INTERVIEW

“With my music I alway set out to make an album that I thought was really cool, in the sense of an album but there were references running throughout. Even when I make more emotional songs, there's still dance elements so they don't feel so heavy even if the lyrics are quite deep. I have two songs on the album that are super dancey but they're still breakup songs. Like the song "Memories Of You" or "My Body’" It’s about being left by your significant other in the club and you don't want them to go and it's sad, but they're so dancey that it makes it feel better. I love sad dance songs. Kind of like a Robyn vibe.”

 

With the joy music can bring and the idea that you can have difficult conversations about things whilst it being put in a way where it's uplifting and not so heavy that you're drowning in it, Slayyyter enables a sense of relief in her own music. She responds by sharing how she listens to music, to make her feel good and uplifted in empowerment.

 

“It just makes things feel a little bit easier to cope with. I listen to all different things, but I find that if I'm listening to something that's super depressing, I just feel worse. Whereas if I'm listening to, for example, a Robyn song like “Dancing On My Own”, I feel uplifted with my sadness rather than just feeling hopelessness and having it be this dramatic thing. There's something that feels empowering with those kinds of sad dance songs.”

 

Commenting on Slayyyter’s new track "I love Hollywood!" I asked what she wanted to convey and how she wanted to connect with people through her writing?

 

“I think that the song is more tongue in cheek. A song about the fame in the entertainment industry. But it’s also a part of the culture in LA. My music never takes itself too seriously. And I definitely wanted to have some songs on the album that were kind of funny and fun to me. That song has a lot of silly little one liners, and I say some more edgy things that, you know, might piss some people off, but I think it's more satire, in a way. I thought it was a really good birth track to the album. It's kind of the thesis for the whole universe of fame, money and vanity, finding love and losing love and having people use you to get to where they want to go in life.”

 

Reflecting on the chaos and hustle of life in LA, I asked Slayyyter about what it was like moving and how she's adapted to life in the city?

 

“I grew up in the suburbs of Missouri and although it wasn't super rural my hometown is about 20 minutes from some areas that are a little bit more rural, and then 20 minutes to downtown St. Louis, which is very much like a city, although not a very major city. So moving to LA has been such a culture shock. Being from my hometown nobody thinks that they're gonna be famous, it's just such a different world. I think me finding success in music has been almost like a freak accident to me, my family friends and people that I know. Everyone's super excited for me and proud of me but it just feels so random that through the internet all of this has happened. Moving to LA everything was so different. And for the first time i’m going to parties where there are celebrities that I would have had posters on the wall of as a kid. It’s so wild to see. You then realise it's not that big of a deal. Sometimes these people are so idolised but they're kind of boring, or you run into someone and they're kind of rude. It’s kind of funny, the pedestal, Hollywood is put on. I think that Hollywood has a different term to me than LA. LA is such an incredible city. I've lived there for three years, and I love it. But I think Hollywood and the entertainment industry are kind of their own dark, creepy little beats.“

 

Working in an industry where I meet people I idolise it can definitely have that surreal feeling at times and I definitely relate to Slayyyter sharing that feeling of being thrown back down to earth after having a normal conversation. Reflecting on this, I asked Slayyyter how it was adapting to life in LA and growing in popularity in terms of imposter syndrome and feelings of uncertainty?

 

“Um, it was definitely an adjustment. I like that you just brought up impostor syndrome. I think that's something that I've definitely struggled with. When I first moved to LA it was right before the pandemic, and I got kind of stuck there. I was working on my first album with a label and I definitely had my fair share of haters on the internet. I'm just constantly thrown with people telling me that my music isn't good, that I'm annoying or that I don't deserve it and it or there’s other artists that are more talented. I had impostor syndrome for a really long time. I was just like what am I doing here? I was a hair salon receptionist. I don't belong here. I don't deserve any of this. Like, I should have just been a college dropout. In a way I was thinking what have I've gotten myself into. It took me a while, but I feel like the more that I live in LA and do sessions, the more I felt confident with my talents and my abilities, and I know that I'm an incredible singer. I know that I have the vision and I love what I do so much, and because of that my imposter syndrome has gone away a lot. I didn’t feel I deserved a spot in the room but now I'm certain that I do. It’s a good feeling to have, not doubting myself so much about things.”

 

Slayyyter goes on to tell me in response to dealing with online hate and negativity “I feel like I have really thick skin…I can take a lot when it comes to people commenting on things whether it’s my weight, my body or if they think my music is stupid”. I find this an admirable approach to have, the way she has faith in herself, her music and strength to maintain a positive outlook, reject the negativity and believe in herself utterly. Slayyter’s album covers represents the faith she has in herself to succeed and to go with whatever feels true to herself. I asked slayyyter if creating the art for her album was a defining moment in her career and journey.