Songwriter Spotlight: Amy Allen

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano

Amy Allen poses for a portrait. Photography by Ethan Benavidez (For The Times)

Amy Allen is continuously reaching new heights in her career as a songwriter. The Maine born writer has accumulated numerous charting hits through her powerful penmanship. Her relatability is part of why artists continue to work with her repeatedly. She has said that she finds something similar that has happened in her life and relates it to what the artist is going through, in order to write the massive hits she does. Just this year, Amy Allen was presented with the Songwriter Of The Year (Non-Classical) award at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. This is a relatively new category that was added in 2022, so it is a big deal! Her grammy speech honoring songwriters that came before her speaks volumes as to what kind of person she is and it is only right that her accomplishments are brought to light after many years of hard work and perseverance.

Her Early Life

In her early life, Allen grew up in a musical environment where she was introduced to a variety of artists by her musician father. She herself was also in a band by the name of Amy & the Engine, which contributed to her growth as an artist. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Allen moved to New York where she worked on her music and eventually focused solely on songwriting. Much of her success as a songwriter can be pinpointed back to one song -  “Back To You“ by Selena Gomez was her first big hit on the radio. From there she wrote songs with Halsey, Harry Styles and Sabrina Carpenter. Her humbleness and ability to connect through music has made her extremely sought after by artists, so much that she has about 5 sessions a week. 

Her Ear For Hits and Her Inspirations

Amy Allen has spoken many times about her varying inspirations for her own music and the songs she writes for others. Those inspirations include Dolly Parton and Sheryl Crow. It is very apparent that the musicality she showcases has deep roots, connecting her to music from different time periods and genres. Allen has spoken about her love for 90’s music, rock and many other classics. Her songs are written in such a way that they pay tribute to her inspirations rather than copy them. It is very clear that she admires the great artists of past generations, but she does not imitate, rather she pays homage to their work. This is noticeable because her songs may feel like strong pop records, but they are also timeless pieces of music. One artist she continuously works with is Sabrina Carpenter, who is one of the biggest artists in the world right now. She has worked with her on both ‘Short n’ Sweet’ and ‘Emails I Can’t Send.’ Amy continues her journey within the music industry as one of the biggest songwriters in the world, currently booked and busy.

Amy Allen poses for a portrait in Los Angeles. Photography by Jae C. Hong

There are so many songwriters that are making hit after hit and Amy Allen is working among those hit makers as a peer. She doesn’t need to prove herself, she is already her own name within the industry. Aside from her songwriting, she has released solo music, her last album self-titled ‘Amy Allen’ is a piece of her story she leaves behind for future generations to discover. It is evident she cares deeply about the music she creates, the artists she works with and the stories she tells. She is a harmonious person who deserves her flowers. We look forward to keeping up with her career, seeing her grow and collaborate with any artist that she wants to!