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Amy Allen (songwriter)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Aimee Allen.
Amy Allen
Amy Allen in 2018
Amy Allen in 2018
Background information
Birth nameAmy Rose Allen
OriginSouth Portland, Maine, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Songwriter
  • singer
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Bass
  • vocals
  • guitar
Years active2015–present
Labels

Amy Rose Allen is an American songwriter, record producer, and singer. She has been credited with songwriting work on commercially successful releases performed by music industry artists including Sabrina Carpenter, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Tate McRae, Halsey, Rosé, and Shawn Mendes, among others.[1]

Allen was nominated for the inaugural Songwriter of the Year at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards for her work on releases by King Princess, Alexander 23, Lizzo, Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter, and Harry Styles.[2] At the same ceremony, she won Album of the Year for her to contribution to the latter's Harry's House (2022).

Early life and education

[edit]

Amy Allen grew up in Windham, Maine, with her parents and two sisters. While in elementary school, Allen played bass in her sister's band Jerks of Grass, and as a teenager, she played folk and bluegrass music at bars and pubs. Allen attended Boston College and later graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston.[3] While at Berklee, Allen was taught by singer and producer Kara DioGuardi.[4]

Career

[edit]

In 2015, Allen was featured in Teen Vogue, after releasing two solo EPs.[5] Allen began her career by working on a number of solo projects and formed Amy & The Engine, a four-piece indie pop rock group, before relocating to New York for a year.[6] The band released their first single "Last Forever" on February 14, 2015. TandeMania, their debut EP, was released on September 22, 2016.[7]

Amy & The Engine announced their EP Get Me Outta Here! in 2017 and an East Coast tour in the summer of 2017 and a US tour in 2018.[8] Allen described the sound of Get Me Outta Here! as being "a bit darker and heavier than the first".[9] Amy & The Engine released the EP's lead single "Chasing Jenny" in January 2017. Allen relocated to Los Angeles in November 2017, where she began collaborating with Scott Harris and eventually signed to Artist Publishing Group.[3] Allen subsequently began writing and producing music with other singers, including Glades and JELLO.

In 2018, Allen co-wrote "Back to You" with Selena Gomez, and "Without Me" with Halsey which reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100.[10] In 2019, Allen signed to Warner Records, and it was expected that her debut solo album would be released the following year.[11] That same year, Allen collaborated with Harry Styles on his single "Adore You", and collaborated with Halsey once more on the single "Graveyard". Allen also collaborated with alternative rock band Pvris on their 2019 EP, Hallucinations.[12] She was named as one of Variety's "2019 Hitmakers" for the single "Without Me".[13]

In January 2020, Allen was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 in Music.[14] She has been announced as a panelist for the 2020 ASCAP Experience.[15] On January 22, 2020, it was announced that Allen would be performing at the annual St. Jude Songwriters Showcase to benefit the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, along with Gretchen Peters.[16] On March 9, 2020, the ASCAP Experience event was cancelled due to concerns over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[17] Variety named Allen a "2020 Hitmaker" for co-writing Harry Styles' "Adore You".[18]

After signing a recording deal with Warner Records,[19][20] Allen released five singles over the following two years: "Queen of Silver Linings",[21] "Difficult",[22] "Heaven",[23] "What a Time to Be Alive"[24] and "One".[25] Her debut solo EP, AWW!, was released on November 5, 2021[26] with singles "A Woman's World" and "End of a Dark Age" having been released in the preceding two months.[27][28]

In 2024, Allen released new singles "girl with a problem," "darkside," "even forever," and "to love me" from her debut album, "Amy Allen," released September 6, 2024. In advance of her album release, she opened for Bleachers on their 2024 European tour.

