DownTown Mystic is at the dawn of a new era in his music career. Regular readers of The Static Dive are well acquainted with DTM, otherwise known as singer, songwriter and guitarist Robert Allen. His music has graced these pages nearly a dozen times since 2019 and he appeared as a guest on the House of Static podcast in early May 2022. However the veteran roots rocker got his start long before that, as he spent his formative years sharing Jersey Shore stages with legends of that State’s historic scene.
In addition to some high-profile collaborations, Downtown Mystic has worked with a tight-knit group of friends and musicians over the decades. Tragically a member of that musical family passed away last year. With the loss of his friend and longtime recording engineer Ben Elliott, DTM was unsure as to his next steps as a recording artist. He ultimately relocated down the shore to Toms River. There he found a new creative home.
I moved into a new house and realized I was only a half hour away from Shorefire [recording studio]. Working there with (engineer & owner) Joe DeMaio has really been a great experience and the sound he gets from his Helios console is amazing.
Robert Allen
“Fly” is the first single from DownTown Mystic’s forthcoming album. The track was released worldwide to all major streaming services on May 6, 2022. An unmistakable sound of a 12-string electric guitar opens the track and immediately transports us to a Byrds/Tom Petty inspired melodic Classic Rock/Pop groove.
Like those legends, Robert Allen has a knack for creating timeless and catchy hooks, even when tackling serious subjects. Once again Allen is joined by a cast of legendary New Jersey musicians; Steve Holley (Paul McCartney, Elton John) on drums and urban legend Paul Page (Ian Hunter, Dion) on bass. A catchy escape fantasy, the song was originally written in response to the endless lockdowns and quarantines of the past two years.
Check out the “Fly” lyric video below. You can also hear the song on the Deep Indie Dive playlist, or listen on your favorite streaming service. Follow the links below to connect with DownTown Mystic. Dig into his deep back catalog, get on his socials and get in the loop on all of the music to come from Robert Allen and crew.