Jay Allen Talks New Music and Working with the Alzheimer's Association

Jay Allen is open about his more "unconventional" approach to his musical career. What started out as a way to process circumstances in his own life, he ended up connecting with millions more. Many may know him as he made his mark on season 22 of The Voice. After spending even a little amount of time with the singer, it's clear he leads with his heart. "I never purposely pursued music to try and get famous, I've just utilized every opportunity I can to help others," says Allen. Check out what he had to say about his music, as well as his greater purpose.

"I never thought I would be doing interviews like this as an artist," begins Allen. He found his path when his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. He went on to say, "She was so selfless, would do anything for anybody. When she got sick my first thought was, what can I do to help her?" He began writing songs as a way to make sense of what was going through and realized that maybe others can relate. Upon losing his mother from the disease, his songs "Blank Stares" and "No Prayer Like Mama's" offer a place for healing.

Allen's journey eventually led him to national television. "People like to know what happens behind the scenes, and I can tell you that those people on TV are exactly how you'd hope. Gwen and Blake were some of the most kind and sincere people I've ever met," he notes. "The Voice is tied to a casting agency as all shows are, and I received a call from that agency for five years in a row. They seek out artists with stories. I felt like I had taken my artistry as far as I could organically, so what better way to put eyes and ears on this disease than on TV" As he looks back on his journey, he's grateful for how much that experience taught him.

"I got a call from the head of Sony and he said, 'You don't know this but my dad passed away from Alzheimer's. I'm listening to your song 'Blank Stares' that you wrote for your mom, and I'm gonna send it out to some really important people if you promise me that every dollar we make off of it goes towards the fight against Alzheimer's,'" Allen explains. Allen enjoys saying "yes" to every opportunity he can. He regularly performs at Galas and events for the Alzheimer's Foundation across the country.

A true lover of rock music, Allen decided to put his own spin on the 3 Doors Down song, "Here Without You." It's evident in his sound and style that he draws inspiration from that genre, as well as country. This track showcases Allen's impressive vocals and shows a different side to the singer. In fact, the new music that will come from Allen will look to do just that as well. "I'm known for a cause, and I'm a philanthropist first and foremost, but I grew up on rock 'n' roll. Mama loved country. What better way to bridge the gap between what people know me for and the rest of my career?" he shares. He went on to say, "My shows are up-tempo, a lot of fun, and I hope to put out a record like that this fall."

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