Allen’s successes with Tate McRae ("Greedy") and Sabrina Carpenter ("Feather," "Espresso," "Please Please Please") topped the Top 40 Radio charts and "Please Please Please" hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.[29] Allen co-wrote every track on Carpenter’s Short n' Sweet album which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200.[30]

In September 2024, The New York Times published a profile of Allen’s success, including quotes from collaborators including Jack Antonoff and Julia Michaels.[31] In the same week, Allen claimed the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Songwriters chart, with thirteen songwriting credits on the Billboard Hot 100 (including all twelve tracks from Sabrina Carpenter's number one album Short n' Sweet). With this achievement, Allen became the sixth woman to reach number one on the Hot 100 Songwriters chart in the year 2024. As of the time of publication, Allen had co-written a total of 34 Hot 100 charting songs, seven of which were top 10 chart hits. Six of her songs have also hit number one on the Pop Airplay chart. Allen is only the third woman in the history of the Hot 100 Songwriters chart to capture number one without also being billed as the recording artist.[32]

Style and influences

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Allen has cited bands like The Cranberries and The Cure as influences on Amy & The Engine.[9] In a 2020 interview with Variety, Allen stated that she prefers to write darker, more serious songs and that she felt the single "Adore You" was her first "feel-good song".[33] In a 2024 New York Times article, Allen also stated that she was inspired by the "'90's" girls - Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, and Melissa Etheridge - as well as Cocteau Twins and Edie Brickell.[31]

Discography

[edit]

Studio Albums by Amy Allen

[edit]
List of studio albums with selected details
Title Studio Album Details
"Amy Allen"

Extended Plays by Amy Allen

[edit]
List of extended plays with selected details
Title EP Details
"AWW!"

Singles written by Amy Allen

[edit]
List of singles, showing key details
Year Title Artist Peak Chart Positions Certifications
AUS US CAN
2024 "Taste" Sabrina Carpenter 1 2 4 —
"Please Please Please" Sabrina Carpenter 1 1 3 —
"Espresso" Sabrina Carpenter 1 3 4 —
"Selfish" Justin Timberlake 82 19 22 —
"Drown" Justin Timberlake — — — —
"High Road" Koe Wetzel 46 22 30 —
"Sweet Dreams" Koe Wetzel — 35 86 —
"Chrome Cowgirl" Leon Bridges — — — —
"Canopy" Charlotte Day Wilson — — — —
2023 "Feather" Sabrina Carpenter 23 21 25 —
"Better Place" NSYNC 24 25 43 —
"Greedy" Tate McRae 2 3 1 —
"Run for the Hills" Tate McRae 54 69 34 —
"Pretty Isn't Pretty" Olivia Rodrigo 28 30 35 —
"Scared of my Guitar" Olivia Rodrigo — 90 83 —
"Meltdown" Niall Horan — — — —
"Strong Enough" Jonas Brothers — — — —
"Texas" Maren Morris and Jessie Murph — — — —
"Cut Me Down"[36] Blu DeTiger featuring Mallrat — — — —
"Cupid" Fifty Fifty featuring Sabrina Carpenter 2 17 6 —
"Heartbroken" Diplo — 64 52 —
"Forever" Charlotte Day Wilson featuring Snoh Aalegra — — — —
2022 "Vicious" Sabrina Carpenter — — — —
"Opposite" Sabrina Carpenter — — — —
"10:35" Tiesto featuring Tate McRae 13 69 18
"For My Friends" King Princess — — — —
"My Mind & Me" Selena Gomez 98 83 63 —
2021 "Cover Me in Sunshine" Pink 6 — 60 —
"On the Ground" Rosé 31 70 35 —
"Lifestyle" Jason Derulo featuring Adam Levine — 71 54 —
2020 "Be Kind"[38] Marshmello and Halsey 15 33 18 —
"Forever"[39] Fletcher — — — —
2019 "Graveyard" Halsey 24[40] 34[41] 38[41]
"Undrunk" Fletcher — 61[45] 83[46]
  • US (RIAA): Gold[47]
  • Canada (Music Canada): Gold[48]
"Adore You" Harry Styles 7[49] 6[50] 10[50]
  • Australia (ARIA): 7× Platinum[51]
  • Canada (Music Canada): 6× Platinum[52]
  • US (RIAA): 5× Platinum[53]
"Hallucinations" Pvris — — — —
"The First One" Astrid S — — — —
"Long Way To Go" Four of Diamonds — — — —
"Stick Around" Rak-Su — — — —
"Proud" Aaron Carpenter — — — —
"Criminal" Grey (28) — — — —
2018 "Without Me" Halsey 2[54] 1[55] 2[41]
  • US (RIAA): 6× Platinum[56]
  • Canada (Music Canada): 7× Platinum[57]
  • Australia (ARIA): 7× Platinum[58]
"Back to You" Selena Gomez 4[59] 18[60] 4[60]
  • US (RIAA): 2× Platinum[56]
  • Australia (ARIA): 2× Platinum[61]
"Jello" PRETTYMUCH — — — —
"Do Right" Glades 51 — —
  • Australia (ARIA): Gold[62]

