Interview - Allyson Whitmell

Allyson Whitmell is a singer-songwriter whose music blends elements of pop, jazz, and musical theatre with a cinematic touch—evoking the artistry of Sara Bareilles, Laufey, and Lizzy McAlpine. With her intimate yet powerful voice, intricate piano arrangements, and evocative storytelling, Allyson captures vivid moments in time, inviting listeners into deeply personal yet universally resonant experiences. Her latest release 'Crack in my Window' is a poignant reflection on nostalgia, transition, and the emotional weight of small details—brought to life with stirring string arrangements and thoughtful production. Beyond her work as a musician, Allyson holds a degree in Piano Performance and Composition from the University of Toronto and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Applied Music and Health, specializing in Neurologic Music Therapy. In this interview, Allyson shares insight into her creative process, musical influences, and the deeply personal stories behind her songs.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

Dream on by Aerosmith. 

Who or what have been the most impactful influences on your musical style and sound?

Sara Bareilles and Harry Chapman.

How do your life experiences shape your songwriting, and what emotions or ideas do you hope listeners connect with in your music?

My life experiences as a kid listening to my dad play songs by 70s singer-songwriters on guitar helped shaped my desire to write story songs, and my hope is that listeners see themselves in the stories I write. A few of my songs also deal with themes related to moving towards the future as whenever I go through a time of transition, I feel compelled to write about those emotions involved in letting go and looking ahead. I’d love for my listeners to connect to those often conflicting feelings and use my music to help heal and move forward. 

Each phase of music-making—writing, recording, rehearsing, and performing—has its own unique rewards. Could you share a memorable moment from each stage?

Writing: I wrote most of my song New Love in one sitting, but finding the right piano interlude took some time. I was in my second year of piano performance, and to take a break from practicing Mozart and Brahms, I would work out the interlude. I still remember when I finally landed on it - middle of the pandemic, late night at the music school, just me and the piano with a sweet feeling of triumph. 

Recording: I had an incredible experience recording the song I just released, Crack in my Window. The collaboration with producer Ben Pelchat and strings arranger Jono Hill was seamless and a lot of fun. Also, the Schimmel piano I got to record on for this song at Kensington Sound was so rich with colour and a real treat to play.

Rehearsing: The final rehearsals leading up to my fourth year piano recital are quite memorable because I remember viscerally experiencing the whole spectrum of emotions. That recital was a culmination of 15 years of classical piano, so it was intense pressure, gratitude, excitement, nerves - the whole gamut. The recital was an amazing experience, and those intense piano rehearsals definitely taught me a lot about perseverance and self-discipline that I take with me in my singer-songwriter career. 

Performing: There’s a restaurant I gig at every Friday in my hometown. I often take requests from the owners, staff, and customers. In preparation for one Friday, the owner asked if I could play Nadalina, his mom’s favourite song, because his mom was going to be at the restaurant. Then, remembering the song was in Croatian, he said not to worry about. Well, I decided to take on the challenge anyway and sing it in Croatian. It was a special surprise for him and his mom, and the whole restaurant quickly caught on to the folk song and started clapping along! It’s spontaneous moments like that which bring extra joy to performing.

Is there a song of yours that holds particular personal significance? We’d love to know more about the story or the inspiration behind it.

I grew up on classic 70s and 80s tunes that my parents were playing, and Piano Man was one of my early favourites. I love how we got a sneak peak into so many characters’ stories, and I wanted to write something with that kind of concept in mind. The inspiration from Piano Man mixed with my love of imagining the stories of strangers around me is how my song Subway was born.

If you could swap lives with any musician for a day, who would it be and what would you do?

I would swap lives with Laufey and sing my songs with a massive string section. 

What’s a guilty pleasure song you secretly love but might surprise your fans?

Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash 

Looking ahead, what are some goals or dreams you have for your music and career?

I’d love to go as far in this career as I possibly can. A goal of mine is to perform in venues all over the world and sing and play my songs with orchestras. And what someone like Ed Sheeran can do live with just him and the guitar, I want to do with just me and the piano - share musical stories that have universal meaning presented in a way that feels like you’re in my living room. 

Finally, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers before we close?

If you gravitate towards songs from movies or musicals that have that cinematic, story-telling-at-the-forefront quality, I hope you’ll head to my music wherever you get your streaming.