Amy Allen's reputation as a go-to hitmaker preceded her own rise as singer/songwriter. By the time she released her debut album in 2021, the Maine native had amassed an impressive clutch of hits for A-list pop stars like
Harry Styles,
Halsey, and
Selena Gomez.
Allen's own music, on singles like "Queen of Silver Linings" and "What a Time to Be Alive," trends more toward organic, guitar-driven indie folk-pop with a strong emotional pull.
Born and raised in Windham, Maine,
Allen's musical gifts were apparent from a young age; she served as the bassist in her sister's cover band while still in elementary school. Exposure to everything from classic rock and '90s alt-pop to bluegrass shaped her emerging songwriting talent, and she went on to study production and songwriting at Boston's Berklee College of Music. Among other solo projects, she led a melodic indie pop group called Amy & the Engine, who released a handful of EPs in the mid-2010s.
In 2017,
Allen moved to Los Angeles, where she signed with Artist Publishing Group and began working as a producer and songwriter. Within a year, she'd become involved with several significant acts, co-writing hits like
Selena Gomez's "Back to You" and
Halsey's chart-topping "Without Me." 2019 proved to be another banner year as she notched further big collaborations with
Harry Styles,
Pvris, Fletcher, and again with
Halsey.
Allen also signed with Warner Bros. and began releasing solo singles like 2020's "Heaven" and "Queen of Silver Linings." The
Pink Sweat$ collaboration "What a Time to Be Alive" followed in early 2021 in advance of her full-length debut. ~ Timothy Monger