Amy Allen (songwriter)
{{short description|American songwriter, record producer, and singer from Maine}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Distinguish|Aimee Allen}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Amy Allen
| image = AmyAllen 2024 IMG 0247.jpg
| caption = Amy Allen in 2024
| birth_name = Amy Rose Allen
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1992}}
| origin = South Portland, Maine, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Songwriter|singer|record producer}}
| years_active = 2015–present
| label = {{hlist|Warner|APG|AWAL}}
|past_member_of= Amy & The Engine
| website =
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| instrument = {{flatlist|
- Bass
- vocals
- guitar
}}
}}
Amy Rose Allen (born 1992) is an American songwriter, record producer, and singer. She has been credited with songwriting work on commercially successful releases performed by artists including Sabrina Carpenter, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Tate McRae, Halsey, Rosé, and Shawn Mendes, among others.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wmtw.com/article/maine-native-amy-allen-signs-record-deal-with-warner-music/28474639 |title=Maine native Amy Allen signs record deal with Warner Music |date=2019-07-23 |publisher=WMTW |language=en|access-date=2020-01-01}}
Allen was nominated for the inaugural Songwriter of the Year award at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards for her work on releases by King Princess, Alexander 23, Lizzo, Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter and Harry Styles.{{Cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/songwriter-of-the-year-non-classical-2023-grammy-nominations-65th-awards |title=Meet The Nominees For Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical At The 2023 GRAMMYs |website=Grammy.com |language=en |access-date=2022-11-22}} At the same ceremony, she won Album of the Year for her contribution to the latter's Harry's House (2022). She received the award for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards for her work on releases by Leon Bridges, Sabrina Carpenter, Koe Wetzel, Jessie Murph, Tate McRae, Olivia Rodrigo, and Justin Timberlake.
Early life and education
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.{{Cite news |url=https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/amy-allen-songwriter-2018.htm|title=Pop Songwriter Amy Allen Co-Writes the Hit 'Back to You' for Selena Gomez and the #1 'Without Me' for Halsey |date=2018-10-05 |work=Songwriter Universe |access-date=2020-01-12 |language=en-US}} While at Berklee, Allen was taught by singer and producer Kara DioGuardi.{{Cite web |url=https://www.berklee.edu/news/berklee-now/amy-allen-15-scores-no-1-hit-without-me |title=Amy Allen Scores No. 1 Hit with Halsey's 'Without Me' |website=Berklee |last1=Gibson |first1=Katie |language=en |access-date=2020-01-12}}
Career
In 2015, Allen was featured in Teen Vogue, after releasing two solo EPs.{{Cite web |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/amy-and-the-engine-last-forever-exclusive-premiere |title=Exclusive! Listen to Amy & the Engine's Brand-New Single "Last Forever" |last=Firman |first=Tehrene |website=Teen Vogue |date=February 2, 2015 |language=en |access-date=2020-01-12}} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/culture/music/2019/01/09/amy-allen-halsey |title=This Maine native just got her first No. 1 hit as a songwriter |website=The Boston Globe |language=en-US |access-date=2020-01-12}} The band released their first single "Last Forever" on February 14, 2015. TandeMania, their debut EP, was released on September 22, 2016.{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/premiering-new-video-amy_b_8068804 |title=Premiering New Video, Amy and the Engine Want You to Join the 'A' Team |last=Bialas |first=Michael |date=2015-09-01 |website=HuffPost |language=en |access-date=2020-01-12}}
