Ariel Publicity

Alan is the front-man for the Seattle-based band ABBOTFINNEY, along with band-mates Tarik Abouzied (Bass) and Dave Skaggs (Piano) Nicholas Molenda (drums) Max Keene (guitar), will release their new CD this spring. The sophomore project, produced by Glenn Lorbecki (Third Eye Blind, Weezer, The Violent Femmes), features nine intimate, lyric-based tracks, including “Change,” “Isabella Rain” and the first single, “You Alone,” which shares Jeffrey’s point-of-view that “music is the ultimate form of communication.” Alan explains, “The right lyric or melody allows us to reach out without judgment, fear or rejection. It helps us to grasp our true feelings and inspiration to be who we are.” Jeffrey envisions his music as a rallying cry calling people to discover their own creative paths, hence the new album’s title, WHAT YOU’RE HERE FOR.

Alan’s path began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the youngest child in a creative family whose regular station-wagon road-trips featured sing-alongs with the radio and cassettes. Home life meant harmonizing with his sister and absorbing the musical education his big brothers instilled, evidenced by his array of influences ranging from storytellers John Denver, The Carpenters, CSN&Y and Joni Mitchell, to the classic rock icons of The Who, The Grateful Dead, Santana and Led Zeppelin.

At eighteen, Jeffrey picked up an acoustic guitar and taught himself the basic chords of his favorite James Taylor songs but the instrument spent the better part of its time collecting dust. After one year of college, Alan relocated to Seattle to pursue his art in a city that boasted a thriving arts scene, rich in theatre productions, amidst the sublime natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. But less than a year later, Jeffrey was on crutches, nursing a broken ankle. Immobile and living alone, Alan spent months, hobbling to the beach, looking out over the water and writing songs. “I had an epiphany,” Jeffrey confesses and from that point on, the once dust-ridden guitar became his creative outlet. “Songwriting became my greatest form of expression.”

Finding newer inspirations in the work of Bono and Eddie Vedder, Alan began to discover his own voice, recording his music and busking throughout Seattle. While hard rock and grunge ruled the radio airwaves, Jeffrey was among many local musicians who focused on their own sounds, hoping their hometown would eventually embrace these other styles.

While Alan pursued music, he found another creative outlet renovating homes. As success in his musical pursuits ebbed and flowed, his real estate endeavors thrived. But as Seattle was rapidly becoming the U.S. mecca of the ‘Green’ living, Jeffrey was reminded of the words and deeds of his brother, Steve, who had for more than a decade lead an alternative lifestyle, living semi “off the grid” and promoting the philosophy of Natural Capitolism, permiculture and self-sustainable communities. Realizing his building contributed to the problems burdening the planet, Alan vowed to be a part of the solution: he would design, work and build green…if not try and evolve out of the business all together. The greatest lesson for Jeffrey was defining that there was a bigger calling to his work and that the world needed more people with greater voices if we were going to survive as a race and live in concert with the planet.

Jeffrey also realized the correlation between his songwriting and his architecture was more than the ways in which to express himself; he now had two passions: his music and a devotion to helping the planet. “Music is the purest international language,” Alan explains. “People connect through music more than anything else,” and Jeffrey is determined to share his vision. Alan’s music gives voice to the need for people to live together in concert with a healthy planet. “We need to learn to accept each other, live with one another and connect – to each other and to our planet.”

Jeffrey’s song “Change” is the clearest link between his two passions. “My heart is my music,” Alan professes, “but the experience of composing ‘Change’ redirected my focus from awareness to activism, fundraising and encouraging others to make a difference.” Jeffrey further explains, “The lyrics touch upon where we’re going as a country, a government, and as humanity,” Jeffrey explains. “It’s my political, environmental and social commentary. It’s a plea to evolve our collective consciousness. This was my awakening.” Add a few other monumental experiences to the mix…such as a near death accident in Mexico and the impending arrival of his baby daughter and the indicators are overwhelmingly clear. “We need social and economic justice, peace between nations and cultures, and a healthy planet to leave to our children and theirs.”

Since that moment, Alan’s bifocal passion has influenced the message of his music and inspired the creation of GlobeAid365, a working plan for a green, carbon neutral world concert tour featuring upwards of thirty major artists donating their time and talent, raising funds to support environmental causes and educate the concert crowds to the issues and lessons of environmentalism. Globeaid365 is a model that generates revenue from those who can spare it, rallies and educates a dedicated fan base of music lovers, and channels the proceeds back into the communities where it came from …all through education, and social and environmental initiatives.

Launched in 2008, www.globeaid365.org an online community created to gather like minded artists and fans, is where Jeffrey’s passions for music, the planet and encouraging people to join in this calling converge. Now its 2008 and “We all breath the same air!” says Jeffrey and his passions for music, the planet and encouraging people to connect with their calling, all converge at a time where the “world and the planet are desperate for leaders, heroes, and answers.” Jeffrey pleads.

For Alan, the time is now. It’s 2008, and “We all breath the same air!” says Jeffrey. His passions for music, the planet and encouraging people to connect with their calling, all converge at a time where the “world and the planet are desperate for leaders, heroes, and answers.” Jeffrey pleads. He is determined to help bring a musical community together to contribute positively to the planet. “My evolution from singer/songwriter, to builder, designer and green developer, to environmental entrepreneur is an organic, natural progression. I want to leave this planet with a legacy that means something, knowing I made a difference. Life is too short – focus on what’s closest to our hearts and follow out hearts… and when we do that, we immerse into our dreams, our friends, our homes, our true selves, our planet!”