EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Jay Allen Chats Backstage At CMA Fest

CMA Fest is always a whirlwind of incredible performances and small snatches of time with incredible artists and backstage in the media room here at Music and Tour News we were lucky to grab a few minutes with country artist Jay Allen to discuss his new music, charity work and more:

So, how have you enjoyed your CMA Fest experience this year?

So, I did the first day and then I actually had to go on the road and play some shows in Nebraska and then came back for the CMA’s and my wife [Kylie Morgan] has been playing all week I was looking forward to playing outside (adverse weather conditions closed outdoor stages on the last day) but they just moved it inside cos of the lightning. So we went from an outdoor stage at the Hard Rock to a room that probably holds 200 so it’s gonna be so packed but it’s still fun and it’ll be a party crowd for sure.

And of course, you’ve just signed your record deal, how did that come about?

Yeah, I never thought I’d be that guy but here we are it’s cool. Weird story to get here. So, my story is that I lost my mom to what’s called early-onset Alzheimers. I wrote a song about it when she was sick and I kind of basically became a philanthropist and was raising money for the disease and I thought what better way to show them than to actually show them, so when my mom was sick I brought her on stage opening for Jake Owen and it was a party crowd but they saw my mom and she obviously looked very sick so they shut up and they listened and I sang the song I wrote for her called ‘Blank Stares’, and I took a video and put it on Facebook – it got six million views and so I’ve said yes to everything since. Partnered with the National Alzheimers Association, we’ve raised 1 Million dollars to fight against Alzheimer’s and along the way I had to learn how to put on a show. I put together a band and we’ve opened up for everyone, played every festival you can think of and been all over the States, along the way I became an artist. At the end of my show, I always talk about this cause and The Voice to give you the nitty gritty now that I’m not in contract anymore. They’ve called me the last five years and I’d always politely declined as I never thought it was for me until this last year. I thought what better way to put more eyes and ears on this than to go on The Voice. they let me sing that song and they told the story in a beautiful way and I didn’t expect this but I came off the show and was offered a record deal and so I feel like I’ve kind of done my due diligence with raising money for the cause and so I released one last song to say thank you to momma called ‘No Prayer Like Mama’s’ and the label said: “it’s time to have fun, Jay”. So they asked for the most fun song I’ve ever written and as a joke I gave them this song called ‘Jello Shot’ and they loved it.

Who are the team behind this new track?

So, I’ve worked with OneRPM they are a worldly label and they came up to Nashville and they’re taking over. I always thought if I’m going to partner with a team I don’t want it to be just a team, I want it to be the right people and this feels like a family. Who knew there were so many people involved in making music? I have a beautiful team wrapped around me. Manager, booking agent, PR team and label. It’s a lot of work but it’s a lot of fun.

Have you had any fun co-writes that stand out for you?

Oh yeah, Well my wife, I’m married to Kylie Morgan so we have a lot of fun. We released a song together called Mustang on Mud Tires. It’s another kind of silly one. We walked in the room with my buddy Nate Kenyon and he said “Jay I have an idea for you called Mustang on Mud Tires” I literally said out loud ” That’s stupid” and he goes “No, hear me out, you’re the pretty boy that looks like Adam Levine that sings country songs, you’re a Mustang on Mud Tires”. So, I’ve had some really fun experiences. This is my tenth year in Nashville and I’ve met a lot of cool people

What was the main driving force for you to move to Nashville?

Again, I never thought I would. It was like the last place I wanted to go. Like, you’re a diamond in your little town and here you get lost and I was afraid of that. My ex actually kicked me out of the house and told me to move to Nashville otherwise you never will. So that’s literally how it happened. There were his older couple who lived outside of Nashville in Hendersonville and they let me stay in the back of their house. They had an apartment. It was the only way I could get on my feet and I would write them a cheque and hope it wouldn’t bounce every month and they would rip it up and they would put it in my kitchen. They wouldn’t let me pay for rent.

You mentioned before this interview that you’re coming to London soon, is that your first time?

Yeah, my manager just coordinated it at an Alzheimer’s event but we’re trying to circle a little tour around it and spend some time over there.

So, what’s been your major highlight from this year so far?

It’s been a hell of a year for me. I went on The Voice which was really important for me and for the cause and to take my career to the next level. Signed the record deal and then I married the girl of my dreams, So, it’s been a damn good year.

What are your goals going into the next half of the year?

I’ve really worked hard and sought out team members to wrap around me and partner with me that are not only a team but a team of good people. Good-hearted, kind, selfless etc, Everyone says this it takes an army and it does and I wanted the right army so now that I have the right army we have some lofty goals. One of them is that I want to do a headline tour in the States but also tie it in with the National Alzheimers Association and then also make it a radio tour too.

One last question for you, what’s your message to your UK fans?

Well, I hope you like jello shots cos I heard Ya’ll don’t have them over there and I’m gonna try and smuggle them over there haha. Yeah, if anyone over there has heard of me and that cause, I’m obviously always going to talk about that but we’re bringing the party.

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