PAPER MASKS

Sitting at a crossroads between the lyrical nobility of a '66 Dylan and the energy and intent of alternative rock’s finest, English singer-songwriter DD Allen is an artist on the rise.
His 'music for thinkers' and rousing live performances are responsible for sold-out shows, numerous festival appearances, and a 2019 European support for Vintage Trouble.
Starting out in his teens fronting the rock cover band ‘Red House’, DD Allen began penning his own songs soon after moving away from his hometown for work.
His inspiration came from the hustle and bustle of life near Paul Weller's Stanley Road. And where Allen took an introspective view of the world around him.
Out went the classic rock, and in came infectious storytelling wrapped in a spirited solo-acoustic delivery.
His style immediately grabbed the attention of James Blunt, who claimed, “There’s something exciting about the music of DD Allen. Sort of a cross between Neil Young and Jake Bugg with a great deal of honesty in lyrics.”
But the young songwriter didn’t stay solo for long. 
After struggling to find a place for his edgy delivery on the folk circuit, Allen recorded two full-band demos with music producer Mark Tucker. 
And although never released, Show Me a Little Mercy and Holborn Avenue laid the foundation for DD Allen’s vision of his musical future.
Just Like The Old Days (Oct 2016), his debut single, arrived with all the vibrant intent of a Killer's stadium anthem and found immediate support from Indie Shuffle.
The sophomore release Rebecca’s Curse (Jun 2017) premiered on Atwood Magazine, striving to carve out its own space and rise above the mainstream by emerging as a subtle and poignant statement to despair. 
Allen’s 3rd single, Never Felt So Far From You (Feb 2018), saw a brief excursion into Americana and placement on Spotify’s official ‘Fresh Finds’ playlist.
Continuing to find favour with an audience intrigued by Allen’s persistent reinvention, 2019 saw a return to the singer’s early rock guitar influences with a 2-track EP release called Bad Love.
The same-titled lead single served as a homage to The Rolling Stones early Exile on Main Street period. While Just a Little More saw a nod to the influences of heartland rock’s finest with a rousing chorus: “On the streets tonight, the songs all call your name.”
But in all of this lay a hint that DD Allen is an artist perpetually evolving his sound. 
After venturing into pop-rock with his early 2020 release Seattle Lights, Allen revealed prominent 80s inspiration with the follow-up I See You In the Dark.
“Stellar rich energy . . . unrelenting lively instrumental . . . captivating vocals”, claimed Uneratted Magazine.
And it’s here in a space where an eclectic array of influences come together that DD Allen finds a home.
“I write about everything from broken romances to social injustice and hope for the future”, he claims.
“But I don’t want to be like anyone else or sound like anyone else. Being true to myself is more important.”
The eagerly awaited new single ‘Paper Masks’ is set for release on July 30, 2021.
Penned as a passionate anthem to troubled times and an ode to our collective responsibility, Paper Masks lays bear DD Allen's views on the pandemic.
“It’s down to us”, he says. “We won’t find our horizon in paper masks.”