Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Slayyyter

Growing up in the suburbs of St. Louis, self-made popstar Slayyyter always dreamed that she would one day release the music she wanted to hear. She made the decision to go all-in on her passion and left school to pursue a career in the industry.

Since then, she’s racked up millions of streams worldwide and received praise from publications including Rolling Stone, NME, The FADER, and V Magazine.

This October, she teamed up with TIDAL for an exclusive SESSIONS performance featuring songs from her debut album, Troubled Paradise. We chatted with her about the exciting partnership!

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Slayyyter: When I was very young, my mom would always put on Elton John and Michael Jackson. I feel like her being very into music inspired me to want to be a part of it. She would pull out her old vinyl collection and I would look through all the album art from the Beach Boys to Elton John to the Beatles; it all seemed so magical. I wanted to be able to sing and craft my own songs and one day make my own colorful album art that would feel special to people.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Slayyyter: I think two things. One of them was growing up being obsessed with Britney Spears; I was so enamored with her music and live performances on MTV. I wanted to be like her when I grew up.

Another was choir class in high school. My choir teacher, David Canon, was such an incredible teacher. I desperately wanted voice lessons because I knew they would help me become a star, but my mom couldn’t afford them and I feel like I learned proper singing techniques at school.

PC: You recently released Troubled Paradise. If you had to pick one song off the album that best encompasses who you are as an artist, which would it be and why?
Slayyyter: I think “Clouds” sums me up as an artist. It’s a perfect dance song—something you can hear in the club—but there’s a very sad undertone to it that really represents me as a person.

PC: You’ve just released an exclusive SESSIONS performance with TIDAL today! How did this partnership come to fruition?
Slayyyter: I feel like TIDAL has always been super supportive of me as an artist from the beginning. They hit me up to do a live concert for them and trusted me and my team to handle the creative. I feel like we made something so amazing and I’m very grateful they wanted to do this with me!

PC: What was the process like deciding what you would perform? How did you come up with the visual components?
Slayyyter: I knew I wanted to do “Clouds” and “Troubled Paradise” because they were my favorite songs from the album, but picking the third was a bit hard. I decided on “Over This!” because I think it’s a really great song that didn’t get its own music video, so I hope a live performance will suffice!

PC: You’re also embarking on a world tour next year. What can fans expect when they head to a show?
Slayyyter: It’s going to be an incredible live show experience that feels like an electric nightclub in every city. Loud music that never stops, incredible fashion, and my DJ, Owen Jackson, and I getting everyone to dance.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Slayyyter: Frank Sinatra.

PC: First album you bought?
Slayyyter: The Fame by Lady Gaga.

PC: First concert you attended?
Slayyyter: Raven-Symoné at a St. Louis festival when she was performing the That’s So Raven soundtrack.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Slayyyter: Product by Sophie. It made me change the way I viewed music forever.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Slayyyter: The Pageant in St. Louis or Radio City Music Hall.

PC: PC: A must-have on the road?
Slayyyter: Versace slippers to save your feet after dancing on stage all night, and in the mornings, lots of coffee.

To keep up with Slayyyter, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and TIDAL. Watch her SESSIONS on TIDAL today.