the-armor moment for me.
Also, I was thinking about making a solo record because I had all this time on my hands, and these songs I had written. I went to James Murphy one day in the studio to talk to him about possibly making this record with me, and he told me something that really made me uncomfortable. He said, "You need to go back and un-quit your band. You started that. That's your band. You need to get back together." I really didn't want to hear that.” Luke Jenner to Pitchfork (2011) Interviewer: Tom Breihan
Eventually, Luke returned to the band, and Matt resigned.
“ I came back a few months later with my heart in my hands, like, "Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." I started this band because I really wanted to dedicate most of my life to it. I mean, I’ve known Vito since I was nine years old. I could never really play music with anybody else. The fact that I quit something that's so precious to me was an indication that there was a lot of stuff I didn't want to deal with but had to face.” Luke Jenner to Pitchfork (2011) Interviewer: Tom Breihan
Immediately after Matt resigned, the band returned to DFA (James’ Murphy’s Record Label). They felt free to do whatever they wanted again.
“With this record, we got back to one of the original goals of the band, which was to not be etched-in by a certain sound. When we were making "House of Jealous Lovers", there really wasn't anything that sounded like it. We thought everyone might hate it. Subconsciously, though, we probably got hedged-in by the whole dance-punk thing a bit.” Vito Roccoforte to Pitchfork (2011) Interviewer: Tom Breihan
Luke was in a different stage of life compared to when 'Echoes' was made.
“It's a really emotional record. After my mom took her own life, I wanted to make something positive. I listen to lots of positive music, and ended up with the roots of soul music, like gospel music. I joined a church choir for a while. I wanted to make music that didn't avoid pain but transcended it.” Luke Jenner to Pitchfork (2011) Interviewer: Tom Breihan
I believe the album reflects Luke's personal transformation and provides a glimpse into his experiences since then. It is also an album that represents healing; as Luke said, in 'Echoes' you could hear his channeled suffering, while this album conveys a completely different sense. You can even see it reflected in the album cover.
“For me this record is about coming to terms with my mum dying but also just my entire life. The cover of the record is my dad surfing, and for a few years in between albums I didn’t talk to my dad. Now I’m healing that relationship with my father and I’m talking to him. “ Luke Jenner to Clash 2011 Interviewer: Matthew Bennett
Although he wasn't afraid and the album was made under the premise that there were no rules, it also changed the band's sound, and they were criticized for it.
But I don't think we should ever expect the same recipe from any band, as they probably will evolve as people. Luke reflected that on this statement:
“Well those records are very much of their time, also I’m 36 now, back then I was in my 20s and I was a lot more angry and it’s the sort thing of going down in flames sticking my middle fingers in the air in my own way. I guess even if I wanted to make that record again I couldn’t do it, it just wouldn’t work.” Luke Jenner to Clash 2011 Interviewer: Matthew Bennett
The Rapture silently separated in 2014.
Some years later he recalled: If I stayed in The Rapture, “I wouldn’t be able to learn how to be a father or take care of my marriage,” Jenner says. “You can’t learn how to be a father from the stage.” Luke Jenner to Consequence 2019 Interviewer: Lake Schatz
It wasn't until 2019 that The Rapture reunited to play a few shows, hinting at reestablishing ties with DFA and possibly making a new album, which hasn't happened yet. However, Luke seemed to have a different perspective at that time:“I don’t want to win a Grammy, I don’t want to play Madison Square Garden… I wanna help other people do that,” he explains. “I’ve been working really hard on creating this new community, I just wanna be closer to the ground.” Luke Jenner to Consequence 2019 Interviewer: Lake Schatz)
After their reappearance in those shows, we haven't heard much from The Rapture. Shortly after, the pandemic struck.
In 2020, Luke Jenner released his first solo album, produced by his new record label, Manono Records. It was a fairly modest record, as it hasn't reached a wide audience.
He also officially became a life coach. All the experiences he has been through—from traumatic events and great success with his band to becoming a good husband and father, and dealing with loss, such as that of his mother and his therapist (who turned out to be the same therapist James Murphy had and to whom Murphy dedicated the song 'Someone Great' when he died)—have provided him with many tools to guide others.
“I have a long, successful marriage. I’m a good parent. I have gotten over massive childhood dysfunction, sexual abuse, multiple suicides in my family, drug addiction in my family, my own addictions, on and on,” he says. “That’s my business card.” Luke Jenner to Billboard 2023 Interviewer: Katie Bain
Luke's journey is an example of how life is not linear, how many things can happen, and how the idea of success that is embedded in us often isn't the answer. On paper, Luke had it all, but it was a time when he felt miserable.
“When I was in my late 20s, I was really successful with a lot of money, power, prestige,” he says matter of factly, like someone who has fully explored the cracks and nuances of their own life history and come to terms with what they’ve found there. “I was married to a beautiful woman who loved me. I was going to have a kid with her. I lived in New York City. I met all my heroes, and I was so lonely I could have died.” Luke Jenner to Billboard 2023 Interviewer: Katie Bain
He searched for evidence that you could live the rock star life and also be personally fulfilled, but came up empty. “I was looking for one person in the arts, the music industry, anywhere, who liked themselves and had a healthy relationship with their kids and significant other, and I found zero people. I was like, ‘I am going to be this person.’” Luke Jenner to Billboard 2023 Interviewer: Katie Bain
Sometimes, by idolizing or placing famous people on a pedestal, we fail to see the burdens they carry behind the scenes. We often think that fame, financial success, or finding a passion that allows us to make a living from it is everything, but Luke is a living example that this isn't true. He reveals a human side that we often overlook in famous people. The fact that he values spending time with his family and pursuing something that brings more meaning to his life is more significant. He shows us that personal development can take many forms, in a non-linear way, and as his song says, “it takes time to be a man.”
Luke Jenner's story demonstrates how personal growth and success don't always manifest in the ways we might expect. His experience teaches us that true growth comes from facing challenges, healing past wounds, and learning to value what truly matters in life. Ultimately, his journey reflects the message of his song: becoming a complete person takes time and patience.
My personal thoughts and Other The Rapture songs I recommend:
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