Meet Allie Dunn | Artist/Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Allie Dunn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allie, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Whenever I get really down and nothing seems to be going my way career wise, I sit and think about “plan B’s” and try to envision myself vividly pursuing them. Every time I simply cannot imagine it or I get a wrenching feeling in my heart thinking of it. That reminds me that I am doing the right thing and I was meant to be pursuing my current career (music). That keeps me going!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think for me creatively what I try to do differently when songwriting is write my truth and never write with one eye on the audience and one on the song. I noticed as soon as I started writing what I thought people wanted to hear I was not advancing in my career at all. I hit a point where I was like “okay why did I even start songwriting in the first place?” and went back to my 13 year old self on my childhood bedroom bed writing what I truly felt. I think being a human is what other humans need right now in this world full of constant noise, so I try my best to be that through my music.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them on hikes and Percy priest lake!! I would also maybe take them to the national park in Kentucky that’s an hour away from Nashville and I would show them downtown but try not to stay there too long because it is a mad house! I personally grew up on the East Coast so living in Nashville has been a challenge for me mentally (not being by an ocean) but I found some places and things to do that feed my soul.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shout out my older brother. He was the one who (out of love when we were angsty teenagers) told me that there was no shot in hell I could play the guitar. That fueled my motivation to use my summer job money and buy a really dinky acoustic guitar and everyday I played for hours till I finally was able to play “smoke on the water” flawlessly. I showed him and his smile was so big and he said “I knew that was what was gunna make you do it!” Then shortly after that I dove into the “Eagles” and “Billy Joel” and fell in love with their songwriting and began writing on the acoustic guitar.

Website: www.alliedunn.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealliedunn/

Image Credits
Matt Blum