Allen Stone releases 'Radius' album in Europe

Seattle soul singer Allen Stone will play his first European shows in over two years in April. Stone, who will release his new album ‘Radius’ through ATO/PIAS in 25th March 2016, will headline London’s The Scala on Monday 11th April. Made in close collaboration with Swedish soul singer/songwriter Magnus Tingsek, and with producers like Benny Cassette (Kanye West) and Malay (Frank Ocean), ‘Radius’ reaffirms Allen’s commitment to making uncompromisingly soulful music that transcends all pop conventions. Honing in on issues both timeless and of-the-moment, Allen says, “in a lot of ways this album is about getting out things deep inside - whether it’s love or insecurity or joy or frustration about things going on today.”

At age 22, Stone self-released his debut album, 2010’s ‘Last To Speak’. But it was his self-titled follow-up that ended up earning him serious recognition. Along with entering the Top 5 on iTunes’ R&B/Soul chart after its digital release, ‘Allen Stone’ prompted him to score appearances on such late-night talk shows as ‘Conan’ and ‘The Late Show’ and grace the pages of publications like the New York Times. Upon partnering with ATO Records for a physical release of his self-titled album in 2012, he also took up a grueling touring schedule, tearing through nearly 600 shows in just two years.

Stone started working his vocals as a kid, thanks largely to his parents’ influence. “My father was a minister so I spent about half my childhood in church, watching my mom and dad sing together and lead the congregation in song,” he recalls. By the time he was 11 he’d picked up a guitar and written his first song, and soon began self-recording demo tapes to pass along to classmates. Although Stone enrolled in bible college after high school, he quickly dropped out to move to Seattle and kickstart his music career. “I had an ’87 Buick and I’d drive up and down the west coast, playing any gig I could get just to try to put my music out there,” he says.

For Stone, all that time onstage went a long way in preparing him for the many creative breakthroughs he’s made since. “I think you really grow as a musician when you’re playing right in front of people, and for me constantly growing and progressing and getting better is really the most important thing,” he says. “There’ve been times in my life when records were my saving grace and really helped me to figure out who I am, and I’d love for my music to have that kind of impact on a kid who’s looking for his or her own place in this life,” he says. “Because I absolutely believe that if you’re going to stand at a microphone and say something, you need to recognise that as a privilege. You’ve got to be incredibly careful about it, and really put all your heart into the message that you’re sending out into the world.”

April 2016

• Mon 11th London The Scala
• Tues 12th Paris La Maroquinerie
• Wed 13th Bourges Festival Bourges, France
• Fri 15th Barcelona LA 2
• Sat 16th Madrid Taboo
• Mon 18th Zurich Papiersaal
• Tues 19th Milan Biko Club
• Wed 20th Munich Ampere
• Thurs 21st Berlin Bi Nuu
• Sat 23rd Stockholm Strand
• Sun 24th Oslo John Dee
• Mon 25th Copenhagen Vega Small
• Wed 27th Hamburg Mojo Club
• Thurs 28th Amsterdam Paradiso Tolhuisuin
• Fri 29th Nijmegen Doornroosje
• Sat 30th Rhythm & Blues Night Oosterport, Groningen