With “Rock & Roll American” out now, we took some time to hear from Allan Jamisen. Read below to learn more about Allan Jamisen, the story behind “Rock & Roll American,” and what’s to come.

Hi Allan Jamisen! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name? 

To make a long story short, I was known as ‘A.J.’ for most of my life, so I wanted something to correspond with that, but it’s really an homage to Denmark, where I lived for many years. It’s an expression of gratitude to Danish society (in Denmark, last names end in ‘sen,’ i.e. ‘Hansen’ – in Sweden, they end in ‘son,’ i.e. ‘Hanson’). 

What city are you from and where are you based now? 

I was born in Chicago, but my family moved to Phoenix, Arizona when I was an infant, so I was raised in Phoenix, which is where I’m located right now. I’ve also lived in Los Angeles, and finished high school there. 

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started? 

It began when I was in high school in Woodland Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley. I threw a huge ‘kegger’ party when my father was out of town, and was looking for a band to play at the party, so I was told by some students at my school to go see these local musicians performing in the area. The members of the band were all teenagers like me, but they were really great. It was super exciting, and the audience was going crazy. I had an epiphany that this was something that I could be a part of too, so I wound up joining a garage band that some friends in my neighborhood had formed. I became the lead singer and co-songwriter in the band, and continued on from there after the band broke up. The guitarist in that band, Danny Saber, later became a record producer working with artists like the Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper, and the singer from INXS, Michael Hutchence. He actually produced this latest release, ‘Rock & Roll American.’

How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?

Compelling, modern, and timeless. 

Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative? 

Painting is another creative discipline that I’ve been dedicated to for many years, it’s more than a hobby though; I’ve exhibited and sold work in several galleries in the U.S. and in Denmark, and also to private collectors. Staying creative is interconnected with the desire to keep growing as a person, it’s a constant process.

Who are some of your main musical influences? 

Burt Bacharach, The Rolling Stones, The Velvet Underground, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Miles Davis, James Brown, and many, many more… 

If you could collaborate with any musical artist out there, who would that be?

Annie Clark / St. Vincent.

What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far? 

Pretending I was a student at UCSB and joining the university gospel choir for vocal training. I became a featured performer at the recital, playing guitar on the Prince song, ‘The Cross.’ The choir director / professor only found out that I wasn’t a student at the end of the semester, just before the recital, when it was time to hand out grades – but he still let me perform anyway. 

What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far? 

Self discipline, simplicity and humility dispels ego – and manifests authenticity. What you do – and how you do it, and what you don’t do – and how you don’t do it defines one’s quality of life, and those experiences travel with you when you leave this existence. Generosity is a ripple effect and is returned tenfold. 

Now onto your release, ‘Rock & Roll American.’ What inspired this song? 

Observing and experiencing life and the dysfunctional value system of the United States, especially in contrast to the collectivist ideals that I had experienced living in Denmark. Also, how important an influence counter culture in art, music and literature was to me as a young person. It was a psychic roadmap that expanded my consciousness and helped me navigate through life. 

What was the creative process like when making ‘Rock & Roll American?’ 

The pre-production started out with a recording engineer that I had met through a Craigslist ad in Phoenix. He was a graduate of the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in the Phoenix area. We had worked on the pre-production of several other songs before working on ‘Rock & Roll American.’ I took the tracks that we had recorded to Los Angeles and collaborated further with the producer, Danny Saber. Saber basically re-recorded everything – he programmed and played all the musical instrumentation that is featured on the song. We also recorded my lead vocal at his home studio. The backing vocals were recorded in Phoenix (with a vocalist also found on Craigslist), then I returned to Los Angeles and finished the song with Saber. 

How long did it take to complete ‘Rock & Roll American?‘

The entire process was fleshed out over a few months, from the beginning of pre-production to the final mix. 

What do you hope fans take away from your music and from ‘Rock & Roll American?‘

I hope they’re inspired and elated. 

What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?  

I’m in the process of recording a new song. I’m really more of a recording artist than a live act because I don’t have a band. I really don’t have any burning desire to perform live either; the magic for me is in the songwriting and recording process. 

Where can we follow you on social media?  

Instagram: @allanjamisen 

Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!