Jon Allen (musician)

Jon Allen (songwriter/musician) Jon Allen (born Jonathon Allen, 05/12/1977) is a folk rock singer-songwriter born in Winchester, currently living in London. His debut album Dead Man's Suit was released on 1st June 2009 on Monologue Records. He is best known for the hit songs In Your Light and Going Home the later of which featured in a worldwide advert for the Land Rover Freelander 2. His music is evocative of the folk-rock scene of the late 60s/ early 70s.

Early Life

Jon attended an alternative progressive school called Sands in Devon and would be the first to admit that he spent most of his time jamming on his drumkit and teaching himself guitar, rather than attending lessons. This led to him featuring in a number of school bands, playing drums. As he puts it: “As a teenager, no one ever wanted to be the front man, because it was too embarrassing”. But on one occasion, as a joke, Jon got up and started messing around on the microphone, Jon realised that he was a natural show off. Soon after unveiling his singing ability in public, Allen traded in his computer, bought an electric guitar and 15-watt amp, and so his musical path began. When he was 16, Jon’s parents got him a four-track recorder, and there was no looking back. He began laying down tracks and experimenting with the interaction of different instruments, exploring the multi-track recording process. Jon Attended College completing a BTEC in performing arts and the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA), founded by Sir Paul McCartney.

Early Career

After graduating from LIPA, Jon moved down to London, after one of his demos received a five-star review in the magazine Making Music. Management offers in London soon followed. It was on the London gig circuit that Jon met members of his future band including Hammond organ player Rich Milner, who Allen spotted at a gig at South London pub The Bedford. Rich introduced Jon to Tristan Longworth who went on to produced and recorded his debut album “Dead Man’s Suit” in his house in Balham. Since moving to London, Allen has shared the stage with artists such as Emmylou Harris, Mark Knopfler, KT Tunstall, Seal and Jose Gonzalez. Debut Album Going Home taken from his debut album was championed by Radio 1’s Jo Whiley, featured on the worldwide Land Rover TV commercial in 2008 achieving a 20,000 downloads from Jon’s website off the back of the advert. The proceeds gave Jon the freedom to self-fund the recording of his album. The album, which initially was only available as a download, was picked up by Absolute Distribution and given a physically release in UK stores on the 1st of June 2009. Shortly after this Allen signed a publishing deal with Wardlawbanks.

TV and Radio Appearances

Debut Single Going Home championed by Jo Whiley at Radio 1 digital release Dec 2008
Going Home Geoff Lloyd Record of the Week at Absolute Radio digital release Dec 2008
In Your light A list at Radio 2 , Absolute Radio, Heart and Magic March 2009
In Your Light full release 23rd March 2009 -top 50 Music week airplay chart 3 weeks running peaking at 16
Janice Long session and interview, Radio 2 on 26/03/09
Appearance on Later with Jools Holland BBC 2 15/5/2009 and on the Later website 13/5/2009 ,
Appearance BBC London tv 26/5/2009
Bob Harris session radio 2 30/5/2009, Arts and Culture show session radio 2 on 5/6/2009
Recently completed a European summer tour with supporting Seal
Down By The River single added to Magic playlist week commencing 3/7/2009 released 9/9/2009

Press

Q Magazine: “A breathtaking debut”
Clash Magazine: “Rootsy…authentic…heartfelt.”
Esquire: “A young Rod Stewart..”
Uncut: “Could be from Dylan’s ‘New Morning.’ Like Cat Stevens, Nick Drake... Exemplary”
OK! Magazine: “A Little Gem”
Maverick Magazine: “Wow”
Jools Holland: “When I heard this mans fantastic voice on the radio I had to zap it with my mobile to find out who it was”
Jon has been tipped by BBC Sound of 2009 and was a featured artist on influential website Record of The Day as well as featuring in a Word cover mount June 2009, Music week covermount week commencing 18th May 2009, Sunday Times Culture Magazine 8th June 2009, Rock and Reel feature and Maverick among others.

Discography

Singles

• "Going Home" (2008)
• "In Your Light" (2009)
• "Young Man Blues/ Dead Man’s Suit" (2009)
• "Down by the River" (2009)

Albums

• "Deadman's Suit" (2009)

External links

• Jon Allen Official Website
• Jon Allen Myspace