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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.lemonademagazine.net/interviews/amy-allen-finding-balance-forlorn-love/ |title=Amy Allen: Finding Balance & Forlorn Love |date=2017-06-27 |website=Lemonade Magazine |language=en |access-date=2020-01-12}} Allen described the sound of Get Me Outta Here! as being "a bit darker and heavier than the first".{{Cite web |url=https://musicmusingsandsuch.wordpress.com/2016/10/29/interview-amy-allen-of-amy-the-engine/ |title=INTERVIEW: Amy Allen of Amy & the Engine |last=Musicmusingsandsuch |date=2016-10-29 |website=musicmusingsandsuch |language=en |access-date=2020-01-12}} 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. 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.{{Cite news |url=https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/amy-allen-songwriter-2018.htm |title=Pop Songwriter Amy Allen Co-Writes the Hit 'Back to You' for Selena Gomez and the #1 "Without Me" for Halsey |date=2018-10-05 |work=Songwriter Universe |access-date=2020-01-01 |language=en-US}} In 2019, Allen signed to Warner Records, and it was expected that her debut solo album would be released the following year.{{Cite web |url=https://z1073.com/meet-maines-next-huge-top-40-music-star-amy-allen/ |title=Meet Maine's Next Huge Top 40 Music Star: Amy Allen |last=Sarah |website=Z107.3 |date=July 24, 2019 |language=en |access-date=2020-01-12}} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/pvris-announce-ep-drop-new-single-and-video-hallucinations/ |title=PVRIS Announce EP; Drop New Single And Video, Hallucinations |website=Kerrang! |access-date=2020-01-13}} She was named as one of Variety{{'}}s "2019 Hitmakers" for the single "Without Me".{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/gallery/hitmakers-megan-thee-stallion-swae-lee/ |title=The Hitmakers and Hitbreakers Who Defined the Sound of 2019 |date=2019-12-05 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=2020-02-14}}
In January 2020, Allen was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 in Music.{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/5dd5923be0af7b0006b1d7fd/amy-allen-27/ |title=Amy Allen, 27 |website=Forbes |language=en |access-date=2020-01-12}} She has been announced as a panelist for the 2020 ASCAP Experience.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/ascap-experience-expo-dan-wilson-poo-bear-jason-mraz-1203494662/ |title=ASCAP Experience Reveals First Set of Panelists: Dan Wilson, Poo Bear, Jason Mraz, More |date=2020-02-06 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=2020-02-14}} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://americansongwriter.com/amy-allen-and-gretchen-peters-join-lineup-for-5th-annual-songwriters-showcase-benefiting-st-jude/press-release/ |title=Amy Allen and Gretchen Peters Join Lineup for 5th Annual Songwriters Showcase Benefiting St. Jude « American Songwriter |date=2020-01-22 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US |access-date=2020-02-14}} On March 9, 2020, the ASCAP Experience event was cancelled due to concerns over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/ascap-experience-cancelled-coronavirus-1203528452/ |title=ASCAP Experience Conference Canceled Due to Coronavirus Concerns |date=2020-03-10 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=2020-04-07}} Variety named Allen a "2020 Hitmaker" for co-writing Harry Styles' "Adore You".{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/lists/hitmakers-2020-full-list/ |title=Making the Cut: Variety's 2020 Hitmakers and Hitbreakers Revealed |date=2020-12-03 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=2020-12-03}}
After signing a recording deal with Warner Records,{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/amy-allen-interview-warner-records-1234648551/ |title=After Writing Hits for Halsey and Selena Gomez, Amy Allen Finds Her Sound, and a Home at Warner Records |date=2020-06-24 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=2020-06-25}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/writing-harry-styles-halsey-amy-110051846.html/ |title=After Writing for Harry Styles and Halsey, Amy Allen Goes Out on Her own |date=2020-07-30 |website=yahoo!life |language=en |access-date=2020-08-18}} Allen released five singles over the following two years: "Queen of Silver Linings",{{cite web |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2020/07/01/listen-to-queen-of-silver-linings-by-amy-allen/ |title=Listen to 'Queen of Silver Linings' by Amy Allen |website=Portland Press Herald |date=2020-07-01 |language=en |access-date=2020-09-25}} "Difficult",{{cite web|url=https://celebmix.com/amy-allen-shares-reflective-new-single-difficult/ |title=Amy Allen shares reflective new single 'Difficult' |website=CelebMix |date=2020-07-31 |language=en |access-date=2020-09-25}} "Heaven",{{Cite web |url=https://www.idolator.com/7914825/amy-allen-continues-to-impress-with-heaven |title=Amy Allen Continues To Impress With "Heaven" |website=idolator |date=2020-09-25 |language=en |access-date=2020-09-25}} "What a Time to Be Alive"{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jade-bird-sech-j-balvin-193931477.html |title=Jade Bird, Sech + J Balvin, Amy Allen + Pink Sweat$ and More Top Songs From a Bonkers Week |website=Yahoo |date=2020-11-06 |language=en |access-date=2020-11-30}} and "One".