I found Allen’s music while browsing through one of my favorite blogs – Pugly Pixel – a blog filled with amazing tips and tutorials to create fantastic blog bling. If you aren’t that tech savvy, don’t worry, Katrina {the master mind} has an online store where you can purchase ready-to-use bling.

Ok, back to Allen – while I was browsing Katrina’s blog I watched one of her tutorials and BOOM! I was hooked on Allen’s music. The tutorial I am talking about is this one – such good song, yeah? It transports you to Paris! 1st class and all.

 So, I went ahead and contacted Allen – he later replied sharing some music and some words {he is RAD people, talented and humble – great artistic combo, right?} and now, I am going to share them with you:

Gab: Hey Allen, where does your inspiration come from?

 Allen: I’m trying not to be so smarmy about this question any more, because I’m starting to feel like that’s a defense mechanism … that having been said: I take it where I can get it. Inspiration is a fickle thing, and it often comes in fleeting bursts – I just try to stay open at all times, and always have a notebook handy. There’s no telling what might strike at any time – a line from a 50’s sci-fi flick, a bossa vocal phrasing, throwing I Ching coins, Hawaiian slack-key guitar – it’s kind of maddening trying to find the tonal center of it all. I like to play with space and ambiance quite a bit, too; so melodies and rhythms from the environment often spark something. Sometimes it’s just as simple as picking up an instrument.

Gab: What is the perfect summer plan for you?

 Allen: Two weeks bumming around West Texas and the Yucatan Peninsula; two months of solid festival shows and recording; camping on the islands off Door County. and a writing sabbatical in the woods; drinking mojitos and juleps with mint from the garden; swimming, biking, hiking … basically exactly what I’ll be doing this Summer. If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a Southern transplant to the Great White North, it’s to savor every moment of Summer (cuz it often feels like it may never come again).

Gab: If you could devote your life to 1 thing and 1 thing only, what would it be?

Allen: Travel – pure and simple. Of course I’d like to rope music and service into that somehow, but sometimes it seems a little presumptuous to impose my own presence – it often seems I’m never happier than when I’m simply existing in a new place, seeing the World with innocent eyes … somehow there’s a lot of psychic baggage there, though – I just know it.

And hey, if you are going away this weekend – you will need a playlist to fit the trip right? – Maestro, cue music:

WI Foodie – Wine Spodeeodee (WI Foodie Theme)

Allen Coté – Thereziene (demo)

Allen Coté and Margaret Stutt – Summerteeth

Credits:

Allen Cote – Facebook

Wisco: a tribute to Wilco’s Summerteeth 

Wisconsin Foodie: Site

Thank you so much Allen!  People, go give him some love.