Kris Allen + Jillette Johnson

Jammin' Java, 227 Maple Ave E, Vienna, VA | Get Directions »
$15.00

Since skyrocketing to stardom as the winner of the 2009 season of American Idol, Kris Allen has enjoyed five singles on the Billboard charts. His self-titled debut album featured his hit single "Live Like We're Dying" which has a combined digital sales of over 1.7 million.

On his new album THANK YOU CAMELLIA, Kris Allen delivers on everything his fans love him for and more. The album is a showcase for the easy, lived-in richness of Kris' voice as well as his knack for crafting hook-filled pop melodies and writing heartfelt lyrics that explore the ups and downs of love. For THANK YOU CAMELLIA, Kris has cranked everything up a notch by co-writing every song and being heavily involved throughout each stage of the writing, recording, and production process.

Helping those sentiments go down easy is THANK YOU CAMELLIA's big pop-rock sound, which he achieved with the help of his producers, former Sugarcult singer Tim Pagnotta (who has also worked with Neon Trees); Curt Schneider (Augustana, Five for Fighting); and Nasri & Adam Messinger, known as The Messengers (Justin Bieber, Chris Brown). "I think we go to a lot of different places sonically," Kris says. "'Out Alive' sounds really huge to me, ‘My Weakness' has a reggae feel. There are some airy guitars, some cool percussive sounds, and poppy background vocals that were really fun to do. It's an upbeat record, but it also makes you think a little."

As an artist who is constantly on the road (he toured for a year and a half behind his debut album, playing headlining shows as well as opening for Keith Urban, Maroon 5, Barenaked Ladies, and Lifehouse), Kris put a lot of thought into how the songs would go over onstage. I like the idea of people's reaction going from ‘Who is this guy' to ‘I love this guy!'"  Having already performed some of the album's songs live, Kris is gratified by the early response from fans to THANK YOU CAMELLIA, whose title is inspired by supportive friends he stays with in L.A. who live on a street called Camellia. "The reaction has been really good," he says. "Even my buddy who is very honest with me said, ‘I liked your last record, but this one is even better. The songs are deeper. It feels exactly like you.' He's known me for ten years, so that was good to hear."

More Info/Buy Tickets: $18