{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSJNBUGoAo4 |title=Amy Allen - One [Official Lyric Video] |website=YouTube |date=2021-04-22 |language=en |access-date=2021-04-22}} Her debut solo EP, AWW!, was released on November 5, 2021{{Cite web |url=https://popnerdlounge.com/read/amy-allen-releases-debut-ep-aww-with-warner-records |title=Amy Allen Releases Debut EP 'AWW!' on Warner Records |website=Pop Nerd Lounge |date=2021-11-05 |language=en |access-date=2022-04-16}} with singles "A Woman's World" and "End of a Dark Age" having been released in the preceding two months.{{Cite AV media |title=Amy Allen - A Woman's World (Official Music Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oxViH8tMw8 |via=YouTube |language=en |access-date=2021-10-30}}{{Cite AV media |title=Amy Allen - End of a Dark Age (Lyric Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OZgMv6R1GM |via=Youtube |language=en |access-date=2021-10-30}}
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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/sabrina-carpenter-please-please-please-number-1-hot-100/ |title=Sabrina Carpenter’s 'Please Please Please' Becomes Her First Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=2024-06-24 |website=Billboard |language=en |access-date=2024-09-04}} Allen co-wrote every track on Carpenter’s Short n' Sweet album which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200.{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/sabrina-carpenter-short-n-sweet-number-one-billboard-200-debut-1235765351/ |title=Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=2024-09-03 |website=Billboard |language=en |access-date=2024-09-04}}
In September 2024, The New York Times published a profile of Allen’s success, including quotes from collaborators including Jack Antonoff and Julia Michaels.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/arts/music/amy-allen-sabrina-carpenter.html |title=Sabrina Carpenter and Pop’s Next Gen Have a Secret Weapon: Amy Allen |last=Coscarelli |first=Joe |date=2024-09-03 |website=New York Times |language=en |access-date=2024-09-04}} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/amy-allen-number-1-songwriters-chart-sabrina-carpenter-hits-1235767998/ |title=Amy Allen Hits No. 1 on Hot 100 Songwriters Chart Thanks to Sabrina Carpenter Hits |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=2024-09-05 |website=Billboard |language=en |access-date=2024-09-06}}
During the 2024 awards season, Allen won the Variety Hitmakers Songwriter of the Year Award.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/shaboozey-benson-boone-doechii-variety-hitmakers-1236216376/ |title=Shaboozey, Benson Boone, Doechii, Daniel Nigro and Amy Allen to Be Honored at Variety’s Hitmakers Event; Jack Antonoff Named Producer of the Decade |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2024-11-21 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=2025-02-03}} She has also been nominated for the Top Hot 100 Songwriter category in the 2024 Billboard Music Awards.{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2024-billboard-music-awards-winners-bbmas-1235854482/ |title=Here Are the 2024 Billboard Music Awards Winners: Full List |last=Atkinson |first=Katie |date=2024-12-12 |website=Billboard |language=en |access-date=2025-02-03}}
