At just 18, Eden Prairie’s Allie McIntosh has more accomplishments under her belt than many of us find before 35 (or beyond). She’s written, recorded and produced an original extended play (EP); she’s played gigs around the Twin Cities and nationally; she’s had songwriting credits on tracks for fellow recording artists; and she’s featured on the soundtrack of a new movie. 

So what’s the secret to her success? Part talent (McIntosh is a multi-instrumentalist who started studying classical piano at age 4), and part hard work. She says she’s been laser-focused on her music career since she decided to pursue it seriously in her early teens. 

“I’m really lucky to have parents who are supportive,” McIntosh says, quick to give credit to her tight-knit family, which includes dad Paul, mom Michelle, three older siblings and a handful of beloved nieces and nephews. “I decided I wanted to do this professionally when I was 13 or 14, and they’ve really helped me since then. They’ve provided me with everything they can to make it work and taken me everywhere I need to go.” 

McIntosh still lives in the family home in Eden Prairie — she even named her latest EP, “Purgatory Rd,” after their street. “I’ve always been a deeply connected family person, so that’s one of the most important things in my life,” she says. She adds with a laugh, “I wouldn’t be able to live alone yet!” 

Advertisement

McIntosh attended Breck School as a freshman and sophomore, and then enrolled in Eden Prairie High School’s virtual academy, EP Online. “I was traveling a lot for music,” she explains, and she decided that trying to go back and forth to in-person school wasn’t working. She completed her high school coursework at age 16 and officially graduated from EP Online in the spring of 2023. “Now, I have more time to focus and put all of my energy into music,” she says. “The opportunities have really grown exponentially since graduation.” 

Like many musicians of her generation, McIntosh is active on social media, where she shares musical snippets and scenes from her daily life. Instagram, where she has north of 14,000 followers, offered one of her first big breaks.

A few years ago, Robin Thicke, a Los Angeles-based record producer (who’s also a recording artist and a judge on Fox’s “The Masked Singer”), reached out to McIntosh via Instagram message.

“He asked to meet with me and my parents,” McIntosh remembers. After a few video calls with the family, Thicke invited them to LA. “He had me write a song every week, and eventually, there were enough to record,” McIntosh says. “I got to record with some awesome producers. I’m really grateful he reached out. It’s been a great opportunity.” 

Advertisement

Although McIntosh has notable facility across genres, from pop to R&B, her first love was classical music. Her mom and grandmother, who were both singers, first noticed her talent. “I was 3 years old, clunking on the piano, and I was playing real chords,” McIntosh remembers with a laugh.

She was quickly enrolled in piano lessons at MacPhail Center for Music and soon was encouraged to add some instruments for more of a challenge. “I started violin at age 6 and viola at age 8,” says McIntosh. “I started professional voice lessons at age 12.” She loves Chopin, Vivaldi, Saint-Saëns and Rachmaninoff, and has incorporated her virtuosic violin style into her contemporary recordings. 

All along, McIntosh was writing music and lyrics. Her parents and teachers helped her find local performance opportunities, which have grown along with her following. She’s played gigs at the Mall of America, Eden Prairie’s annual 4th of July Hometown Celebration, and perhaps the true mecca of Minnesota music: Paisley Park. “I was really honored to be on that stage,” says McIntosh. Farther from home, she’s played at New York City’s historic Apollo Theater. 

So what’s up next for a musician whose star is on the rise? Listeners can catch an Allie McIntosh original song on the soundtrack for “Bosco,” a film that recently debuted on streaming service Peacock.

“I sang, played violin, and partially produced that track,” says McIntosh. Her newest single, “Miles On My Broken Heart,” is available on her website and most streaming platforms. And she says more records are in her near future. “I love playing gigs, but the recording process is my favorite part of being an artist. I love producing, recording and writing songs.”  

Local Love 

We asked Allie McIntosh for her favorite places in Eden Prairie to … 

• Grab breakfast: “The Original Pancake House! It’s, like, seven minutes from where I live.”  
• Indulge childhood memories: “The Eden Prairie Library. I spent a lot of time there as a kid. It’s great.” 
• Take a walk: “Down by Homeward Hills Park. I live close to it and love going on walks there, especially in the summer with my mom or my friends.” 
• Shop: “Eden Prairie Center. I love Von Maur, Scheels, DSW …” 
• Perform: “I love performing at the amphitheater at Staring Lake Park. I also performed at the city’s Fourth of July celebration at Round Lake. That was a really fun time.” 
• Find a gluten-free bite to eat: “I have celiac disease, and I recently discovered Where’s the Flour? at Eden Prairie Center. It’s amazing!”