Jay Allen, an artist I’ve been following since 2020, has grown in popularity since his appearance on Season 22 of The Voice. 2024 has been a year of milestones for Jay Allen, from his first headlining tour to the release of his debut album, “Des Moines.” While his vocal abilities were evident on The Voice Season 22, his new album is evidence of his talent as a songwriter. However, Jay Allen is more than a talented singer/songwriter; he is also a great person. Allen’s work raising money to fight Alzheimer’s is tremendous. During CMA Fest, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jay and discuss his life and career. Read on to delve into Jay’s music and learn more about this talented artist.
Jay Allen Completes First Headlining Tour in 2024
This year, Jay Allen embarked on the “Night of Hope” Tour, his first headlining tour, a significant milestone for any artist. Allen’s commitment to philanthropy shines through as he shares, “Honestly, it was a little scary. I’m fearless, but it’s headlining, and you must sell hard tickets. But I always like to tie everything I do to charity. For those who may not know, I lost my mom to Alzheimer’s, so I went to war against that disease. We recently surpassed raising $130 million to fight against dementia.” His dedication to this cause is truly inspiring.
Jay shared a story with me about what and who inspired the tour’s name. The singer/songwriter said, “We made friends with a woman who had launched a website called thenightofhope.com. She had been diagnosed with dementia in her late forties. Because of the diagnosis, she changed her whole lifestyle. She had nutritionists, trainers, and cut out alcohol. She requires eight to ten hours of sleep per night but reverses it, and no longer shows any evidence of dementia and is completely healthy. The website was launched to share her story, and she brought us to play at her Night of Hope Gala. So, my manager suggested to call the entire tour the “Night of Hope” tour. We displayed banners on stage with a QR code so people could learn more about it.”
The Importance of Raising Awareness for Alzheimer’s
As someone who witnessed how horrible dementia is firsthand with my grandfather, I applaud Jay Allen’s commitment to raising money and awareness. Many people may not be aware that dementia can be caused by years of alcohol abuse. According to the Alzheimer’s Society (UK), “moderate alcohol consumption is defined as 14 units or less of alcohol per week for women and 21 units or less for men. Consuming more than what they define as moderate use increases your risk of damage to your brain and other organs, which increases your risk of dementia.”
As we talked, Allen discussed the importance of taking preventative measures and talking about it to continue to raise awareness. Jay said, “Many people are not aware that Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the US. So, we must talk about it, and I thank you for having an outlet to share that. You can change things now to reduce your risk of dementia. I was a big partier for years. I love having a good time and will always have a good time. But I have cut back a lot, and honestly, I haven’t had a drink for about four months. It’s not for everyone, but I feel fantastic. The first couple of weeks after you stop drinking is difficult, but once you get past it, you will feel great.
“Des Moines” The Album Review
Jay Allen’s debut album starts with “Girl and a Drink,” an upbeat song about a night out. The second track, “Already Wreckin’ Me,” blends the concept of a breathtaking woman with car metaphors to depict her allure. “Halfway House,” a personal favorite, evokes memories of a past relationship, resonating so deeply it feels like I could have penned it myself. The fourth track, “New Girl,” narrates the struggle of moving on post-breakup while awaiting someone new. “Whiskey in the World” is a classic heartache ballad that highlights Allen’s vocal prowess. “Better Now” addresses the journey through mental health challenges and is my top pick from the album. “Woman Made,” honors the societal advancements while celebrating the pivotal role of women in strengthening our families. The final track, “No Present Like the Time,” serves as a poignant reminder to cherish the present, as life is fleeting.
Jay Allen Releases his Debut Album, “Des Moines”
2024 has been a year of firsts in Jay Allen’s career. He went on his first headlining tour and released his first full-length album. The album features previous singles, “Better Now,” “Halfway House,” and “No Present Like the Time.” “Better Now’ is one of my favorite songs of the year. In Jay Allen fashion, there was a reason behind the timing of the single and album releases. Allen said, “We released “Better Now” in May because it is Mental Health Awareness month. The song ties into my album, which dropped on June 28th, and my mama’s birthday. So it’s special to me.
The release of the debut album is a full circle moment for Allen as he tells the story about why they titled the album “Des Moines.” The singer/songwriter said, “I am originally from Des Moines, Iowa. I was married before I met Kylie (Morgan). I don’t share that often, but it’s part of my story. We were young when we got married, and we grew apart. She married an awesome guy and had children, so I am very happy for her. But we lived in Des Moines. I had been in Savannah, Georgia, for a couple of years, and at the time, I was a music director at churches, believe it or not. Things just fell apart, so we moved back home for a little bit. We were living in a condo in downtown Des Moines. We had been there for about nine months. She woke me up one morning and told me I needed to move to Nashville, or I would never do it.”
Jay Allen Took a Chance on Nashville
At first, Jay was apprehensive about coming to Music City, but he eventually gave it a shot. Allen said, “Nashville was the last place I wanted to come to because I heard about all these people with dreams moving to Nashville and failing. I didn’t want to be a statistic, but my ex-wife convinced me to do it. So, eleven years ago, I moved here with a suitcase and a guitar. An older couple allowed me to live in their apartment behind their house. I would write a check for rent every month; they would rip it up and put it back in my kitchen. So, I got to figure it out and get on my feet. Shortly after, I signed my first publishing deal, and it was off to the races after that.”
My Thoughts
Jay Allen is one of the most genuine people I have met in Nashville, and I have been a fan since seeing him play in 2020 during the brief reopening of Nashville bars in June of that year. I have listened to his album top to bottom a few times since its release, and honestly, it’s one of my favorites released this year. We recently named Allen Undiscovered Nashville’s artist of July. We also named “Des Moines” our album of the month. So, if you have not yet listened, download or stream “Des Moines” today. If Jay is playing near you, don’t miss a chance to see the show.
Leave a Reply