There was a time when Alon wasn’t Jacob Alon, the singer-songwriter playing festivals and filling folk venues across Edinburgh. He was Jacob, a medical student, following a path that seemed, from the outside, practical and secure. In university, Alon drifted further away from his true self. The more he immersed himself in medicine, the more he felt like a stranger to his own life until, finally, he couldn’t ignore it any longer. He dropped out, a decision that sent shockwaves through his family and turned to music full-time. It wasn’t just a career shift—it was an act of liberation, an urgent need to reclaim his voice, his identity.
Flash forward to the present, where Alon stands as a rare voice in Scotland’s folk scene—a queer artist openly embracing his identity in an industry that has traditionally left little room for LGBTQ voices. His music, particularly his debut single ‘Fairy In A Bottle’, channels this sense of displacement, isolation, and yearning for acceptance. Alon’s voice is haunting, his guitar playing delicate yet daring, the melodies simple but achingly beautiful. Through his songs, he tackles the transience of human connection and the fear of being truly alone.
But Alon’s story is also one of resilience. After facing estrangement and even homelessness, he found his chosen family in Edinburgh’s tight-knit folk community. His music, though deeply personal, isn’t just about him—it’s a mirror reflecting the struggles of many who are searching for a place where they can simply be. He often sings of love, but his songs go deeper, exploring the nuances of queer relationships, the pressure to conform, and the tension between wanting to belong and needing to be free.
Alon’s live performances bring this emotional weight to the forefront. In a small, dimly lit venue, the room falls silent as he sings, the space between him and the audience filled with the quiet power of his voice. He doesn’t just sing about his experiences—he invites the audience to share them. The vulnerability in his music makes it impossible to leave his performances without feeling like you’ve been part of something intensely personal.
As Alon continues to carve out space for himself in an industry that can be unforgiving to artists who defy the norm, his story stands as a reminder of the power of authenticity. In a world where queer voices are often silenced or marginalized, Alon’s music serves as an urgent call for representation, for empathy, and for a deeper understanding of the many different ways love, identity, and human connection manifest.
