From Idol to Indie: Kris Allen Talks Creative Journey and the Making of His New Album, ‘Pole Vaulter’

Songs & Stories

Kris Allen, the humble singer-songwriter from Arkansas, skyrocketed to fame after winning the eighth season of American Idol in 2009. Since then, he has crafted a career defined by authenticity, musical exploration, and personal growth.

Now, with a new album, Pole Vaulter, on the horizon and a show at Mill Valley’s Sweetwater Music Hall just around the corner, Kris sat down with Backstage Sonoma’s Steve Roby to discuss his journey, influences, and the creative process behind his latest project.

Discovering His Sound: A Melting Pot of Influences

Kris Allen’s musical influences are as diverse as they are deep-rooted. “My parents were listening to a lot of The Eagles and Journey records,” Kris reminisces. “And then also nineties country was a deal... My first show was Reba McEntire, and my dad was obsessed with Garth Brooks.” Growing up in a household that cherished various genres meant that Kris had a broad musical palette from an early age.

As he ventured into his musical discoveries, Kris found himself drawn to the grooves of R&B and the power of early hip-hop. “When I first started finding my own music, it was artists like Michael Jackson, or Boyz II Men, that sort of thing,” he shares.

This eclectic mix of influences—from country and classic rock to R&B and even early hip-hop—has been a defining factor in the evolution of Kris’s sound.

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