Who is J.A.W.?

John-Allison Weiss is a trailblazing queer songwriter whose music and journey embody radical honesty, resilience, and reinvention.

From early beginnings in the MySpace and Tumblr era to becoming one of Kickstarter’s first music success stories, Weiss has spent nearly two decades turning heartbreak and healing into singable anthems. Their tender, catchy, and emotionally direct songs offer comfort for the misfits, the romantics, and the resilient. Whether performing under their name or as Charlie Mtn., Weiss stands out not just for their melodies, but for the fiercely independent path they’ve carved through an often unwelcoming industry.

A queer kid born in the Detroit suburbs and raised in rural Georgia, Weiss grew up an outsider, long before they had the words for it. That sense of otherness became fuel for a life built on connection through music. After self-booking early tours out of Athens, GA, and becoming a beloved figure in the Brooklyn DIY scene, they went on to share stages with artists ranging from The Front Bottoms to Lou Reed, whose personal invitation to open for him was a surreal early milestone in a career defined by defying expectations. In 2020, after years of grinding through the traditional industry model, Weiss made the radical choice to step away from the machine and fully reclaim their autonomy.

That chapter birthed The Long Way, a record written in Death Valley and brought to life with co-producer SOMBEAR, funded entirely by fans, and released on Get Better Records in 2023. More than just an album, The Long Way is a living document of transition, survival, and the beautiful, brutal truth of starting over. It’s a record that doesn’t just tell a story, it is the story: of reclaiming self, of finding authenticity without compromise, and of choosing vulnerability as a strength. (read more about The Long Way here)

Today, Weiss continues to deepen that mission. Through their Patreon community (J.A.W.S. Club), raw acoustic performances, and perpetually online presence, they connect directly with fans on a level few artists ever reach. Their songwriting has never been about spectacle, it’s about recognition: the feeling of being seen, heard, and understood. In a time where authenticity often gets packaged and sold, Weiss remains the real deal, inviting listeners not just to witness their journey, but to walk alongside them.

Now, under the evolving moniker Charlie Mtn., Weiss is entering a new chapter rooted in the same raw honesty but carrying a deeper sense of self, freedom, and clarity. With a new record on the horizon and stories shaped by the wild landscapes they’ve crossed, Charlie Mtn. carries forward the heart of John-Allison Weiss: the outsider-turned-anchor. This next chapter isn’t a departure—it’s an arrival.

In every note and lyric, John-Allison Weiss reminds us that we don’t need to be polished to be powerful. Their music matters because it makes space—for joy, for grief, for transition, and for anyone who’s ever felt like they had to take the long way home.

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