Ashton Allen serenades Student Center

In the midst of the chaos also known as the first week of classes at Tech, Thursday's Live Lunch transformed the Student Center Commons area into an oasis of rest and relaxation.

Students came and enjoyed complimentary mid-morning massages as well as a very chill performance by Ashton Allen, an emerging 32-year old recording artist hailing originally from Jacksonville, Florida. Now, however, he calls Atlanta home.

Allen performed twelve songs from his debut album Dewdrops. His laid-back performance was apparently preceded by a hectic night traveling from his last gig in Florida all the way here to Atlanta. "I slept in a car last night and just washed my face in the bathroom," Allen said at the beginning of the performance, getting a chuckle from the crowd. "Next tour we're arranging this better."

The massage chairs and masseuses outfitted on either side of the stage definitely added to the relaxing appeal of the event. At one point, Allen mentioned the notion of a "massage à trois," or a massage with two masseuses. That definitely raised some eyebrows.

Allen's performance was a welcome reprieve; he was an excellent recording artist to complement the serene mood that seemed to fill the room. And what more fitting place to slow things down than the constantly bustling Tech campus?

Allen's music is best described as relaxed soft rock with hints of folk, characterized by mellow background music and even mellower vocals. His smooth style is similar to that of his musical influences. "Belle and Sebastian, Elliott Smith, among others," Allen said, listing his muses. "My influences are constantly changing."

Allen's subdued vocals are smooth and breathy, pairing very well with the acoustic background score.His musical score consists primarily of acoustic guitar, but is occasionally dotted with refreshingly lively keyboard or harmonica riffs. This is fitting, because Allen appears to be a master of multitasking.

At one point during the show he successfully performed the impressive feat of playing guitar and harmonica simultaneously, albeit with the assistance of a neckbrace-type contraption to hold the harmonica in place.

Surprisingly, Allen has only been in the music industry for two years. "There were just too many coincidences," he said about his early experiences with music. "I wasn't looking for it. It was looking for me."

During his short time as a singer and songwriter, Allen has performed at over 200 shows and is on his first tour with his live band. "The best thing about being a musician is talking to people," Allen stated. "Questions and good conversations...that's what I love."

As a whole, his debut album Dewdrops is good work, especially for a new artist.

The title of the album is inspired by the biblical story of Gideon, in which a miracle involving dewdrops on a fleece prompts Gideon to trust God and accept his fate, even after a period of uncertainty in his own capability. Allen shares these same concerns. "My greatest challenge is having confidence in my calling," Allen said. "I wrestle with it. It's all about just trusting the process."

When it comes to the technical aspects of his music, Ashton Allen shines. The guitar and keyboard work are superb - clean, refined, and stirring.

The similarities between his live performance and his recorded album show that he definitely has skill, whether in the studio or not.

Another point to be admired is the fact that Ashton Allen writes all of his own songs. "My songs started out as my journal entries," Allen said in regards to the inspiration behind his lyrics. "I guess honesty inspires me. Brutal honesty."

His life experiences have become song lyrics, many of which take on a very poetic feel. An excerpt from "Counting the Cost" reads: "I'm ready to be hypnotized / And see the whole world through invisible eyes."

Regarding variation of style, however, there is still plenty of room left for improvement.On future recordings, the challenge will be exposing the different musical and lyrical angles that seem to blend homogenously together on Dewdrops. Although his vocals were good, they sounded similar on most of the album's tracks. A wider exploration of his vocal range would have added another dimension to the album. It would be a pity for Allen to get pigeonholed into a genre when he clearly has more potential to expand.

The final verdict: Allen is an artist on the rise with plenty of room to grow. If you are a fan of Damien Rice, James Blunt, and/or Elliott Smith, then Ashton Allen's music is definitely worth a listen - if not for the chill factor, then definitely for his noteworthy musical ability.