Puma Blue

The stage name of London singer/songwriter Jacob Allen, Puma Blue is known for his languid, deeply atmospheric sound blending indie rock, alternative R&B, downtempo, and ’90s trip-hop influences. He first garnered buzz with several EPs before gaining wider attention with his 2021 full-length debut, In Praise of Shadows. His clearer, more focused second album, Holy Waters, appeared in 2023.
Born in 1995, Allen spent his adolescence in Hurst Green, Sussex, and later Redhill near Croydon, where he started out on the drums. By his teens, he had taught himself to play guitar and was soon crafting his own songs, drawing inspiration from artists like Radiohead and Jeff Buckley, as well as Sade and J Dilla. He eventually moved to South East London, where he ensconced himself in the city’s vibrant hip-hop and electronic music scene. Allen adopted the name Puma Blue and began posting songs online in 2014. He issued several EPs, including 2017′s Swum Baby and 2018′s Blood Loss, both of which helped build his fan base. Intimate live shows followed, as did collaborations with artists like Lava La Rue, Biig Piig, Lucy Lu, and others. In 2021, he released his hazy full-length debut, In Praise of Shadows. A set of remixes followed in 2022. Holy Waters, the second Puma Blue album, arrived in 2023, continuing the intimate vibe of his earlier work but with richer, moodier songs. ~ Matt Collar