Category: Callery, Allysen
Allysen Callery at the Columbus Theatre
with Minibeast and Arborea
Columbus Theatre
Providence, Rhode Island
8pm
Haunt the House and Allysen Callery at The Round Square Festival
with Ian Fitzgerald, Dan Blakeslee, Tracie Potochnik, Kayla Ringelheim, Daphne Lee Martin, G.W. Mercure, Kala Farnham, and Steve Allain.
May 17
Artists Exchange – Theatre 82
82 Rolfe Square
Cranston, RI
Allysen Callery & Haunt the House at DreamAway Lodge
Dream Away Lodge
Becket, Massachusetts
8pm
Allysen Callery at Ambrosia Tavern
Ambrosia Tavern
116 Elm St
Attleboro, MA 02760
8pm
Allysen Callery at Church Street Coffeehouse
with Ryan Lee Crosby
Church Street Coffeehouse
First United Methodist Church
25 Church St
Warren RI
8pm
Allysen Callery and Haunt the House at Dusk
with Detroit Rebellion and Us n’ Y’all
Dusk
301 Harris Avenue
Providence, RI 02909
8:30pm
Allysen Callery at Perks & Corks
Perks & Corks
Westerly, RI
8pm
Allysen Callery at Nu Cafe
Nu Cafe
335 Chandler St
Worcester, MA 01602
6pm
Allysen Callery interview at All Creativelike
You can read the article here.
Allysen Callery is an earth angel. Her lyrics, melodies, and haunting voice are truly unique and special. What’s more, Allysen is a kind and thoughtful human. Man, some folks have all the luck! Read on to find out more about Allysen’s songwriting process, creative influences, and what it was like playing at the esteemed South-by-Southwest music festival this year.
How do you define creativity?
I don’t. I think that’s anti-creativity.
Where does your songwriting inspiration come from?
I get inspired every time I learn a new chord, or open tuning. I’m still learning, even after 15+ years of playing guitar. The melody comes, and the words follow. But sometimes it’s the other way around.
Can you remember the first time you had an experience with music?
I was a toddler in Taiwan. My parents were there because of the Vietnam war. My father was a medic. Music was a part of our living space, and I first noticed where it came from by seeing that Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles was coming from a reel-to-reel.
Tell me about writing your lyrics vs. developing melodies?
I was a poet before I became a songwriter. I don’t worry about hooks and choruses so much. I want to tell a story, and I want to make you feel and be transported. Melodies just come when I’m playing around on guitar. But the words and music come from someplace other than just me.
What have you been working on lately?
I’ve been lucky to have been recorded lately by the great Bob Kendall, who also laid some production over my songs “for fun.” The result was a session for Folk Radio UK that’s gotten over 4,000 plays in the last month. I am going to be recording a British Isles covers EP for a UK label, and working with Bob for that, as well. I cannot wait. (Here the session here.)
Favorite artist or influence?
Oh boy, so many. I was heavily influenced by all the wonderful artists my parents listened to: Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, The Incredible String Band. I learned how to sing by listening to Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention and Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span. Lately I have been really loving Jessica Pratt out of San Francisco. And, Anne Briggs really inspires me.
You recently played South-by-Southwest. What was that experience like?
I was very well taken care of at my first “South By.” I was lucky to have caught the ear of someone in a senior booking position, and he made sure I was given extra performance slots and all my showcases were in nice hotels. I made a few wonderful connections, and was written up and ranked highly in the Washington Post. I also made NPR Bob Boilen’s list of Intriguing Unknown Artists.
Any daily or weekly habits and practices?
I’ve been posting homemade recordings on my Soundcloud page about every week, some covers and demos that may or may not make it onto an album at some point. I am not a very regimented person, but I try to play guitar every day, and am playing one or two shows every week. I still have a day job, and will probably always have one – I like to pay my bills on time!
Any advice for aspiring musicians?
Practice. Be better than you thought you could be. Take risks, you should be frightened what people might think of your art. Don’t try to fit in. Don’t try to play it cool. Answer emails. Be kind to everyone. Don’t let anyone other than you define who you are. Get nice head shots. Get a real website. Keep a part-time job that you don’t have to get up too early for, that is not too physically demanding, so you can still play shows within a one to two-hour driving radius throughout the week. Officially release music every year. Upload new content weekly. Don’t get hung up on perfection. Pursue the press. Be true to your self, and your vision – you are unique and the world is wide, you will find your peeps, your tribe. They might be sprinkled around the globe, but that’s why the Internet is so awesome.
Allysen Callery & Bob Kendall at Tavern at the End of the World
Tavern at the End of the World
108 Cambridge Street
Charlestown, Mass
10pm