In 2025, Amy Allen received the Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical. {{Cite web |last=Vasquez |first=Whitney |date=2025-02-03 |title=Grammys 2025: Full list of nominees and winners |url=https://nypost.com/2025/02/02/entertainment/grammys-2025-full-list-of-nominees-and-winners/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2024-12-06 |title=With Hits by Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, Rose and More, Songwriter Amy Allen Has Dominated 2024’s Charts |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/songwriter-amy-allen-hits-sabrina-carpenter-rose-1236235857/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} Allen also received the Songwriter of the Year award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in 2025. {{Cite web |last=Degrazia |first=Leah |date=2025-03-17 |title=iHeartRadio Music Awards 2025 Winners: Complete List |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1414767/iheartradio-music-awards-2025-winners-complete-list-live-updates|access-date=2025-03-17 |language=en-US}}
During the 67th Annual Grammy Music Awards, Allen was nominated in four categories: Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical, Best Song Written for Visual Media ("Better Place" from Trolls Band Together), and for both the Album of the Year (Short n' Sweet) and Song of the Year ("Please Please Please") awards for her work with Sabrina Carpenter. Allen was awarded the Grammy for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical. Allen is one of only two songwriters in history to have been nominated twice in the Songwriter of the Year category at the Grammy Awards, and is the first woman to receive this award.{{Cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/amy-allen-wins-songwriter-of-the-year-2025-grammys/ |title=2025 GRAMMYs: Amy Allen Becomes First Woman To Win GRAMMY For Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical |last=Markowitz |first=Douglas |date=2025-02-02 |website=Grammy Awards |language=en |access-date=2025-02-03}}
Style and influences
Allen has cited bands like The Cranberries and The Cure as influences on Amy & The Engine. 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".{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/hitmaker-of-the-month-amy-allen-harry-styles-adore-you-1203510866/ |title=Hitmaker of the Month: Amy Allen on Her 'First Feel-Good Song,' Harry Styles' 'Adore You' |last=Herman |first=James Patrick |date=2020-02-24 |website=Variety |language=en |access-date=2020-04-07}} In a 2024 New York Times article, Allen also stated that she was inspired by the "'90s" girls - Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, and Melissa Etheridge - as well as Cocteau Twins and Edie Brickell.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable"
|+List of studio albums with selected details !Title !Details |
| Amy Allen
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable"
|+List of extended plays with selected details !Title !Details |
| AWW!
| |
= Songwriting credits =
= Features =
| class="wikitable"
|+ List of albums showing year, artist and label !Year !Title !Artist !Label !Credited as |
| rowspan="4" | 2024
|Rosé | rowspan="14" |Writer |
| Short n' Sweet |
| Everything I Thought It Was |
| 9 Lives |
| rowspan="4" |2023 |
| Guts |
| Think Later
|RCA Records |
| Snow Angel |
| rowspan="6"|2022
|Island Records |
| Girl of My Dreams
|Fletcher |
| Harry's House
|Columbia, Erskine |
| Hold On Baby
|King Princess |Zelig |
| Special |
| Crash
|Asylum Records, Atlantic Records, Warner |
| rowspan="4" |2021
|Producer, writer |
| Poster Girl
|rowspan="5"| Writer |
| Nurture |
| R (single album) |
| R-
|Rosé |
| rowspan="3" |2020
|rowspan="2"| Capitol |
| Heartbreak Weather |
| Rare
| rowspan="2" | Writer, backing vocals |
| rowspan="6" |2019
|Harry Styles |Columbia, Erskine |
| All the Feels
| rowspan="9" | Writer |
| Hallucinations
|Pvris |
| It's Your Bed Babe, It's Your Funeral |
| You Ruined New York City for Me
|Fletcher |Capitol |
| Romance
|Epic, Syco |
| rowspan="4" |2018
|13 Reasons Why: Season 2 soundtrack |Selena Gomez |Interscope |
| One in a Million
|Parlophone, Warner |
| Only Human
|Capitol |
| Shawn Mendes
|Island |
| 2015
|Omnipresent |Old Soul | |Vocals |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Amy Allen
|list =
{{Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical}}
{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in an Animated Film}}
}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Amy}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Songwriters from Maine
Category:American women songwriters
Category:American women singers
Category:Record producers from Maine
Category:People from Windham, Maine
Category:Berklee College of Music alumni