Alix McNaught
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 23, 2008

INUVIK - Dennis Allen just completed his first CD, Wayward Son, and has scheduled a release concert at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik July 17.

"I was a filmmaker before writing songs. I've had a lot of success as a filmmaker, but it's always been gnawing at me to write songs," said Allen, who now lives in Whitehorse, working as a filmmaker with Mackenzie Delta Films.

Born and raised in Inuvik, Allen has played informally for many years. The True North Concert in 1996 was the first time he played publicly.

Two years ago, Allen applied to the NWT Arts Council and received a grant to produce a CD - the old-time country and western to edgy soul and blues-influenced CD he has recently completed.

"We started recording mid-March. Some of the songs weren't even completed. I really work well under the gun. It was a good excuse to finish the five or six songs (remaining)," he said.

Allen finished mastering the CD June 12. Next month's CD launch at the Great Northern Arts festival will serve as a sort of homecoming for the musician, who has played at the festival in past years.

"I just thought, the arts festival is coming up, it's the 50th anniversary of my hometown and the 20th anniversary of the arts festival," said Allen.

"I'm bringing the band up. I'm performing two 45-minute sets, and in those sets, there'll be cover songs that people know me for and songs off the CD.

"I'm excited about releasing it and getting it out there, but I'm absolutely satisfied with the great work everybody put into it. It really helps when another musician believes in your music and they'll go that little extra mile to make sure that the song was going to shine and the story within the song is going to be heard."

At Laurie Malo's studio in Whitehorse, Allen worked with seven other musicians to lay down and mix the 12 tracks on the CD, all of which were written by Allen.

"If I can develop my career as a musician, that's a bonus, but I think my strength lies as a songwriter," he said, adding he would like to publish his songs and have others artists record them.

Music and stories have always been very important to Allen.

"When I was growing up in Inuvik, we didn't have cable TV, and we didn't have all the media that's accessible now, so we had to create our own entertainment. Other than playing in the muck and snow and going out hunting, music was a big part of my life," he said.

His older brother Gerry often played guitar in his room with friends. Allen wasn't allowed in, but would listen through the door.

He learned country and western songs from a cousin, though he got in trouble with his mother for singing about prison and alcohol when he was 10 years old.

"Country and western was different then; it was about stories you could relate to as a native person. Life was hard-living, (it) reflected our own lives," said Allen, whose writing was also influenced by his father.

"My dad is a really good storyteller. He's really witty with his words, he's really quick, so of course that rubbed off on me."

Though songwriting is what Allen wants to pursue, for now, "I want to get my music out there," he said.