DAVID JAMES ALLEN giving out Al Green, Soul City vibes on new release

WITH its soulful sound rooted in Al Green’s Memphis, DAVID JAMES ALLEN’s ‘Dukes Up (Since You’ve Been Gone)’ provides another glorious tease of September’s ‘Jubilation Potpourri’ album – via Littleknown Records.

Dealing with growth and self-belief, today’s release is less of a breakup, but more of a call to arms to stand up, embrace, and fight through new chapters that may unexpectedly present themselves.

“I recorded the track at my studio, playing drums, bass, Yamaha CP30 electric piano, guitars, percussion, and vocals myself before inviting Andrew Ivens to add organ,” explained Allen. “As the arrangement grew, I started layering synths, wah guitar, and lead vocals, gradually building the song into something that felt soulful, playful, with a bounce and movement.

“I think some of that spirit comes from Frederick Knight’s ‘I’ve Been Lonely (For So Long),’ a song I listened to constantly in college. There’s a warmth and sense of sunshine in that record that I wanted to channel as a message of self-belief.”

Following September’s album release and a number of Toronto Festival Performances, Allen heads out on a twelve-date Ontario tour through October and November.

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