Ally Salort Breaks Down Her Latest Single "Before and After"
Interview
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Interview ✦
Ally Salort's music is a breath of fresh air—a raw and honest exploration of the emotional landscape. Her latest single, "Before and After," continues this trend, crafting intimate, relatable pop that resonates with a quiet power. With a voice that blends warmth and vulnerability, Salort uses the track to delve head-first into the complexities of love and emotional growth, offering a glimpse into her own experiences while inviting listeners to reflect on their own. This is also something we witnessed in 2024 with her emotionally potent (and popular) track “Pretty Face”.
Now, having built a dedicated audience on TikTok, YouTube, and Spotify, Salort has cultivated a genuine connection with her audience—and the raw power of "Before & After" showcases why she’s earned such a loyal following.
Ally Salort, RCA Records | Photo Credit: Noah Witt
"Before and After" is a raw, acoustic pop track that perfectly complements your style. What was the initial spark behind this song—and how did you manage to bring it to life?
Ally Salort: I initially wrote down the phrase ‘before and after’ in my notes app just because I thought it would be a cool song title. Then one day I had a session and right before I left for it I was thinking of all the different ways that phrase could be used. Somewhere along the way in the car, I wrote the front half of the chorus about liking the feeling of wanting/missing someone more than the feeling of actually having them. Something I am all too familiar with. Once I had that, we wrote the rest of the song in the session pretty quickly.
How does the track compare to your work leading up to its release? Is there something that feels distinctly different sonically or thematically?
Ally Salort: I think thematically, this song sort of fits with one of my previous releases “Messy” in the way that they both have a self-awareness within the lyrics. In both songs, I recognize my flaws and faults within the situation I’m singing about. Sonically, even though it is a little different from a ballad like my song “Deeper Meaning,” it still somehow feels like it sandwiches/connects all the sounds of my recent singles in a nice way.
There’s definitely an air of romantic indecisiveness that many will relate to with this track! Was there a particular message or insight you hoped listeners would take away when they delve into this song?
Ally Salort: I hope listeners who also relate to this thought process of romantic indecisiveness can feel understood and heard. I think it’s easy to feel like you’re a bad person or incapable of love when you have these avoidant tendencies, but in reality, it’s very natural and only human. I also hope that by hearing me talk about my fickle mindset when it comes to love, it makes it easier to recognize and understand your own.
Your music often explores themes of love, self-discovery, and emotional growth. That being said, is there a specific theme you generally gravitate to?
Ally Salort: I tend to gravitate towards themes of reflection and closure typically about the people that come and go in my life. Even if the song sounds like I’m talking about the present, most of the time it’s already in my past. When I try to write about situations that are happening in the current moment, it’s coming from an overly emotional state where there are way too many things I want to say so I just don’t end up saying anything. Whereas when I write about something that I’ve already come to terms with, my head is way more level and I’m able to tap into just one singular perspective.
Ally Salort, RCA Records
You’ve mentioned being inspired by artists like Ariana Grande and Fiona Apple. What specifically resonates with you about their music, and how have they influenced your own songwriting and vocal style?
Ally Salort: I learned how to do riffs from watching Ariana’s youtube covers back in the day. I’d watch her cover of “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele over and over mimicking her jaw movement and everything. She’s a big reason as to why I started singing so I think she’s influenced just the way I sing in general. Fiona Apple is so unapologetic. The production on her songs feels so cool to me and her lyrics are very self-aware which is something I’m always trying to incorporate in my songs.
You've built a strong following on Spotify, as well as social platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where you often preview music. How have these platforms helped you connect with your audience and develop as an artist?
Ally Salort: They’ve given me a space to try things out. I’m a 21-year-old girl who’s very much still figuring out what I want to say and how I want to say it and I’ve been able to build a community online that lets me grow and change by trial and error. Not everything I write is going to be great, but these platforms give me an outlet to express myself whether good or bad. I get to share the whole process without it feeling like a big deal. And through that, I get to connect with people who feel the same way as me and resonate with my lyrics.
In closing, what can we expect from your upcoming EP or album when it drops?
Ally Salort: I’m working on my first EP! You can expect lots of guitar, fun lyrics, but also some emotional lyrics, and there might be an overall theme of shapeshifting and change.
