He describes his style as “rootsy, blues, folky, suit because so many great artist that have gone
souly, melodic” and says that his inspiration before have inspired me.”
process is different for different songs. “The
songs that I write comes from the mood I’m The single “In Your Light” has been selected
in at a particular moment. I take stuff from as a major song for Radio 2 airplay and that
my own life and add a bit of craft, make some has created even more interest in this young
stuff up and try and make it rhyme.” Sounds and talented singer. Jon is under no illusion
simple but isn’t. and knows that the music industry is a tough
place “I’ve learned that this business is a
The result of Jon’s craft is “Dead Mans Suit”, hard place to earn a living. I have the utmost
one of the fi nest albums heard for a while. The respect for those artists who have paid their
title is typical Jon, free spirited and intelligent. dues and made their own mark.” Dead Mans
“I buy a lot of second hand clothes. When I Suit is a superb album, full of terrifi c melodies,
bought a suit jacket from a charity shop down meaningful lyrics, intelligent, modern and
on Allen was born in Winchester
my road, it made me think of its story. As an unforgettable and though young, Jon looks
and spent most of his life in
album title, it’s quite a memorable image. certainly set to make a lasting individual
Devon. He says: “I didn’t have the
Musically, I’m probably wearing a dead man’s impression for many years to come.
most normal upbringing. My dad
was a jewellery salesman and we
moved around a lot when I was
a kid. I went to a boy’s boarding
school run by monks for a while
and hated it. So I ended up in a very Liberal
Progressive school, called Sands.” Jon
remembers his interview day, as he walked
into the courtyard and the air was fi lled with
rock music roaring out of a ghetto blaster on
a window sill with kids around it. “I learnt
later that it was Led Zeppelin.” He freely
admits that a lot of his musical infl uence is
probably due to his school being locked in a
Seventies time capsule. Jon discovered and
got to love the Beatles in a big way, then the
Stones, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Police,
Bob Dylan and Van Morrison. It would not be
long after that Jon realized he had the “show
off gene” in him and music seemed a likely
path as a career.
At 16, Jon’s parents got him a four track
recorder and after a lot of experimentation
he completed a BTEC in performing arts
which led him to LIPA (Liverpool Institute Of
Performing Arts), founded by Paul McCartney
for a song writing course. Then for fi ve years,
Jon learnt his craft on the London gig circuit
We have five copies of Jon’s album to give away.
and met his band mates.
Answer this simple question for your chance
to win one. What is the title of Jon’s song
Jon recalls: “I started to get noticed when one used by Land rover?
of my songs called ‘Going Home’ appeared
on a world wide TV ad for Land Rover. My
A: Dead Man's Suit
producer heard through someone he worked
B: Going Home
with that an ad company were looking for
C: In Your Light
a song and told me about it. When I got
the ad and it was on TV, my now manager
To enter go to linedancermagazine.com and
click on the “competition” area. Alternatively,
approached me and said “I can get that song
you can send your answers on a postcard or
on the radio” and he was true to his word. So
the back of a sealed down envelope to :
I guess that’s how it all started.”
Jon Allen Competition
“Going Home” sold more than 20,000
Linedancer magazine, Clare house
downloads after being used on the Land
166 Lord Street, Southport PR9 0QA
Rover commercial and Jon started to build a
huge and loyal fan base. The editor’s decision is final and no
correspondence will be entered into.
All entries to be received by 22nd May.
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