Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Allard
Hi Jake, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started playing guitar as a hobby and played casually until 2019. That year I moved to Texas and was approached for my first professional writing and recording job with the renowned drummer Talon Blaque for his band Bomber Alley, featuring members of Dee Snider’s band (of Twisted Sister fame).
Since then, I’ve recorded for personal projects such as Midnight Maniac, Nightrise, and several other hard rock bands, as well as Classically inspired instrumental compositions, under my full name, Jake Curtis Allard. I joined my first national live band, Christian Shields, which allowed me to hone my craft, develop a stage presence, make connections, record new music, and play every corner of the country.
Recently, my classically inspired “Jake Curtis Allard” pieces have been gaining recognition. A Violin duet I composed received First Prize in the category of Original Composition in the World Melodia Music Awards (an international competition featuring some of the greatest established and up and coming musicians and composers).
I also received a placement for one of my Piano pieces in a documentary about the history of the Austin Music Scene titled “Bloody & Bruised: The Untold Story of the Back Room”, in which I also had a small acting role.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Certainly not! But that being said, I am grateful for the fact that I have moved along in my Music career faster than I would have ever expected.
The biggest issue, typically, is delays. Life gets in the way. Things I would expect to take very little time end up having issues, taking longer than expected, not turning out quite as planned. But either way, I work around them, keep chugging along, and I have found that keeping a positive attitude, making genuine connections, and truly being happy for the opportunity to be a part of the world of Music as a professional has kept me on track as best as I possibly could.
It’s important to take a step back and think about all you have done, and truly appreciate it. While there is much I still am working towards, and feel nowhere near achieving my goals, I still have to realize that in the past 4 years, I have recorded and written dozens of professional tracks for a wide variety of genres, I have traveled the country and played for thousands of people, had radio placements for both my own personal songs and well as other bands I have written and recorded for, and have had the opportunities to meet and befriend some incredible people who I have so much respect for and consider extended family.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am primarily a musician, composer, and recording artist. If you Google my full name “Jake Curtis Allard”, you are likely to come across quite a large variety of different projects I have been involved in. That’s why some friends call me the “Jake of All Trades”.
Most recently, I am quite proud of my accomplishments in the world of Classical style music. My composition, entitled “Neo Capriccio” was entered into the international World Melodia Music Awards and I received First Prize in the category of Original Composition. It is a string duet, written for two violins.
I had a Piano composition, entitled “Winds of Time”, placed in the Austin Music documentary “Bloody & Bruised: The Untold Story of the Back Room”.
I have had several songs receive radio play, include a favorite of mine, a Rock song entitled “I Heard It In A Nightmare” with my band “Midnight Maniac”. I have received plays for my other Rock band simply titled “Allard”, I’ve had my instrumental music played on air, and several other tracks that I have recorded for other artists as well.
I am also grateful to have had the opportunity to play for thousands of people all over the country, open for incredible bands that I grew up listening to, and even work personally with some musicians I have admired since childhood.
I like to think I have a creative approach to music, in the sense that I prioritize if something flows well, sounds melodically different than most songs, and keeps my interest, rather than adhering to a strict structure or formula. I sometimes will start a song, wonder ‘what genre would this even be considered?’, and then proceed to tie it into my individual style of music that, to my amazement, many people have found, love, and continue to support.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Be genuine. Don’t ever go hunting aggressively to work with somebody, at least early on. Get to know people through whichever circles you currently are a part of, go to venues or establishments that attract the crowd you are hoping to connect with, and just have conversations with people. Learn about who they are, share a bit about yourself.
You will find that most of the time, there is nothing to directly be gained from someone right off the bat. But you never know who has what kind of pull, what kind of connections, etc. You truly set yourself up by having a reputation of someone who is easy to work with, shows intelligence, and is above all else genuine. Word spreads in any community.
For finding a mentor, you may want to be patient. If someone you just met is eager to work with you and wants money, it likely isn’t going to be a good fit. The people with the most valuable information often have either little time or little desire to pressure anyone into working with them. They are typically the type that will want to give advice and work alongside people they have gotten to know, get along with well, feel no pressure, just presenting an easy-going attitude but with an open-mind and a strong and smart work-ethic.
Pricing:
- My services vary, but include custom compostion of music for anything from commercials, tv shows, movies, games, etc, as well as songwriting and recording for all genres
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jakeallardmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allardmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jake.allard.148/
- Twitter: https://x.com/JakeCAllard
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSTn64-0THZSYsFWt93ZmPA
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/0QgyHz0YwPRf9GXVEvQSEv
Image Credits
Kenneth Sanford
Constance Avey Byers
