MOST Magazine Fashion MAY-JUNE'15 ISSUE NO.9 | Page 109
By: Austin Thomson
“It is fun writing alone because you do not have to
accommodate anyone else’s artistic agenda. You
get to say exactly what you want to say, in exactly
the way you wish to say it.”
Gonino
is known for her roles in shows like The Lying
Game and 10 Things I Hate About You, however,
her new solo album is not her first turn in the music
industry. While balancing her multiple acting roles,
she was a member of the all-female band, The
Stunners. After a string of hits from the group,
she continued her presence in music by joining
The Good Mad an alternative folk trio comprised
of Adam Brooks, Andy Fischer-Price, and Allie
Gonino herself. Allie has just released “Hollywood
High” a piece she holds very close to her heart as
she wrote every song on the album. Gonino was
kind enough to sit down with us at MOST Magazine
and talk about her life and latest project.
The art of songwriting is a craft that requires
a lot of time and reflection, but writing an entire
album requires a certain type of dedication, which
Gonino calls “necessary.” She began writing a
lot of the songs for “Hollywood High” beginning
in 2011. Allie confessed that during this time,
she was going through a lot of change and
confusion. There was a lot to say, and writing
down her thoughts to tell a story is what helped.
The lead single from “Hollywood High” is
called “Vamp”, and it was one of the first songs
that Allie wrote when she learned to play guitar.
Allie stated “Vamp” is about “someone who is done
her fair share of loving. But instead of allowing
herself to be shamed by society’s judgment of her
sexuality, she almost waves it like a flag.” The song
showcases her powerful vocals in a beautiful song
about empowerment. Her favorite song to write on
the album is a track called “Walk the Plank” which
she describes as “high energy but also passionate
and dark.”
While “Hollywood High” may fall under the
pop structure, Gonino believes that the production
does not belong there. This album is everything
that makes up Allie, with all her quirks. Her
inspiration comes from all of her surroundings,
giving the album a feel similar to Regina Spektor
and Fiona Apple. Allie’s big jump into the realm
of music came from an unexpected encounter
with the Dixie Chicks at just four years old, which
she recalls as a “pure memory”. While at the
concert she remembers being the only one on
the dance floor, and having an amazing “connect
the dots” experience with her feelings and the
music. Everything after that, including inspirations
from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, F