Vernon hometown boy Andrew Allen is forever working on his next big hit.
His latest single, What You Wanted, has broken the top-20 charts and is sitting at No. 11 on Adult Contemporary radio and No. 17 on Hot AC radio.
The song isn’t about Allen’s life, but is based on a couple he met while touring the U.K. When the couple broke up, the man emailed Allen begging him to create a mix CD to try and get the woman back.
Meanwhile, while he was creating the CD, Allen received an email from the woman saying she was engaged to someone else.
“I actually wrote it about five or six years ago,” said Allen. “It was going to be a follow-up to Loving You Tonight.”
Songwriting starts with a bit of a melody for the 35-year-old, and usually a few chords to get the vibe, before moving onto the chorus.
“It’s like a puzzle,” said Allen, who compares song titles to book titles and has endless song titles compiled in his phone.
“Everything drives to that title,” said Allen, during a phone interview from his Calgary tour stop.
Gaining radio hits isn’t the only thing new in the singer/songwriter’s life. He and his wife, Vernon-raised Julia, are parents to nine-month-old daughter London Hartley and the family currently lives in Port Moody.
Having a baby has definitely influenced Allen’s writing style.
“It’s inspired a lot more songwriting focusing on time,” he said, adding that
Allen said having a young child has meant there are more time restraints than he previously experienced and being on the road means missing that precious time with his child.
“There’s FaceTime but it’s not the same.”
He finds that he is still influenced by the Okanagan.
“Vernon is forever my hometown.”
In the U.S. he was doing a beach-themed photo shoot, which people found humorous because they didn’t realize that beaches were numerous in Canada.
The big cities also carry different vibes than the slower pace of the Okanagan.
“I feel anxious in the big city. I should be rushing,” he said, adding that both the Okanagan and Port Moody have a more relaxed feel.
His next upcoming single, Where Did You Go, will be out in a few weeks.
The song was co-written with Carly Rae Jepsen and Ryan Stewart and tackles deeper issues.
The song can be seen as a break-up, but also focuses on depression and the concept of something missing.
To Allen, “music plays two roles,” as the fun, upbeat summer tunes that carry weight because they’re enjoyed with friends at the beach and they become a part of one’s memories, and the music “that really makes you feel something.”
People have interpreted his music in different ways.
“I try and be honest, I want to share something honest from me people can connect with.”
Allen enjoys playing small venues because he feels that it’s easier to communicate with the audience.
“It’s difficult to tell a full story (to 30,000 people),” he said.
He will be performing at Ex Nihilo Vineyards in Lake Country Aug. 12 and 13 and enjoys coming back to the Okanagan. Tickets are $125 plus GST, available at exnihilovineyards.com.
He will also be continuing his humanitarian efforts in Ethiopia with Canadian Humanitarian Organization for International Relief on Oct. 15. To find out more, visit andrewallenlive.com.