We were lucky to catch up with Allie McIntosh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Allie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

A lot of people ask me whether or not I regret starting my creative career as early as I did. And honestly, I have to admit that sometimes, I do. I began my creative path on a professional level when I was fourteen years old, and became very busy at the age of fifteen. I had to leave a school I loved, as well as cherished friends to pursue my dream of being a singer-songwriter, because I had important opportunities in Los Angeles that I couldn’t pass up. Thanks to said opportunities, I feel that my path has become a bit clearer, and I feel quite connected in the music industry, for which I am thankful. But there are times when I wish I had just enjoyed my high-school years with lots of fun and friends rather than dive-in headfirst without much hesitance. If I could do it all over again, I can say with utmost honesty that I would try to find a healthy balance between my career and my social life as a teenager, because as I am graduating this year, I’ve begun to truly realize that times like those will never come again.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Allie McIntosh, and I am a seventeen-year-old singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. I’ve played piano since the age of 4, violin since the age of 6, and viola since the age of 8. I began songwriting at about the age of 12, and decided that I wanted to pursue writing as a career around the age of 14. I am classically trained in all of my instruments and in voice. A fun fact about me is that I also have perfect pitch, which is a rare gift that allows me to know the names of pitches without needing to see them. I can also sing a note if someone gives me the name without it being played beforehand. Out of all my releases so far, I am most proud of my single “Want you to stay”, which was released at the beginning of 2023 and is available on all streaming platforms! My main hope is that everyone who listens to my music can relate to it or feels touched by it in some way, because when I hear a song that really speaks to my heart, I connect to it on a deep level that cannot be put into words.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

In my opinion, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is when I go on a stage, and no one knows who I am. The lights are beaming down on my face, and I can hardly see the audience but I feel their presence all the same. Then, I present to them this vulnerable side of myself that is reflected through my music. I sing about things I could never talk about openly to someone in an ordinary conversation. Sometimes, through my craft, I even tell them a story about an embarrassing time in my life, or a long lost love. And by the end of the performance, they all know me. Not just because they heard my voice and saw me play instruments. But because I have shared with them a part of myself that no one else sees or knows. My art, in a sense, is my essence transformed into sound. It’s the realest version of myself. So, when I sing or play the last note of the last song of my set and applause echoes, it feels like my truthful, authentic self is being accepted. And for me, that is extremely fulfilling because I’ve always been the type of person to hide my pain or my true feelings for my own sake. Such a protective mechanism is natural for me because I’ve dealt with bullying and being labeled as “different” throughout my entire life. So, it’s an honor to stand before an audience full of people who applaud me on my flaws and my sensitivity, rather than judge them.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I know many non-creatives who struggle to understand my journey as a songwriter. Some of them are people I’ve been close with in the past. People would often tell me that I was making the wrong decision when I left my old school to pursue my dreams. And, who knows? Maybe I did! But the way I see it is; I would rather try to do something I love and fail, than to have never tried at all and always wonder——what if I had taken the risk? I don’t blame people for being skeptical, but my connection with music has forever been one of the most important relationships in my life. I love writing, it brings me joy and it’s therapeutic when I’m sad. Being a musician isn’t a hobby, it’s a way of life for me. My brain is literally wired to love music. And, I’ve noticed——for some reason, when someone says they want to be a doctor, or a lawyer, people are always like “oh, great! That’s a wonderful path to pursue!” But when someone wants to be an artist, they are judged or looked down upon. And I’ve never understood why, because without music, the world would be so lifeless. And yes, it can be difficult to make a living as a musician. But, shoot for the stars and land on the moon, right? Or if you don’t make it to the moon, at least you can fall back down to earth! And, if by chance, you miss earth——well, the universe is a great big place filled with beautiful, unknown things. At least you’ll have an adventure.

Contact Info:

• Website: alliemcintosh.com
• Instagram: missalliemcintosh
• Facebook: missalliemcintosh
• Youtube: alliemcintosh5235
• Other: TIKTOK: missalliemcintosh

Image Credits
Tristan Rice