Jon Allen is kicking off 2025 with a bang. With his new album Seven Dials on the horizon and the recent release of his gripping single White Gold, the British singer-songwriter is ready to take his cinematic, story-driven sound to the stage. Rooted in the dark, atmospheric history of London’s underbelly, Seven Dials promises to be his most immersive work yet. We caught up with Jon to talk about the inspiration behind his latest tracks, the excitement of touring with The Luna Kings, and what’s next on his journey.

1. Hi Jon, how is 2025 treating you so far, and what are you most looking forward to?

2025’s has been great so far. Wrapping up the new album at the tail end of last year was a good feeling, and now it’s all about getting it out into the world. The thing I’m most looking forward to is taking these big, cinematic tracks on the road with my band, The Luna Kings. Playing them live is going to be electric.

2. You’ve just released your new single White Gold—tell us about the creative process and inspiration behind it.

The spark came when I was standing in the old police cells at The Bow Street Museum in Soho, reading about the Bow Street Runners—London’s first police force. I got hooked on their battle against the wild, lawless streets of 18th-century London, especially the black-market sugar trade, which they called White Gold. That phrase stuck with me.

But White Gold isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a metaphor for obsession. Whether it’s wealth, addiction, or chasing something forever out of reach, London has always been a place of temptation, ambition, and downfall. I wanted to bottle up that restless energy in the song.

3. How has the response been so far to the new music?

It’s been amazing! People are really connecting with White Gold, which is all you can hope for. It’s got me even more excited for them to hear the full album.

4. White Gold is a taste of your new album Seven Dials—how does this track reflect the rest of the album?

It definitely sets the mood. Seven Dials is my most immersive, story-driven album yet—each track is like a scene from a film, pulling you into the lives of characters from London’s underbelly, past and present. These are songs about people on the edge, and White Gold is a prime example of that.

5. Where did the title Seven Dials come from?

Seven Dials is a part of London that, back in the 18th century, was one of the city’s roughest, most notorious slums—packed with gin-soaked chaos, crime, and desperate ambition. It started as a fancy development but quickly spiralled into something much wilder. That whole atmosphere runs through the album—it’s the backdrop where all these characters play out their stories.

6. You’ve been on the music scene for a while—how does this new album differ from your earlier work, and what have you learned over the years?

My earlier albums weren’t as thematic—this one has a thread running through it, a sense of history, and a cast of characters. It’s given me the freedom to explore different voices and perspectives, which has been really liberating.

7. You’re touring the UK and Europe with The Luna Kings in May and June—what can fans expect, and are you excited?

For sure, Yeah. The Luna Kings are the best band I’ve ever played with—my guitarist, Randell Breneman from Chicago, is an absolute monster. We’re bringing these new songs to life in a big way, and I can’t wait to hit the stage.

8. What music are you listening to at the moment?

Right now, I’m loving Rosalie Cunningham—she’s got this killer mix of psychedelic and prog-rock with a touch of Kate Bush magic. And Eddie 9V, a young American soul-blues guy, his records sound great.

9. What do you hope to achieve by the end of this year?

World domination, obviously. Or at the very least, some unforgettable shows and a whole lot more people discovering my music.

10. What song on this new album best represents Jon Allen as an artist?

There are a lot of bigger rockier songs on the album but the title track, Seven Dials, is one of my favourites. It’s a stripped-back ballad with just piano and strings, but it’s got heart, drama, and a real sense of place—all the things I love in a song. Lyrically, it’s one of the ones I’m most proud of.

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and Managing Director of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.