Jon Allen – …meanwhile
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London-based singer-songwriter, Jon Allen is set to release his fifth studio album, ‘…meanwhile‘ available May 21st, 2021 on OK!Good Records. The perfect blend of Jon’s acclaimed output as a songwriter the new album is very much a product of the times we’re living in with introspective and emotional lyrics.
“It’s been almost three years since my last album and so much has changed for everybody. Global events have forced us to look inward and estranged us from the people who we once relied on.” – Jon Allen
Due to lockdown restrictions most of ‘…meanwhile’ was recorded at home, with Jon performing a majority of the instruments along with producing the entire album himself for the first time. He was backed by two old friends he met at The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, brothers Adam and Dan Skinner. Adam added the wonderful string arrangements on, “Blame At All On Me” and “How Long”, with Dan filling the role of mixing engineer bringing an openness and space to Jon’s home recordings. The third major contributor, Luke Bullen, is a talented and in demand session player who played drums on half of the tracks on the album. Uniquely suited to COVID-19 times, Bullen set-up a wonderful live room in his house in Norwich with all the drum kits, mic and hi end equipment you could dream of.
The end result is an album that showcases Jon at his best as a song-writer. “Like everybody else in these time I feel as if we have all been through a gamut of emotions, I think this record reflects that,” states Jon. Songs like “Western Shore”, “Can’t Hold Back The Sun” and “Hold On” were written at the height of lock down and reflect the hopes, anxieties and frustrations of that moment. On the record Jon states, “I hope the different moods on the record transport the listener and bring them some escape from the claustrophobia of this moment.”
In the last ten years Jon has carved out a niche as a recording artist and live performer supporting such acts as Damien Rice, Brian May, Seal and Dionne Warwick whom he supported at the Albert Hall. His songs and distinctive voice can be heard across films/TV both in the United Kingdom and in America, including hit shows Homeland and Bones, and movies like The Oranges, Save Haven and Army of One. He’s also written songs for artists like Petula Clarke, Engelbert Humperdinck and producer Guy Chambers.
A whiskey soaked voice and a pedigree as a songwriter; Jon was discovered by legendary guitarist Mark Knopfler who heard him singing at a party in West London in 2006. He subsequently toured with the guitar icon supporting him at Wembley Arena and on the rest of the European leg of the ‘All The Road Runners’ tour with Emmy Lou Harris. Jon broke onto the scene with his debut ‘Dead Man’s Suit‘ (2009), which landed him a spot on Later…with Jools Holland. Holland described how he first heard Jon on the radio and had to Shazam the track to find out who the singer was before insisting he was booked for the show. “It was one of the most amazing voices I’ve heard this year,” Holland explained.
In 2011 Jon signed with OK!Good Records in North America releasing the critically acclaimed Sweet Defeat. He followed it up with the folk-rock driven Deep River in 2014 and the soulful feel-good vibes of Blue Flame in 2018.
“He has a big, distinctive voice with a slight raspiness reminiscent of a young Rod Stewart.” – Soul Tracks
“Jon Allen has a voice you don’t forget.” – Folking
Track-listing:
- Blame It All On Me
- Can’t Hold Back The Sun
- Cruel World
- Looking For The Light
- Mercy
- Suzanne
- How Long
- The Other Side
- Western Shore
- Hold On
- Wrong
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