An Interview With The UK Singer-Songwriter, ALLMAN BROWN!

On May 10th, the UK singer-songwriter Allman Brown released his anticipated sophomore album Darling, It’ll Be Alright.  This collection features an exciting evolution for the London-based artist who expands upon his sonic palette while continuing to maintain his raw sensibility and aching melodic mastery. Allman unveiled the first taste of the album with the lead single “Shapes In The Sun” which Glide Magazine called “a poignant song that showcases Brown’s ability to craft sweeping, powerful pop music.”

Listen to “Shapes In The Sun” HERE.

“‘Shapes In The Sun’ is a touchstone song for the album,” stated Allman. “It is sonically more ambitious than anything I’ve ever done and is an effort on my part to shift my songwriting perspective from the personal to the universal. The album is me trying to reach beyond my own emotions and tap into something bigger (with a few exceptions) and ‘Shapes In The Sun’ was the first step on that path. I wanted to try and write about the cosmos basically and this is what came out.”

Darling, It’ll Be Alright follows Allman’s 2017 acclaimed debut 1000 Years which featured contributions from artists such as Liz Lawrence, Robyn Sherwell, and Lowell. It earned him a big following on Spotify garnering over 83 million streams and more than 1.3 million monthly listeners. Indie Shuffle raved “Allman Brown possesses the kind of vocal prowess that transitions effortlessly from gently rasping to raw and powerful,” while Clash Magazine stated “There’s a sensitivity to Allman Brown’s work that feels all too rare.” Allman’s music has been featured in numerous hit TV shows including Parenthood, The Good Doctor, Criminal Minds, Suits, Beauty and the Beast, Reign, and Finding Carter.

Connect With Allman Brown Here:

Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – YouTube

Learn more about Allman Brown in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you?

I am currently lying across the back seats of a van on my way to my gig in Toronto pondering whether or not to eat some (more) chocolate.

Now that we are into the 5th month of the new year, how has 2019 been treating you so far? What are some goals that you have for yourself this year? How are those New Years Resolutions going?

2019 has been great so far. I’ve released my new album and I’m touring more so those goals have been met. Also I wanted to eat more responsibly, so I guess I won’t have that chocolate now.

Growing up, how important was music in your life? Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to be a musician? Was it an easy or difficult choice to make? 

I think music is important in everyone’s lives whether they realise it or not. For me I’ve always loved music. It was a way for me to be emotional and to examine my emotions. The decision to be a musician was quite gradual, it was easy in the sense it felt right.

Was there ever a time when you thought about doing something else? If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing? Would you be as fulfilled in life?

I never seriously considered being anything else really. If I wasn’t a musician today, I would want to be doing a job where I was helping people and contributing the community. I think that helping others would be very fulfilling. Part what I love about being a musician is that people are helped by music and it matters to them.

I also would love to write a book (who wouldn’t) someday.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

The biggest surprise was how hard it is to carve a career in music! That may sound naive but knowing something in theory and knowing it for real is very different. Luckily I have supportive people around me and I’ve realised I’m more resilient than I thought.

The most welcome challenge is recording songs. The whole process of taking a song which exists in your head and bringing it to life in the studio with other people is one of my favourite things.

I am curious to know how moving from Hong Kong to London influenced your sound as a musician?

I am lucky to have traveled a lot and to have lived in two very different places. I hope that as a result, my songs are accessible to people from all over the world.

Photo Credit- Flore Diamant

Let’s talk about your newest album, “Darling, It’ll Be Alright.” What was it like releasing this collection? Did anything surprise you about the overall process of making it?

I was able to write these songs over the course of a year. They are a cohesive collection and because of the time I had, I was able to really say what I wanted to say. The artwork as well was more thought out, and I was more involved this time with the designer Alice Riley who just did an incredible job.

What was the inspiration for your lead single, “Home”? How would you say that it compares to the rest of the album?

‘Home’ is about the power of space and memory. It’s about how the past will always shape us and be with us. I wanted to write a propulsive and joyous song that was tinged with a little bit of melancholy also. It announces the album as less somber and more energised than my previous work but has moments of intimacy also.

Where can people see you perform live next? What has been an ideal show of yours in the past?

I have a headline show in London at The Borderline on the 6th June and I’m supporting Dido at the end of May on her UK and Ireland tour.

How do you think you have grown as a musician since you first started singing and writing songs?

I feel more confident in my skin on stage and in the studio. I believe that my songs are better too, more rounded and ambitious.

What has it been like keeping up with your social media accounts and all of the different platforms? Is it hard to stay up to date on it all? What would you say is your favorite way to connect with your fans now?

It is hard and it’s not something that comes naturally to me. I don’t love being on my phone to be honest. That said the immediacy of the contact with my fans is amazing. I feel so lucky to have people out there who are fans. Social media obviously changes the game there in terms of being a bridge between artist and audience. Instagram is my favourite way to connect with people.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely still love to work with in the future? 

Feist, Bon Iver, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Brandi Carlile. I would love to hear a Justin Vernon remix of one of my songs.

If you had an unlimited budget and your schedule was free, what would your dream music video look like?

I’d call Paul Thomas Anderson and give him Carte Blanche. Obviously we’d film in space!

What has been a favorite place that you have heard your music played? Can you remember the first time you ever heard a song of yours on the radio, on TV or elsewhere?

I like it when people drop me a message to say they heard my song in a shop or cafe or saw it on TV. I always get a kick out that. My favourite story though was when I was playing a song on radio, BBC London, my mother in law was at home looking after my daughter Juno and listening to the show. When I started singing Juno looked up and said “that’s Daddy singing”. She hadn’t been told what was happening so she just recognized me. That always make smile whenever I think of it.

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

I hope that people get some joy out of it, some comfort and feel a little strength to face the day with.

Would you like to share anything else with our readers about your music?

Just a big thank you for listening and that I’m writing more for you.