Albums featuring Amy Allen

[edit]
List of albums showing year, artist and label
Year Title Artist Label Credited as
2024 Short n' Sweet Sabrina Carpenter Island Records Writer
Everything I Thought It Was Justin Timberlake RCA Records
9 Lives Koe Wetzel Columbia Records
2023 Chemistry Kelly Clarkson Atlantic Records
Guts Olivia Rodrigo Geffen Records
Think Later Tate McRae RCA Records
Snow Angel Reneé Rapp Interscope
2022 Emails I Can't Send Sabrina Carpenter Island Records
Girl of My Dreams Fletcher Capitol
Harry's House Harry Styles Columbia, Erskine
Hold On Baby King Princess Zelig
Special Lizzo Nice Life, Atlantic Records
Crash Charli XCX Asylum Records, Atlantic Records, Warner
2021 Justice Justin Bieber Def Jam Producer, writer
Poster Girl Zara Larsson TEN, Epic Writer
Nurture Porter Robinson Mom + Pop
-R- Rosé YG Entertainment
2020 Love Goes Sam Smith Capitol
Heartbreak Weather Niall Horan
Rare Selena Gomez Interscope Records Writer, backing vocals
2019 Fine Line Harry Styles Columbia, Erskine
All the Feels Fitz and the Tantrums Elektra Records Writer
Hallucinations Pvris Warner
It's Your Bed Babe, It's Your Funeral Maisie Peters Atlantic Records UK
You Ruined New York City for Me Fletcher Capitol
Romance Camila Cabello Epic, Syco
2018 13 Reasons Why: Season 2 soundtrack Selena Gomez Interscope
One in a Million Matoma Parlophone, Warner
Only Human Calum Scott Capitol
Shawn Mendes Shawn Mendes Island
2015 Omnipresent Old Soul Vocals

