Ally Salort Live at The Hotel Cafe

Photo by Max Christiansen

With the exception of a few talent shows in school, I’ve never been one to go to music showcases featuring a line-up of artists demonstrating their skills at the mic. That all changed on December 6, 2022 at The Hotel Cafe when I went out to see Uncut Gems, a music showcase featuring new talent and up-and-coming performers, primarily singer-songwriters based in Los Angeles. That evening, we heard the musical stylings of singer-songwriters and musicians Mia Nicolai, Gonzalo Martin, Jenna Lotti, Anna Margo, Kayla Thompson, and Ally Salort, who made her mark as the stand-out star of the event. 

The small, intimate size of the venue made room for Ally from the get-go, who, unlike previous performers, just started singing without introduction or preamble while on her way to get on stage. This, coupled with her unique look–a black outfit that was cross between a blazer, dress, and wrap-around top with matching black boots– showed off her inherent star power in a powerful way. She carried herself in a grace, poise, boldness, and maturity far beyond her years, and also a certain shyness that was both genuine and likable. I enjoyed seeing her interact and chat with the audience in between songs, and how she relaxed throughout her set. 

Throughout her live renditions of four original songs, one unreleased, she demonstrated great smoothness and control of her voice that hinted at elements of old school R&B, soul, and jazz. Not to mention a certain warmth that made it easy to just drop everything and listen in. Her dozens of vocal runs were a particular highlight that quickly became an audience favorite. I also admired how seemingly easy it was for her to fluctuate and jump between octaves without cracking or vocal fry. It showed a real love and dedication for her craft that I’ve only seen in a few other performers, especially in a live setting. 

During her set, she performed four original songs: “Aftermath,” an unreleased track; “Stranger Things,” currently her most-streamed track on Spotify; “You’ll Never Notice”; and her most recent release, “Nostalgic.” Of the set list, “Stranger Things” really stood out to me, reminding me of Ariana Grande’s early R&B-inspired days in its instrumentation, production, enunciation, rhythm, and vocal performance, something that would be a perfect fit on Yours Truly. The ease with which she jumped between octaves and made the sections in her high register both powerful and delicate was amazing to see. But while it may have reminded me of one of the biggest pop stars today, Ally also made the song and her rendition completely her own through a stunning, unique performance. 

I also enjoyed hearing her newest single, “Nostalgic,” a fast-paced song that again played with elements of pop and R&B. The lyrics in the bridge were a particular stand-out to me, referencing historical figures like Marilyn Monroe and classic movies like Grease and When Harry Met Sally. It does exactly what a bridge should do: continue the themes of the song while experimenting with and changing the tempo, key, and vocal performance. In this section, she wowed with a rap to differ from the rest of the song and made “Nostalgic” as a whole feel truly timeless and relatable. 

It was extraordinary to see Ally perform, especially as someone who’s never listened to her music before. I left the venue that night grateful for the opportunity to see her live and get acquainted with her music before she undoubtedly takes off for real. There’s something really special here and I’m excited to see what the future of her musical journey holds.