But, she says, standing in the high-ceilinged, ephemera-packed British pub, “This is where it started.” Today, Allo finds herself once again at Fox & Goose, this time reflecting on the unexpected journey that has taken her from Second Saturday to the pages of Vogue and an international tour alongside Prince. (Allo’s father Andrew, an African ecologist after whom she was named, stayed behind In 2000, she and her sister Suzanne moved to the United States to join her Caucasian mother Sue-a teacher from Lodi who had relocated to California earlier because she was battling chronic fatigue syndrome-and their three older siblings here. In fact, Allo herself is something of an African cultural export, moving to Sacramento 12 years ago from her native country of Cameroon. And yes, it was Allo who took the Minnesota musician to Tower Café for a plate of its signature custard-soaked French toast, surrounded by the restaurant’s eclectic collection of Asian and African art and artifacts. Her new album Superconductor, scheduled for release in late September, was executive produced by Prince and also features several songs that he co-wrote with Allo. So what brought the Purple One to town? It was his new protégé, Andy Allo, a 23-year-old Sacramento singer with large eyes, a slight frame and a striking, tightly curled afro. Over the course of that week (during which he celebrated his 54th birthday), the artist formerly-and now again-known as Prince, was also spotted at Cafeteria 15L, Corti Brothers (where store director Rick Mindermann confirms that someone ordered a veggie sandwich at the deli counter and wrote “Prince” on the order ticket), hung out at Mix Downtown, saw the movie Prometheus at the Esquire IMAX Theatre and shopped for some music at Records on Broadway. It was music icon Prince on a whirlwind tour of Sacramento. No, it wasn’t Jimmer Fredette or Tyreke Evans. The first single, "Superconductor," was released to radio in October 2012.The buzz began with a Facebook post from Tower Café on June 5 announcing that purple The upcoming disc also includes other notable musicians, including Maceo Parker and Trombone Shorty. It was really exciting to bring him an acoustic song, which is how most of my songs began, and to see him turn them into these epic masterpieces.” He created an environment that was open to any and all ideas. Said Allo, "Collaborating with Prince was such a blessing. During the NPG tour, Allo began writing with the Purple One, with the two collaborating on three songs, "Superconductor", "The Calm" and "Long Gone," which are slated to appear on Allo's sophomore album. The album showed elements of her influences, ranging from Erkyah Badu to Lauren Hill to Nina Simone - as well as her mother, a piano teacher who trained her daughter beginning at age seven.Īllo's striking appearance won for her a more visual fame, too, as she became a regular actress in national commercials for companies such as Kohl's, an appearance on BET's The Game, and a hosting role on G4's Attack of the Show.Īllo's reputation as a musician led her in 2011 to a role as a singer and guitarist in Prince's New Power Generation. She first made a wave with her independently released 2009 debut album, Unfresh, a disc that showed her to be a powerful, eclectic artist with her own sense of purpose. Cameroonian-born Andy Allo is a singer-songwriter whose profile seems to keep growing, combining elements of soul, rock and much more.
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