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Maine native Amy Allen signs record deal with Warner Music". WMTW. July 23, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "Meet The Nominees For Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical At The 2023 GRAMMYs". Grammy.com. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Pop Songwriter Amy Allen Co-Writes the Hit 'Back to You' for Selena Gomez and the #1 'Without Me' for Halsey". Songwriter Universe. October 5, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  4. ^ Gibson, Katie. "Amy Allen Scores No. 1 Hit with Halsey's 'Without Me'". Berklee. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  5. ^ Firman, Tehrene (February 2, 2015). "Exclusive! Listen to Amy & the Engine's Brand-New Single "Last Forever"". Teen Vogue. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "This Maine native just got her first No. 1 hit as a songwriter". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Bialas, Michael (September 1, 2015). "Premiering New Video, Amy and the Engine Want You to Join the 'A' Team". HuffPost. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  8. ^ "Amy Allen: Finding Balance & Forlorn Love". Lemonade Magazine. June 27, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Musicmusingsandsuch (October 29, 2016). "INTERVIEW: Amy Allen of Amy & the Engine". musicmusingsandsuch. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  10. ^ "Pop Songwriter Amy Allen Co-Writes the Hit 'Back to You' for Selena Gomez and the #1 "Without Me" for Halsey". Songwriter Universe. October 5, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  11. ^ Sarah (July 24, 2019). "Meet Maine's Next Huge Top 40 Music Star: Amy Allen". Z107.3. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  12. ^ "PVRIS Announce EP; Drop New Single And Video, Hallucinations". Kerrang!. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  13. ^ "The Hitmakers and Hitbreakers Who Defined the Sound of 2019". Variety. December 5, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  14. ^ "Amy Allen, 27". Forbes. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  15. ^ "ASCAP Experience Reveals First Set of Panelists: Dan Wilson, Poo Bear, Jason Mraz, More". Variety. February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  16. ^ "Amy Allen and Gretchen Peters Join Lineup for 5th Annual Songwriters Showcase Benefiting St. Jude « American Songwriter". American Songwriter. January 22, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  17. ^ "ASCAP Experience Conference Canceled Due to Coronavirus Concerns". Variety. March 10, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  18. ^ "Making the Cut: Variety's 2020 Hitmakers and Hitbreakers Revealed". Variety. December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  19. ^ "After Writing Hits for Halsey and Selena Gomez, Amy Allen Finds Her Sound, and a Home at Warner Records". Variety. June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  20. ^ "After Writing for Harry Styles and Halsey, Amy Allen Goes Out on Her own". yahoo!life. July 30, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  21. ^ "Listen to 'Queen of Silver Linings' by Amy Allen". Portland Press Herald. July 1, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  22. ^ "Amy Allen shares reflective new single 'Difficult'". CelebMix. July 31, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  23. ^ "Amy Allen Continues To Impress With "Heaven"". idolator. September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  24. ^ "Jade Bird, Sech + J Balvin, Amy Allen + Pink Sweat$ and More Top Songs From a Bonkers Week". Yahoo. November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  25. ^ "Amy Allen - One [Official Lyric Video]". YouTube. April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  26. ^ "Amy Allen Releases Debut EP 'AWW!' on Warner Records". Pop Nerd Lounge. November 5, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  27. ^ Amy Allen - A Woman's World (Official Music Video). Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ Amy Allen - End of a Dark Age (Lyric Video). Retrieved October 30, 2021 – via Youtube.
  29. ^ Trust, Gary (June 24, 2024). "Sabrina Carpenter's 'Please Please Please' Becomes Her First Billboard Hot 100 No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  30. ^ Caulfield, Keith (September 3, 2024). "Sabrina Carpenter's 'Short n' Sweet' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  31. ^ a b Coscarelli, Joe (September 3, 2024). "Sabrina Carpenter and Pop's Next Gen Have a Secret Weapon: Amy Allen". New York Times. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  32. ^ Zellner, Xander (September 5, 2024). "Amy Allen Hits No. 1 on Hot 100 Songwriters Chart Thanks to Sabrina Carpenter Hits". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  33. ^ Herman, James Patrick (February 24, 2020). "Hitmaker of the Month: Amy Allen on Her 'First Feel-Good Song,' Harry Styles' 'Adore You'". Variety. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  34. ^ Sharpe, Josh (July 17, 2024). "Amy Allen Shares New Single 'even forever'". Broadway World. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  35. ^ "Amy Allen Unveils Her Debut EP, "AWW!"". Wonderland Magazine. November 5, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  36. ^ "Who wrote "Cut Me Down" by Blu DeTiger & Mallrat?". Genius. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
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  38. ^ "Marshmello & Halsey - Be Kind Lyrics". GeniusLyrics. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  39. ^ "Fletcher is trying to find herself with new single, 'Forever'". Dork. March 13, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  40. ^ "australian-charts.com - Halsey - Graveyard". australian-charts.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
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  44. ^ "Aria Singles Chart". ariacharts.com.au. January 6, 2020.
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  52. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. May 8, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  53. ^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  54. ^ "australian-charts.com - Halsey - Without Me". australian-charts.com. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  55. ^ "Halsey's 'Without Me' Tops Billboard Hot 100, Becoming Her First No. 1 as a Lead Artist". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  56. ^ a b "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  57. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  58. ^ "ARIA CHART WATCH #556". auspOp. December 21, 2019. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  59. ^ "australian-charts.com - Selena Gomez - Back To You". australian-charts.com. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  60. ^ a b "Selena Gomez Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  61. ^ "ARIA Australian Singles Accreditations". aria.com.au.
  62. ^ "SinglesAccreds2018". aria.com.au. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
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