DownTown Mystic isn’t just closing out 2025 — he’s detonating it in proper classic-rock fashion, riding into the holiday season with a new single, a six-track EP, and enough guitar tone to power an East Coast blackout. Somebody's Always Doin' Something 2 Somebody set the stage, dropping first to US radio before hitting streaming, complete with the project’s first ever AI-crafted music video. But the real prize, released November 7th, is the full EP, Mystic Highway — a tight, swaggering collection of roots-rock, RnR gospel, and good old-fashioned musicianship that reminds you why guitars were invented in the first place.

At the center of it all is Robert Allen, the guy steering the DownTown Mystic ship with a grin, a stack of notebooks, and a Rolodex full of world-class players. Allen has always said the secret is surrounding himself with incredible musicians — and on Mystic Highway, that philosophy rings loud and clear. The rhythm section alone is a flex: Steve Holley and Paul Page, the kind of drummer-bassist duo that could make a shopping list groove. They anchor five of the six tracks with such ease and muscle that you barely notice the complexity until your foot’s tapping along like it has a mind of its own.

And then there are the guitars — because with DownTown Mystic, the guitars are always the sermon. Lance Doss brings that southern rock crackle, sprinkling grit over History and Modern Ways like he’s seasoning cast iron. Bruce Engler offers the mystical counterpoint: co-writing and singing on Read The Signs, a ragged, raga-tinged swirl that feels like stumbling into a desert vision at 2 a.m. Meanwhile, Justin “JJ” Jordan adds the emotional fine print — delicate guitar and mandolin on Some Day, the EP’s big, cinematic slow-burner. Together, the trio function like a three-headed guitar hydra: one part fire, one part finesse, one part pure soul.

It’s this combination — the punch of veteran players, the sincerity of Allen’s writing, the production that respects old-school rock values — that gives Mystic Highway its charm. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel; it just makes sure the wheel has chrome rims, fresh tires, and a V8 engine rumbling underneath it.

2025 has been a banner year for DownTown Mystic in the larger media ecosystem too. The sync-licensing wave continues: over 250 film and TV placements and three soundtrack appearances this year alone, including music in films starring Bryan Cranston, Allison Janney, Dennis Quaid and Nick Offerman. That kind of exposure usually belongs to glossy pop acts or cinematic ambient producers — not guitar-driven roots rockers. But DownTown Mystic has carved out his own lane, and it shows.

The EP closes as it opens: full of heart, grit, and a storyteller’s touch. Each song feels lived-in — not retro, just timeless. And with the On E Street Remix project arriving early 2026, featuring none other than Max Weinberg and Garry Tallent, DownTown Mystic is gearing up for a year that may be even louder than this one.

Until then, Mystic Highway is exactly the right road to take: a reminder of why rock still matters, why great players still make the difference, and why DownTown Mystic keeps ending years stronger than he started them. It’s real rock ’n’ roll — familiar, but never stale; muscular, but never macho; melodic, but never soft.

If you miss the days when basslines had grit, drums had snap, and guitars had stories to tell, this one’s already calling your name.

We spoke to DownTown Mystic about his journey so far.

Do you have an interesting moment or story from your early life that has had a significant impact on your journey into music? 

DownTown Mystic: I was in college and formed an acoustic band called Trilogy. We got an opportunity to open for Jim Croce, Bonnie Raitt and John Prine. It was a sold-out show that was being broadcast live on WYSP in Philly. My life changed that night! I was going to be an artist and do music. I never looked back.

Are there any artists that were influential to your musical journey? How have they inspired your sound as an artist?

DownTown Mystic: There are so many. I would say I was influenced by everything I heard. The Beatles, of course, and CSNY were highly influential. As far as DownTown Mystic goes, I would have to mention Rockpile. I remember seeing them live in Asbury Park, NJ and thinking that was the kind of band I wanted to be a part of. I totally forgot about it until many years later, when a reviewer in Europe compared me to Rockpile. It blew me away, because in effect, I had realized my goal to be like them!

How would you describe your sound to new listeners? What do you think sets you apart?

DownTown Mystic: I always give a short answer, Buffalo Springfield meets Rockpile. Most listeners are too young to get those references, so I think I’m set apart from most other artists because of it. I’m new Rock’n’Roll. My influences span 50-60 years and you’re hearing something old and new at the same time! I call it vintage, like wine. You’re tasting (hearing) something that took a long time to create. It’s the best of the best!

I was playing guitar before there was a Jimi Hendrix on the scene. I had to learn his songs for the garage band I was in. Can you imagine hearing Hendrix when he was brand new?? There’s Hendrix in my playing, but you would never associate it with him, but he’s a huge influence. Every time I hear Townsend, I can hear myself, and he’s not someone I would call a huge influence, but he’s there too! lol

What’s your creative process? Where do you normally start when it comes to writing and recording? Do the lyrics come first?

DownTown Mystic: The music always comes first for me. Part of being called DownTown Mystic is the “Mystic” part, which I view as the creative process. I’m a Numerologist, which means I understand “Vibes” because Numerology is the Science of Vibrations. My name at birth is a “1” and my birth date adds up to “22”. These are strong vibrations and I’ve been told that I’m a “Channeler”. “1” is the number of the Magician and I can see why I would be a channel where my music is concerned. It just comes to me naturally. I’ve been told that I have been in contact with certain Spirit Guides like “The 7 Hands” or “The Light 8”. When I’m creating, my frequency is vibrating in the spirit realm and attracts these guides, who can help with ideas. It’s not just me, but anyone who’s creating something can be in contact with them. Writing a song or creating art can be a mystical process. Nobody knows where it comes from. You’re tapping into something on the other side.

