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John-Allison Weiss

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John-Allison Weiss
John-Allison Weiss performing at LoveLoud in 2018.
John-Allison Weiss performing at LoveLoud in 2018.
Background information
Birth nameJohn-Allison Witham Weiss
Born (1987-04-13) April 13, 1987 (age 37)
Grosse Pointe, Michigan, US
OriginAthens, Georgia, US
GenresIndie pop
OccupationsSongwriter, performer
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active2007–present
LabelsSideOneDummy Records, No Sleep Records, Lower Key Music, Get Better Records
Websitelowerkeymusic.com

John-Allison Weiss (born April 13, 1987) is a Los Angeles-based indie pop singer, songwriter, and performer. To date, they have released four full-length albums and several EPs. Their most recent LP, The Long Way, was released on February 17, 2023, through Get Better Records.

Biography

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John-Allison Weiss emerged at the end of the 2000s as an early crowd-funding hero with a strong D.I.Y. ethos that has defined them throughout their career.

Weiss began playing music as a teenager in their hometown of Flowery Branch, Georgia.[1] Inspired by the emotional tumult of young relationships, they began writing songs and released their first EP, An Eight-Song Tribute to Feeling Bad and Feeling Better, in 2007, while attending the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.[2] They followed it up with a full-length concert album, Live at Sidewalk NYC, a year later.

In late 2009, Weiss turned to the newly launched Kickstarter crowd-funding platform to try raising the money for their first studio LP, ...Was Right All Along. Their campaign allowed them to reach their funding goal within the first day and triple it just days later. The Kickstarter success led to some high-exposure press, with The New York Times and Wired magazine essentially labeling them as a sort of poster child for the new era of Internet promotion.[3] Weiss turned the attention into countless tours, interviews, and a panelist slot at the industry's SXSW conference in Austin alongside Kickstarter founder Yancey Strickler.[4]

In 2011, Weiss recorded their second studio album, Say What You Mean, as well as a companion acoustic record called Sideways Sessions in Brooklyn, New York. Both albums were released on No Sleep Records in 2013. The label released an EP titled Remember When the following year.

In May 2015, Weiss signed with SideOneDummy Records and announced plans to release a third studio album later that year. New Love was released on October 2, 2015, produced by Forrest Kline of electro-pop band Hellogoodbye and Bradley Hale of indie rock band Now, Now.[5] Following a live album and 2021's Death Valley Demos EP, John-Allison Weiss signed with Get Better Records and issued the single "Different Now."

Associated acts

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During their time in Brooklyn, New York, Weiss frequently played shows with Jenny Owen Youngs, Bess Rogers, Field Mouse, and more. They have toured with acts such as Candy Hearts, Anthony Raneri, Tim Barry, State Champs, Matt Pryor, and The Front Bottoms. They have supported artists like Laura Jane Grace, The Wonder Years, Chuck Ragan, and Relient K. In 2012, A.W. supported Lou Reed on his European tour, during which they also contributed backing vocals in Reed's band.[6] In 2013, Daytrotter released a vinyl 12" featuring Tegan and Sara on side A and Weiss on side B.[7] In 2015, Weiss contributed backup vocals to The Front Bottoms album Back on Top and The Wonder Years album No Closer to Heaven. Weiss has also contributed backup vocals to songs with Chris Farren, Reggie and the Full Effect, and more. A.W.'s touring band is led by musical director and guitarist Peter Recine[8] and includes Liam McCormack of Yellowbirddd on bass and Eric Downs on drums.

Personal life

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In 2017, shortly after the release of their single "Runaway", Weiss came out as non-binary and began assuming "they/them" pronouns.[9] They discussed the transition on the podcast Queery, hosted by comedian Cameron Esposito, for which Weiss also provides the theme music with their song "Who We Are."[10]

Discography

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Studio LPs

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Title Label Year
...Was Right All Along Self-Released 2009
Say What You Mean No Sleep Records 2013
New Love SideOneDummy Records 2015
The Long Way Lower Key Music 2023

EPs

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Title Label Year
An Eight-Song Tribute to Feeling Bad & Feeling Better Self-released 2007
Winter Mix Tape Self-released 2007
The Only Girl at an All Boys Pool Party Self-released 2008
& The Way She Likes It Self-released 2008
I Was an Island Self-released 2011
Remember When No Sleep Records 2014

Other releases

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Title Label Year
Live At Sidewalk NYC Self-Released 2009
Georges Perec: The Page Self-Released 2010
The Teenage Years Self-Released 2012
Making It Up 7" No Sleep Records 2012
Say What You Mean: Sideways Sessions No Sleep Records 2013
Tegan & Sara / Allison Weiss Daytrotter 2013
"The Same" (Acoustic) Everyone Is Gay 2015

Music videos

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  • Let Me Go (2009)
  • I'm Ready (2009)
  • Fingers Crossed (2010)
  • Making It Up (2013)
  • Wait for Me (2013)
  • Golden Coast (2015)
  • Who We Are (2015)

References

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  1. ^ "Allison Weiss". billboard.com.
  2. ^ Archives, The Red And Black (July 10, 2008). "When a band loves a woman: Allison Weiss". redandblack.com.
  3. ^ Walker, Rob (August 5, 2011). "The Trivialities and Transcendence of Kickstarter". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Kickstarter at SXSW". kickstarter.com.
  5. ^ "SideOneDummy Records - Blog". sideonedummy.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015.
  6. ^ "Lou Reed Kicks off Kunstrasen". 3songsbonn.com. June 30, 2012.
  7. ^ "Tegan & Sara / Allison Weiss Vinyl 12" (New) from Daytrotter Studio, 2013 at Wolfgang's". Wolfgang's.
  8. ^ "NEW LOVE INTERVIEWS: PETER RECINE, GUITARIST / MD". allisonw.com.
  9. ^ @johnnyalligator (July 26, 2017). "Guess today is as good a day as any to tell y'all I'm non-binary / genderqueer. Yeehaw!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 4, 2023 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Esposito, Cameron. "21 - AW". Feral Audio. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
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