Allen’s work has been experienced throughout the United States, where it has been called "a study in ominous sound and motion,"[4] “An aural hallucinogen,”[5] and “A beautiful and engaging use of technology.”[6] His music has also been heard across Europe, including Denmark,[7] the Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic, France and Italy.
He has performed at the Guitar Foundation of America National Conference, given numerous solo concerts and recitals, as well as professional studio work.
Currently, his primary collaborative vehicle is the group Ballet Mech; this trio of producers recently released “Graveyards,” which remixes Jeremy Messersmith’s “The Reluctant Graveyard.”[10] Allen is also in leadership roles in organizations dedicated to electronic music and education: he was conference director for SEAMUS 2013,[11] and he was the assistant director and lead producer of the Spark Festival of Electronic Music and Art from 2003 to 2009.
In 2011, Allen earned a PhD in Music Composition (with a minor in Visual Arts) from the University of Minnesota; his supervisors were Judith Lang Zaimont and Douglas Geers.
Allen's career of academic teaching and publishing runs parallel to his work as a composer, and multi-media artist.
Paper publications have appeared in Organised Sound (Cambridge University Press),[14] The Living Music Journal,[15] Proceedings of the third annual Spark Festival, and ComposersOnline.Org.
In addition to performances at national conferences, this iteration of the group had a successful run of local bar shows in the Minneapolis area.
[10] Allen started Slam Academy in 2011, after finding that there were few reasonable opportunities for kids to learn electronic music affordably in the Twin Cities.
Currently, Allen serves as CEO of Slam Academy while continuing his teaching work at McNally Smith College of Music.