Writing a song is one thing, recording it is another matter. I can usually hear the recording in my head before I’m even in the studio. It’s something I developed along the way. It helps with having a direction to go in and getting to the final product. I also like to be open to any ideas that the people I’m working with might have. You never know how something can spark an idea, even if you’re sure about what you’re doing. I find this allows magic to happen.

Have you had any challenges or adversities in your life that you feel have shaped you as an artist?

DownTown Mystic: My health has always been something of a challenge for me, but I would try to minimize it as much as possible. It all came to a head 6 years ago when I was diagnosed with MDS (pre-leukemia) and went through a Stem Cell Transplant to cure it. They kill off my immune system and give me a new one. I have the immune system of a 6-year-old. The music was the thing that kept me going through some very tough times physically and mentally.

The result has been this music and career you now hear and see before you. I would never have made this music if I didn’t survive what I went through. At the end of the day, I always think there’s someone worse off than me, so I should accept the gift I’ve been given and make the most of it. I try to put positive vibes out to the world because of it. That’s why I’m doing RnR because it’s a fun music vibe. The music has a positive energy and intention to it.

Are there any moments or achievements from your career so far that you’re most proud of?

DownTown Mystic: One of my main goals as an artist was to get radio airplay and I’ve certainly achieved that with thousands of stations playing my music in over 50 countries around the world. But I would have to say the achievement I’m most proud of is the success I’ve had with Sync-Licensing. It was never something on my radar. I kind of fell into it with a couple of important contacts. Getting my music on a TV show was a thrill and felt like a big accomplishment. When I see there are now over 250 TV shows that have my music in them, and are broadcast all over the world, I’m truly amazed! It never gets old. Also, having 3 songs in 2 movies this year was mind-blowing!

Which do you prefer, the creative process or live performance? Or do you enjoy both equally?

DownTown Mystic: For me, they’re both important. I gave up live shows for the studio. I wanted to make records. I get the live performance when I cut the tracks. It’s me, bass and drums in a room together creating the parts and the music. When I’m recording a guitar, I’ll look at the part I’m playing and think, would I play it live on stage this way or does it sound too rehearsed? The performances that get recorded are all live. I like to have a certain energy in the track, so the basic tracks are all live and usually no more than 3 or 4 takes to keep it sounding fresh.

Do you as an artist require fans to fully understand your message in each song or do you encourage subjective interpretation from every listener?

DownTown Mystic: I love to hear what other people think of a song because it’s always surprising. That’s how songs can take on a life of their own. I know what I meant when I wrote it but how somebody else is going to hear it is another story altogether. That’s the beauty of being an artist. I think my music should be interpreted any way the listener wants to get it. That’s the beauty of music.

Does the political landscape have an impact on your music, or do you keep your personal opinions separate from your work as an artist?

DownTown Mystic: I hate politics. I think it’s the most corrosive element in our society because it’s become so divisive. Facts don’t matter. Lies are ok and Truth is debatable. Our side is good, yours is evil, even though it’s 2 sides of the same coin. But it’s the overall negativity that seems to pervade political discussions I dislike. Once you get sucked in, you can’t escape it. Because of my dislike for politics, I try to stay away from it in my songs as much as possible. If I do happen to get on a topic I feel strongly about, I try not to come across as “preachy”. I try to present it in a way that will allow the listener to think for themselves as much as possible.

The irony is “Somebody’s Always Doin’ Something 2 Somebody” is totally political. It’s the perfect song for this moment in time where politics is concerned. It’s about men and women. What could be more political? lol

What are your future plans? Any new songs/projects on the horizon?

DownTown Mystic: I’m in the process of planning releases for the next year. Streaming has changed the musical landscape in the way people are getting and listening to music. Once I've created the product, then I become the Head of Promotion for Sha-La Music Inc. lol

I try to be creative in the way I present everything. Artistically, I know what I’m trying to put out musically, and then business-wise, I try to promote the music in the way I feel it was intended. I like to promote in an artistic way. This keeps the music front and center.

I’m currently working on the On E Street Remix project and how I’m going to present it. The Somebody’s single and the Mystic Highway EP are allowing me to finish the year on a high note as I prepare for 2026. I need to take it to another level next year. The On E Street project does that because of the people involved. I could create some kind of music biz story that the Press would eat up, but the Truth is a far more compelling story, and I don’t have to make up anything. There’s a historic element involved because this is music that is 50 years old! When Max and Garry recorded these tracks with me, they were still recording the Born In The USA album with Bruce! That’s what I have to compete with! Lol

After the E Street project, I have new music I’ve been sitting on waiting to release. I have a track that features George Marinelli on guitar that’s killer! George is the original guitar player from Bruce Hornsby and The Range and recently retired from being Bonnie Raitt’s guitar player for the last 20 years. In fact, it was George who convinced me to finally release “Somebody’s Always Doin’ Something 2 Somebody”. I actually released it at Country Radio last year on a digital platform I use for Radio releases. I was hoping that one of the Nashville labels would find it perfect for one of their artists. I think Post Malone would have a major hit with it. How crazy is that? lol

“Mystic Highway” is available now on all major streaming platforms

Listen to DownTown Mystic and other similar artists on our Spotify Playlist ‘New Music Spotlight - Indie & Alternative’

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